“Quality lay not only outside any
academic discipline, it lay outside the grasp of the methods of the entire
Church of Reason” (344). Finally we get to some truth about Quality. The
definition of Quality and its determining factors are outside of what we can
rationally reason without sounding crazy. Quality again has presented itself as
a very slippery slope, a rabbit hole of sorts and I dislike it. I have never
been someone to reside in the gray area, and that is where I feel capital Q
Quality resides. Yes, it has general parameters but they are minimally defined
and an argument can be pretty much made on anything in favor of its Quality.
I really struggle to see the logic
behind Pirsig’s “personal feeling that this is how any further improvement of
the world will be done: by individuals making Quality decisions and that’s all”
(367). Again Quality is determined by the individual making the assessment or
in this case decision. So what Pirsig values as a Quality decision may not be
seen by others as a Quality choice. After reading this book and being forced to
focus on Quality, I feel like the Quality our author is talking about is
achieved by making choices you would be proud of. Quality is something you put
forward everyday, like a stamp of excellency; you are the only one that is able
to out limits on your level of Quality.
I like what you have to say about quality and how it is determined more by an individuals opinions rather than a set standard of Quality. I agree it is virtually impossible to judge true Quality in most circumstances. What rock shows the best Quality of being a rock in a giant pile of random rocks? It would be nearly impossible for one person to pick one rock out and definitively say that that rock was the best example of a rock. As is the case in many examples especially pertaining to the arts. This is a fascinating concept when working on pieces of writing in the future and helps put creating art into perspective.
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