[MD] “An Overview of the MOQ by Robert Pirsig” Transcript

[Ant McWatt]

For anyone interested here's some useful notes that Henry Gurr has sent to me about the recently published "An Overview of the MOQ by Robert Pirsig" transcript largely icw how the brain works:

----------------------------------

Date: Wed, 1 May 2013 18:54:52 -0400
Subject: Now a Physics Theory supports Pirsig' saying: Quality is not just some abstraction; it's something that guides your life every minute of every second [of every day] even though you do not intellectually recognize that it is so.
From: henrysgurr at gmail.com
To: Dr Anthony McWatt et al


Dear ZMM Enthusiasts: 

At the end of this email thread, you will see  Anthony McWatt’s, announcement  of his recent posting of (with link to) his just transcribed, Robert Pirsig Interview from  =>

”The film (which is the third one featured on the 'The MOQ at Oxford' DVD) originally appeared at the MOQ Study Day held at Oxford University in October 2009.“

I congratulate Dr McWatt for doing this, since this is a very important document, which everyone
should study and take to heart!!! In this reading, you will see that Pirsig’s words there, are an excellent. well focused, summary of the essence of both of his books: ZMM and Lila!! Here Pirsig gives us some very practical messages, really a theory, for guiding our every action, and ultimately our life!! 

To help you get started, I show at A) below, the portion of Anthony’s transcript the part where Pirsig discusses just how “BETTER”…. comes into daily  actions …. each moment … leading to the next moment: 

In reading Pirsig’s words, you will see how he amplifies the following:   

"Quality is not just some abstraction; it's something that guides your life every minute of every second [of every day] even though you do not intellectually recognize that it is so. .... "

*******

This passage  really gets my attention because, there is a VERY GOOD PHYSICS THEORY, that says: : 

Pirsig’s message is an intrinsic consequence of how our brain works!! 

Our brain is a biological mechanism to seek "the best" line of action, for whatever
situation is encountered.  (Here you should recognize that each new situation, is really “ a problem to be solved”!)... as Pirsig says " every  minute of every second [of every day]" !!! 


****************************************************************


AND all the more so, because (as I recently realized) this PHYSICS THEORY of BRAIN operation,
shows FACTUAL REASONS  for the LITERAL TRUTH of what Pirsig says!!  (IE, what Pirsig says: 1) In Anthony’s transcribed interview, 2)In what he specifically states (or implies) through-out ZMM and Lila. 

In case I’ve peaked your interest, I provide at B) below, the abstract of my recent talk, about this very topic!! To learn more, click on the link next down, to read my paper  “Memory, Perception,& Problem Solving -- AHA!!!, which discusses Princeton’s Physics Professor J J Hopfield’s theory, as well as my discussion how this all fits together. 

These ideas propose an exceedingly important conclusion how our brain does its work!! Moreover, I
believe  these ideas are the leading edge of yet another “Copernican  Inversion, to use Pirsig’s words in ZMM (in Chap. 11, p.119 Re: High Country of Mind, overview of philosophers.) 

I hope I am not being too egotistical, but all this seems to me to be of equivalent importance, to that of say Copernicus, Kepler, Darwin, or Newton. YES... a new Copernican Inversion, that broadly supports Robert Pirsig's... BETTER!!

Let me know what you think.  

Sincerely 

Henry Gurr


************************************ 

 
PS: Anthony says at end of his email (pasted below):

"I did completely re-edit the film for MSU but, on reviewing the two versions, I realised the first one was actually better.  A case of knowing - as an artist - when to make that ‘final mark on the canvas’!!..” 

Yes indeed!!  Pirsig, in the interview makes the point this way, quoting Robert Redford: “ ... "That's how I make my films!" Well, I don't know what I'm going to do [either], I just have to see what has Quality. If it has Quality then I'll do it. If it doesn't have Quality, I won't
do it. If I look at it a week later and I see it doesn't have Quality, I'll throw
it out. If I suddenly, in the middle of the night say, think of something
better, I'll put that in. “ 


PSS: This reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright’s statement: 

“The Architect’s two best friends are the eraser and the sledge hammer.” Meaning, that if you see better, immediately replace  the not so good!! And don’t fret over the the work it took to make the previous!"

[N.B. Lloyd Wright is one of my favourite architects.  It doesn't surprize me that he said this - Anthony] 



****Supplementary Reading, As Mentioned Above***

 

A) An Excerpt from Anthony’s "An Overview of the MOQ"by Robert Pirsig transcript : 

“There is an opening line in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance":

"And what is good Phaedrus And what is not good - Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?" R.Pirsig in ____ 

And, of course the answer is "No!" Everybody knows what Quality is. You can't take a step forward without deciding that step is better than standing where you were. You can't take a meal without feeling it'd be better to eat than not to eat and you can't go upstairs without deciding that it will be better to go upstairs… and so on. And so Quality is not just some abstraction; it's something that guides your life every minute of every second [of every day] even though you do not intellectually recognize that it is so.

