RE: MD the metaphysics of self-interest

From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Mon Jul 12 2004 - 17:35:57 BST

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    Hi Paul

    > Platt said:
    > I've suggested changing the name of Pirsig's Intellectual Level to the
    > Individual Level.
    >
    > Paul:
    > I've thought about this, and I can't see how it would work. A simple
    > example is when you look at defining characteristics of static
    > intellectual quality, such as:
    >
    > "Intellectual quality measurements are logic, fittingness to empirical
    > data, economy of statement, and what is sometimes called 'elegance' by
    > mathematicians." [Pirsig, MOQ Textbook]

    > ...what does this have to do with an individual?

    Ideally, all the activities you describe (using logic, fitting to
    empirical data, making economical statements, identifying "elegance") are
    done independently of social level values. A high value at the
    intellectual level is "objectivity, that is, freedom from society's
    influence. By contrast, groups, almost by definition, never act
    independently of others.

    > Why would philosophy, mathematics, theology, geometry etc. be defined as
    > "individual patterns" instead of "intellectual patterns"?

    Because they were all once created by individuals responding to DQ. As
    Pirsig said, "A tribe can change its values only person by person and
    someone has to be first." The patterns you cite are also dealt with person
    by person, Pirsig being a fine example in the philosophy category.

    The main advantage to renaming the intellectual level the individual level
    is to reinforce the higher morality of the intellectual order of
    "democracy, trial by jury, freedom of speech, freedom of the press" (not
    to mention free enterprise) over conformist social order.

    Thanks for the question.

    Best,
    Platt

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