[MD] Where "Matt and Dave" All Began

[Platt Holden]

On Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 10:19 AM, Matt Kundert <pirsigaffliction at hotmail.com
> wrote:

>
>  "I predict that Pirsig will be remembered, but for his criticisms and
> insights about culture, rather than for his systematic
> philosophy."
>
> That was my point back in 2002, and I still think that's right.
> That's a prediction, not something that can be backed up by
> argument or evidence.  I thought then, have said on occasion over
> the years, and will repeat now, that my bet is that Pirsig will find a
> home in English departments, not Philosophy departments.
> Considering my different aspirations, I will now formulate the
> prediction as so: I bet I will have an easier time getting Pirsig into
> the literary canon then Dave or Anthony getting Pirsig into the
> philosophical canon.
>

Hi Matt,

I think Pirsig is more likely to find a home in art departments once
his philosophy is fully understood and appreciated. After all is said
and done, recognition of betterness -- the fundamental experiential
reality of the MOQ  -- is an aesthetic response.

Essentially DQ is unpatterned aesthetic and SQ is patterned aesthetic
with Truth being the static aesthetic of intellectual harmony.

Given the proper instructors, Pirsig's works could help elevate the arts
to parity with the sciences instead of currently being thought of, as
Pirsig
indicated, a "frill." .

Finally, as the title makes clear, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
Maintenance" is, after all, a book about art.

In any case, I agree it will likely find a home eventually in academe, but
not in philosophy departments. .

Regards,
Platt