So, I found that certain people know this automatically and they are usually skilled artists. When you're trying to create a painting or a piece of music you've got to have this feeling of what's better. And just this feeling of what is better immediately will guide to whatever you want to
do. If you base what you are trying to create on what's been done before you are going to get an imitation of something done before. But if you want to do something new you can't look to the past, you can only look to this empty Dynamic thing that is coming at you and say "Oh yeah, I'll do that!" you know… and put that in. And then it works. 

Artists sometimes say: "He's got it!". They mean, he is hooked on to that Dynamic thread that pulls
them forward into their art world. And people who don't understand that look at their art and say: "Now I wonder how he managed to create that thing?" Well, he doesn't know either; he just knows that something in his consciousness (or something ahead of him) told him to go that way. 

I've talked with many artists, including Robert Redford interestingly enough and he said "That's how I make my films!" Well, I don't know what I'm going to do [either], I just have to see what has
Quality. If it has Quality then I'll do it. If it doesn't have Quality, I won't do it. If I look at it a week later and I see it doesn't have Quality, I'll throw it out. If I suddenly, in the middle of the night say, think of something better, I'll put that in.

 
*****************

 
B) ABSTRACT OF MY TALK GIVEN AT THE South Atlantic Coast
Section, American Association of Physics Teachers, Spring 2013 Meeting at the
University of North Georgia-Gainesville (formerly Gainesville State College), GA; 

April 5,6 2013:

 
The Human Mind As General Problem Solver, Is Observed To Find “Best” Solutions, That Correspond
To Highest Mental Coherence: This Talk, Continuing Previous, Will Present More Applications of Hopfield‟s Mathematical Model of the Mammalian Brain.

Henry Gurr, University of South Carolina Aiken,

HenryG at usca.edu

 
Princeton Physicist J. J. Hopfield's Mathematical Model of the Mammalian Brain,  says our brain Work for Memory, Perception, Language, Thinking, etc, (Even the AHA-EUREKA-Flash Of Insight Type Problem Solving) is achieved by our massively inter-connected CNS Neurons... Working together... 

MINIMIZING an analog of physical energy, thus yielding Optimal Solutions: These “best” answers, correspond to highest mental coherence, (and in physics language “least action”), for most facets organism response, be it mental (eg: perception, memory, speaking, ideas, etc) or physical(muscular
actions, trail following, tool using, etc).

Robert Pirsig’s book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”, applies here:

“Working on a motorcycle, working well, caring, is to become part of a process, to achieve an inner peace of mind. [Which comes from Optimal Solutions; These “best” answers!!}  The motorcycle is primarily a mental phenomenon.” … “The cycle you’re working on is a cycle called “yourself.” [Here think Hopfield Model!]

Physical Chemist, Michael Polanyi’s “Personal Knowledge” is also relevant here.

Conclusion:” If the shoe fits”, then continue investigations, such as: search for supporting
data, more observations, and authors.

 

Footnotes:

**Hopfield’s Mammalian Brain was modeled after, and is similar to his, Solid State Physics Model (& Theory) for Spin Glass, called Isig Glass . More at link below. 

***Above in [brackets], was added for this document. 

 

*****************


My paper “Memory, Perception, Insight, & Problem
Solving -- AHA!!! --   :

NOTE: There are a series of cartoons, puzzles, and jokes, but do NOT look at these first, or you
will miss the point!!       

Click here: 

www.usca.edu/math/~mathdept/hsg/MemoryPerception&ProblemSolving.html


 
***************** 



From: Ant McWatt [antmcwatt at hotmail.co.uk]

Subject: Re: “An Overview of the MOQ by Robert Pirsig” Transcript
 

Dear all, 

I am pleased to announce that the complete and definitive transcript of the short film “An Overview of the MOQ by Robert Pirsig” has now been uploaded at: 

http://www.robertpirsig.org/Pirsig%202009%20Transcript%20on%20MOQ%20at%20Oxford.htm

 
Many thanks to Andre Broersen who initially transcribed a rough copy of the film; this is especially appreciated as, of course, Andre’s first language is not English!
 

The film (which is the third one featured on the "The MOQ at Oxford" DVD) originally appeared at the MOQ Study Day held at Oxford University in October 2009. It was given a second screening at the MSU Chautauqua last December and was also warmly received there
 

Finally, talking of Oxford and Art, look out for the book on the MOQ and Art by Patrick Doorly (the organiser of the MOQ Study Day) which is due to be published soon.  For what
it's worth, I think it could be a real intellectual turning point...
 

Best wishes,

 
Anthony McWatt
 

(site administrator)

robertpirsig.org

 

************** END ***************



.