[MD] Intellectual Level

[Platt Holden]

Hi Horse,

All words, numbers, punctuation and other aspects of language are imaginary
symbols, imaginary meaning "not real."  Or as semanticist S.I. Hayakawa
wrote in his seminal book, "Language in Thought and Action:"

"The habitual confusion of symbols with things symbolized, whether on the
part of individuals or societies, is serious enough at all levels of culture
to provide a perennial human problem. The symbol is not the thing
symbolized; the word is not the thing, the map is not the territory it
stands for."

In Lila's Child, Pirsig defines the intellect level as "manipulation of
symbols." Note 25.

Platt


On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 3:48 PM, Horse <horse at darkstar.uk.net> wrote:

> Hi Platt
>
> This is about as twisted as it's possible to get and another excuse to
> promote Bo's version of Pirsig's MoQ - i.e. SOL
>
> SOM (as created by Pirsig, as you yourself pointed out) is a metaphysical
> position whereby reality is divided into Subjects and Objects. It is not a
> level in Pirsigs MoQ and contains no levels of its own.
> How can Objects (as per SOM) be imaginary symbols? Is a rock or a plant or
> a pig and imaginary symbol?
> Have Subjects and Objects now become imaginary symbols.
>
> As it was Pirsig who created SOM (as you have stated) could you show us
> where he says that it is it's own level or where he states that it is the
> level of imaginary symbols. For that matter, what exactly is an imaginary
> symbol because as far as I'm aware Subjects nor Objects are either imaginary
> or symbols within SOM.
>
> Horse
>
>
> On 15/11/2010 17:10, Platt Holden wrote:
>
>> SOM is the level of manipulation of imaginary symbols which are taken by
>> some to have the same reality as concrete material existence.
>>
>
> --
>
> "Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production
> deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid."
> — Frank Zappa
>
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