[MD] The strong interpretation of the MOQ (SIM)

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Platt]
With typical narcissism, Arlo thinks my reference to "those" means him.

[Arlo]
Your post was addressed to me, forgive my assumption it was directed at me.

I have re-read it, however, and see my mistake.

[Platt previously]
We've been blessed by those who know the one right way to interpret 
Pirsig. But now we're doubly blessed to  have someone who knows the 
one right way to think.

[Arlo]
In the light of not being "those" who "know the one right way to 
interpret Pirsig", and instead being "someone who knows the one right 
way to think", I've updated my reply.

Not so interestingly, it does not effect the content at all.

==============
[Arlo's revised reply to Platt]
Let's look at what I said, and see if I said "there is a right way to think".

[Arlo previously]
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".

[Arlo]
I don't know which is worse, Platt, taking your post as stupidity or 
taking it as distortion. Either way, kudos.
==============

[Arlo adds]
I'm going to address my questions to Marsha to you as well. See if 
you can give a straightforward answer a shot.

Why is the following such a seemingly alien concept for you, Platt and Bo?

(1) Bo's formulation for a metaphysics is a critical revision of 
Pirsig's metaphysics.

(2) 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".

Why are you all so obsessively hung up on the word "THE", and what 
value do you think it has?

Do you disagree with me that we use the phrase "THE metaphysics of 
Quality" as a conventional way of referring specifically to Pirsig's 
ideas, but that it would in fact be more accurate to say "Pirsig's 
metaphysics"?

Do you not see that obsessing on the "THE" objectifies the "MOQ" into 
some "reality"... that even Pirsig can be "wrong" about? This makes 
no sense. Pirsig can't be wrong about his ideas, but his ideas can be 
wrong. In the same way, Bo's ideas are not "THE MOQ", they are his ideas.

If we drop the word "THE", and instead simply talk about people's 
ideas, do you not see how all this interpretive nonsense and need for 
authoritative legitimacy would disappear?

In other words, what do you think is wrong with saying "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"?

Does that not sum up your position? Why is it more important for you 
to say instead "THE metaphysics of Quality holds the intellectual 
level to SOM"?