From: Valuemetaphysics@aol.com
Date: Thu Apr 15 2004 - 02:16:52 BST
Mark says:
First, let us examine what an individual is in the MoQ.
An individual Human being is composed of four evolutionary related
levels of static value:
1. The Inorganic.
2. The Organic.
3. The Social.
4. The Intellectual.
DM: I would be interested to know what others think is an appropriate
description
of an individual in MOQ terms. I personally do not think the above is
adequate and jumps
in too quickly to the levels without expressing the fit with SQ/DQ.
Mark 15-4-04: Now hang on David M. please? This is unfair!
I've written many times that patterns are evolving in an evolutionary
relationship with DQ. This should be understood without question? I hardly ever talk
about patterns in isolation from their evolutionary relationship with DQ, but
on one of those rare occasions i do so, this happens? Have you never seen this
diagram:
Event stream (DQ) (SODV) --------> Coherence <-------- DQ as goal of
Evolution (Lila)
SODV = The Robert Pirsig paper, Subjects, Objects, Data and Values.
Lila is the novel in which the MoQ is developed and presented.
If you take even a cursory glance at The edge of Chaos, (TEOC) you would get
a full description of the individual in MoQ terms: Coherence is between
patterns of value (All patterns, All levels.)
So, If you take the above description of the static levels of a Human being:
1. The Inorganic.
2. The Organic.
3. The Social.
4. The Intellectual.
and place them where the word, 'Coherence' is in the diagram, you have a
Human being as Intellectually creative, socially contextualised, biologically
organised Inorganic transpatterned value evolution. (Or something like that!!)
David M:
To get to something that sounds more like what it is to be a human being
I think we
need to return to examining the reality of experience. The only
experience we have
is that of individual experience, outside of certain mystical or
participatory experiences.
It is due to the opening/clearing that we call 'experience' that it is
possible to talk
about an awareness of activity that can be characterised as possessing
dynamic
or static quality. As individuals we are always troubled by the
emptiness/openness/
choice that is at the heart of what is dynamic. We are confronted by
openness/nothingness,
condemned to choose, unable to live without steping forward into
unchartered territory (i.e.
dynamic activity), for us no instinctual certainty. Our bodies may
conform to certain unchangeable
biological patterns, but even our social activity is open to choice, we
do not have to honour the
father and mother if we decide not to, & even biology can be challenged
as we choose not to procreate
for example. Yet the world is full of pattern, but through knowledge we
can understand these patterns
and turn them to our own ends/values. And through our participatory
understanding of dynamic activity
we can even construct an understanding of how, through the evolution of
levels, it has been possible
for the cosmos to bring about the very mix of SQ and DQ that we are. As
Pirsig says SQ is laid down
in the wake of DQ. In as far as we participate in this human individuals
are extremely significant beings
a sentiment Pirsig also expresses. Where Mark seems to raise the value
of the intellectual level above
that of the dynamic individual I think he is slipping away from the
mystical heart of the MOQ.
What is the general view? And also Mark what say you?
regards
David M
Mark 15-4-04: Dear David, May i indulge in a bit of conceit? The thing is, i
am not naturally inclined to 'blow my own trumpet.' So, it kind of embarrasses
me to keep pointing towards the essay, TEOC.
One of the nice things about placing an essay in the forum, or so i
anticipated, was that it would save me having to say the same things over and over. But
this has not happened.
Instead, all i ever seem to do is hear myself saying, 'I refer you to TEOC.'
I suppose this is beginning to sound like abuse? "Hey YOU! Get yourself off
to the edge of chaos!!" ;-)
The other thing i keep doing is repeating myself over and over, because no
one has read TEOC!
Your post has saddened me, because i don't wish to be thought of as one who
does not wish to always emphasis the mystic nature at the heart of the MoQ.
Indeed, TEOC suggests that, and provides examples of, mundane, day to day
activities like playing sport or playing music which may be performed as ways of
following the way, the path, the Tao. Quality.
All the best,
Mark
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