[MD] The One True MOQ

[X Acto]

Arlo:

If there is some "one true MOQ", and this is tied to Pirsig's "authority", then 
the interpretive argument (this is what Pirsig "meant") becomes of paramount 
importance. It is no longer an evolutionary dialogue of ideas, but a competition 
to claim authoritative legitimacy.

Ron:
Well stated. A very important point.If we are to use what we have learned we 
would ask ourselves what
difference it would make if one or the other were true. Using this method would 
illustrate the consequences
of each and in MoQ fashion make the "Quality" distinction. Which has more value.

This is why I say this is a fine exercise of MoQ's "theory". 

Arlo:
And I think this has been why Ron has been endlessly frustrated trying to move 
his dialogue with Bo away from the interpretive domain and into the competing 
"betterness" of differing ideas.

Ron:
Exactly. Where it should be. An arguement based on interpretive authority gets 
us nowhere. Mainly
it should'nt matter what Bob said. What should matter is which idea has more 
value? 


Thanx Arlo


Getting back to the "a/the" distinction, I think conventionally we've become 
accustomed to using "THE metaphysics of Quality" to specifically refer to 
Pirsig's ideas (Pirsig himself uses this convention in his writing). And as Matt 
(if I understood him correctly) wrote, this is, of course, or primary interest 
to those who respect his ideas.

But when we use "THE metaphysics of Quality" in this way, does it trap the 
dialogue in the interpretative domain by implying "there can be only one"?

In other words, if "THE metaphysics of Quality" = Pirsig's ideas, then a "papal 
bull" would seem to impair discussion, and capturing the interpretative ground 
would seem to be the only way to attain legitimacy.

For me, again as one of those evil "interlictials", I frame this as Pirsig's 
ideas = "A metaphysics of Quality" (the foundation for which we are all here, to 
be sure), and Bo's ideas = "A metaphysics of Quality" that is a critical 
revision of Pirsig's ideas.

Bo might say "A metaphysics of Quality that holds the intellectual level to SOM 
is better than A metaphysics of Quality that considers SOM to be one on many 
intellectual patterns", instead of "THE metaphysics of Quality holds the 
intellectual level to SOM".

And in this light there can be no "papal bulls", because the authority Pirsig 
writes from informs specifically HIS metaphysics of Quality, not THE metaphysics 
of Quality.

Is this wrong? Do others see this instead as a sort of competition to claim 
representing "the one true MOQ"?



Moq_Discuss mailing list
Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc.
http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org
Archives:
http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/
http://moq.org/md/archives.html