From: Mark Steven Heyman (markheyman@infoproconsulting.com)
Date: Wed May 19 2004 - 19:06:27 BST
Hi CV and all,
cv said:
It was only after asking that I realized the question about the
biological level possibly contradicting itself was even more
interesting. I'm not a philosopher at all.
msh says:
Well, maybe we need to get a clear topic on the table. Then we can
discuss within the framework of the MoQ. Here's a list of
possibilities, based on our interaction so far. Feel free to pick
one or frame your own.
1) Is homosexual behavior fundamentally biological or social in
nature?
2) If biological, what biological function does it perform?
3) Does the existence of homosexuality at the biological level imply
a contradiction in the MoQ?
4) Is procreation the central purpose of the biological level?
5) Is homosexual behavior immoral, as morality is defined in the MoQ?
Some of these are touched on in my responses below.
msh said:
I'm not sure the essential purpose of the biological level is to
blindly create new life so much as to enhance and evolve extant life
forms. Perhaps homosexuality is a mechanism of population control, a
way of redirecting and dissipating sexual energy into a non-
reproductive channel.
msh now adds:
In fact, I think even species enhancement and evolution is not the
fundamental goal of activity at the bio level. I think the
fundamental goal of all individuals at the bio level is survival,
which, clearly, must precede the desire to have sex. In fact, faced
with extinction, sexual desire is way down the list. After
nourishment, sleep, shelter...
cv said:
But, I'm not so sure I believe the statement that homosexuality may
be a mechanism of population control. How are the biological
mechanisms in a person aware of the world's population?
msh says:
Unfortunately, my use of the term "population control" has caused you
to jump to the social level use of the term, like using prophylactics
or birth control pills. This level jumping (or slipping) in
discussion of the MoQ is common, and causes much confusion.
Homosexuality might be a mechanism of population control in that it
is a mechanism to enhance the chances for individual survival in a
dangerously overcrowded environment. It could be a mechanism for
survival in the same way that flight can be, or fighting.
cv said:
The biological level is perhaps the most personal of all levels, not
responding to the needs of society, but creating the needs of the
individual, at least in my view.
msh says:
This is confusing to me. Activity at the bio level is the result of
individuals struggling to survive. I don't see how the bio level can
be said to CREATE individual needs.
cv said:
As for the bio-level enhancing extant life forms, that depends a lot
on what exactly you mean by 'enhance.'
msh says:
"Enhance" is just my shorthand for "improve chances of survival."
cv said:
For my part right now, I just believe it maintains the life forms,
keeps them alive, and that the enhancing belongs to the
social and intellectual levels. As do such ideas as 'population
control'.
msh says:
See last few comments, above.
Thanks for your feedback. As I said at the beginning, it might be a
good idea to sharpen our focus as to topic.
Best,
Mark Steven Heyman
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