[MD] Bitterness over Betterness

[david buchanan]

Dan said to Arlo:
So interpretations are actually representations?

Arlo replied:
No, if you wanted to delve into some lite semiotics. I used the word "representation" to contrast "interpretation".
[Dan said] "Your interpretations run contrary to what the MOQ is saying. And as long as they do, they are not high quality representations of the MOQ." In the above, high-quality "representations" are only those that restate without deviation the thoughts of the author. "Interpretations", by definition, are not the same. ... Which is why your call for "interpretations" to be non-contrary to Pirsig's ideas are better seen as support for "representations" or "restatements".

dmb says:
I think you must be using a specialized notion of "interpretation". According to common sense and ordinary dictionary definitions a good interpretation is one that accurately reflects the meaning of the text. When that text is full of explicit statements, examples and explanations, as Prisig's books are, I think it's safe to assume that the author wanted to be clearly understood by his readers. Things might get more complicated if we wanted to interpret the more literary aspects or if you wanted to get experimental in applying this or that interpretive theory. But normally, a good interpretation is one that accurately reflects the meaning of the books or, even better, one that illuminates Pirsig's ideas. A good critique is one that helps us understand or more fully appreciate the meaning of the text. 
I don't think we have to believe there is one objectively true interpretation to assert this common sense notion. I don't think that we are hindered at all by the fact that every reader is an interpreter. I mean, the basic criteria doesn't change. Intellectual quality will include things like clarity, coherence, understanding each statement and its context, seeing how both books fit together, how they relate to the wider world of ideas, how it can be used in practice, etc., etc.. 

Isn't that the basic premise of a forum like this? We're exploring the meaning and import of a an identifiable set of ideas, right? That's the context in which we're talking about "interpretation".