[MD] Being a Pirsigian

[david buchanan]

Ian said:
"Being" a Pirsigian is a matter of self-identification (having done the above exercise).

dmb says:
I can't help but think of that moment in Lila's Child wherein Pirsig says that the views held by two self-identified Pirsigians actually work to UNDERMINE the MOQ. As I see it, this moment proves that self-identification is not enough. It demonstrates that a person can be wrong about these things. 


Ian said:
Not sure I would say truth is central to pragmatism - but that would just be embarking on another debate on what we mean by truth.

dmb says:
I'm fairly certain that you are mistaken on this point. Pragmatism is a theory of truth. It's not an assertion about the truth of any particular contents. It "stands for no particular results", as James puts it. "It is a method only", he says. It's a method of determining what counts as "true". It is a theory of truth. 


Ian said:
I would however agree totally, that the key to being Pirsigian is DQ - not just understanding / appreciating it, but it, being it. Almost every other aspect is some re-working of assorted perennial philosophies - many a recursive loop.


dmb says:
Well, the MOQ synthesizes a whole lot of things that can be found elsewhere scattered throughout philosophy and the total vision adds up to a version of the perennial philosophy. But DQ is unique to Pirsig and the MOQ is built around that undefined term. It is original and yet it incorporates and preserves a ton of great ideas and traditions. It's fresh and yet it fits with some very ancient wisdom. That's the beauty of it.