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

[John Carl]

Arlo:


> [Mary]
>
> Based on Pirsig's explanation of how his books came about above, no one has
> any authority on this subject - least of all Pirsig.
>
> [Arlo]
> LEAST of all Pirsig??? Quite frankly I'm not even sure how to respond to
> this.



John:

Well then Arlo, please allow me to help.  You express the frustration of the
whole class that Phaedrus asked to define Quality,

I feel your pain.

I mean, the TEACHER is supposed to have all the answers, right?  But here's
a teacher who's inviting his students in an interpretative process to
uncover truth.  Its just outrageous.  It's impossible.  It's like trying to
intellectually pin a Taoist with definitions of the Absolute.

Pirsig is the last person to allow that to happen.  The LEAST likely to take
up the mantle of authoritative pronouncements from the mountaintop.  His
work makes this point over and over, and Mary's got it right.



Arlo:



> But, it does confirm you see the MOQ as some "external" thingamabob "out
> there" and we are all just blind fools (Pirsig apparently the blindest)
> trying to figure out what the hell this thing is.
>
>

John:

You express a truth with a voice of outrage and disbelief.

Interesting.

Arlo:



> This is a path to absurdity (you do realize you are citing Pirsig's
> authority to support the claim that Pirsig is the least authoritative person
> here...



John:

And Lao tzu made no claims at all, except with a certain humour, to
stupidity. (Watts)

Deal with it.

It's not, in essence, Pirsig disavowing Pirsig, it's Pirsig disavowing
authoritatively, authoritativeness.

I can sorta see how that's a blind spot of yours.  Come 'round to my side of
the elephant and you'd see it differently.

Arlo:



> Alright, I am now thoroughly convinced the SOL/SIM/SOLAQI is a product of
> muddied thinking).
>
>
John:

I'll tell you one thing I've discovered through this dialogue, the reasons
for Horse's antipathy to Bo's claiming Pirsig's authority are much clearer
to me now.


Take care,

J