Yes, very cool! - Marsha
On May 4, 2013, at 5:05 AM, Dan Glover <[email protected]> wrote: > Cool stuff, Anthony! Thanks for sharing it with us > > Dan > > On Thu, May 2, 2013 at 4:12 PM, Ant McWatt <[email protected]> wrote: > >> 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: [email protected] >> 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, >> >> [email protected] >> >> >> 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 [[email protected]] >> >> 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 *************** >> >> >> >> . >> Moq_Discuss mailing list >> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. >> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org >> Archives: >> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ >> http://moq.org/md/archives.html > > > > -- > http://www.danglover.com > Moq_Discuss mailing list > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > http://moq.org/md/archives.html Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org/md/archives.html
