[MD] Classic or Romantic? Yes, definitely.

[David Thomas]

On 8/27/10 6:03 PM, "David Buchanan" <dmbuchanan at hotmail.com> wrote:

> And in the final analysis James and Pirsig both come to the conclusion that
> the best thing to do is combine the two types of approaches into a more
> well-rounded and integrated approach. Neither one of them recommend one to the
> exclusion of the other. And where do they land? Radical empiricism is
> tough-minded because it is empirical but it is also tender-minded because it
> puts Quality or pure experience at the front edge of that empirical reality so
> that feeling is at the very center of thought.

I wouldn't even know where to start on this except to say you probably have
it about right. The introduction to "The Writings of William James" by
McDermott says:

"But Oliver Wendell Homes,Jr., a close friend of the young James, and one
who knew his father, said of Pragmatism, " I now see, as I have seen in his
other books that I have read, that the aim and end of this whole business is
religious"

I think this pretty well sums up Pirsig's work too. The MoQ is not
metaphysics in any philosophical sense. It is a Godless religion of Quality
rooted only in one's will to believe it. Check your tough-minded skepticism,
rationality and reason at the door. In the end Romanticism killed Phaedrus.
Why else write two romantic novels musing on metaphysics? Good job Dave you
should get your A, degree, and be well on your way to tenure. Life is good.

Dave