[MD] Plato's Good

[mail at tuukkavirtaperko.net]

Mark, Ant,

>> Ant:
>> By stating that the Good is an idea, Plato gives the impression that in the
>> World of Forms,
>> the static “template” of the Good can be found.  Conversely, Pirsig asserts
>> that
>> the Good can only be understood essentially through direct non-verbal
>> experience
>> hence why a baby can understand the Good even before it can string a few
>> words
>> together.
>
> Mark:
> No Ant, Plato does not imply that.  Through Socrates, Plato states
> that the Good cannot be known (sound familiar?).  This is very
> different from what you think he is stating.  It is what creates form;
> it is the form of form.  Perhaps you have not read the appropriate
> discussion that Plato writes about.  If so, show me where Plato states
> that The Form of the Good is a static template.  It was after Plato
> that it became so.  We can say that it began with Plato, but it was
> done subsequent to him.  Plato was much too smart for that kind of
> nonsense.

Tuukka:

Now this is pretty interesting. Pirsig definitely says Plato says Good  
is a fixed idea. But is he right?

As a philosopher, Pirsig has pretty prominent oddities in his work. Such as:

1. He doesn't use the word "ontology" in ZAMM and LILA.
2. He doesn't mention phenomenology when speaking of romantic quality.
3. He doesn't mention process philosophy, began by Heraclitus, when  
speaking of Quality and Dynamic Quality.

As such, Pirsig seems like a questionable figure to interpret the  
philosophy of the antiquity or to assess, whether a philosophical idea  
is new. Points 2 and 3 omit work that would make the MOQ seem less  
unique. I don't know whether Plato actually insisted Quality is not a  
thing, but if you find the right citation, feel free to convince me.

Best,
Tuukka