Hi Jack and Group:
Thanks for a prompt reply to my asking for your views of social
quality. I agree Alexander Graham Bell has enhanced social quality
as has Bill Gates and thousands of other inventors over the years.
Doctors, too, undoubtedly contribute to social quality. Abraham
Lincoln is probably a safe bet although to say he made great
contributions to the intellectual/ideological quality of society raises
the question that David Buchanan has wanted us to tackle,
namely, the relationship of the social and intellectual levels. Can
we say that society possesses intellectual quality? In Pirsig’s
world I think not.
Nor am I convinced that “nurturing others (and yourself)” fits Pirsig’s
idea of what the social level is all about. During the Victorian era
when society ruled, nurturing and self-sacrifice were not particularly
valued by societies in the Western world. Rather society valued
thrift, honesty, hard work and self-reliance. The nurturing and self-
sacrifice idea sounds more like a throwback to the biological-level,
e.g., a mother breast feeding her child.
I think your criticism of Tom Cruise “promoting violence” is
misplaced when talking about the social level. If his movie “Top
Gun” increased recruitment of potential fighter pilots I think Pirsig
would agree that from a social perspective his movie was highly
moral. I least I’m glad I live in a society that produces warriors
willing to risk their lives to protect the freedoms I enjoy. In fact, I
consider that willingness to be the highest form of social quality.
Good old patriotism.
True, the lines between social and intellectual quality are blurry at
best. One thing we can agree on: that which promotes dynamic
change without destroying the levels which have evolved so far is
the highest form of morality. How to put that into everyday practice
is the hard part, and the ultimate goal of our discussions.
I look forward to your further comments on these matters.
Platt
MOQ Online Homepage - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Unsubscribe - http://www.moq.org/md/index.html
MD Queries - horse@wasted.demon.nl
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:03:14 BST