Bo and all:
>From page 274... "This conflict (the overthrow of society by intellect)
explains the driving force behind Hitler not as an insane search for power
but as an all-consuming glorification of social authority and hatred of
intellectualism. His anti-Semitism was fueled by anti-intellectualism. His
hatred of communists was fueled by anti-intellectualism. His exaltation of
the German volk was fueled by it. His fanatic persecution of any kind of
intellectual freedom was driven by it."
Specifically, I refer to this quote in order to disagree with notion that
Nazism and Fascism are based on ideas. In other words, I think right-wing
reactionary movements are not intellectual at all. They represent the social
level striking back at the intellectual level, they are
counter-revolutionaries trying to restore the old order. Like the
Victorians, they might employ the services of intellecuals for purposes of
prestige and power, but only if it served their social values to do so.
(like rocket scientists and such)
In the broader sense, Pirsig's big idea here is that the history of the 20th
century is all about the struggle between the social and intellectual
levels. And I think he's is quite right to view fascism as a reaction by the
social level. It ain't over yet.
I think we can see the same struggle in today's headlines. The fight for
Elian, for example, was waged by little Havana's anti-communists and the
father's legal bills were paid by an organization that can rightly be
described as anti-Fascist or anti-anti-conmmunist. Pirsig says this conflict
was most strongly felt in Europe, but I think there are plenty of American
fascists too. Ever watched the FOX news channel? Ba Dump Bump. : )
I think we have to be honest and admit that freedom could lose and each of
us has a certain responsibility and a role to play as the struggle unfolds.
I mean, it is not just a matter of understanding the nuts and bolts of some
abstraction, the battle between social and intellectual values is real
enough and it matters what we do. As I see it, Fascism and other
authoritarian impulses are on the wrong side of evolution and are
essentially an attempt to go backward. I've said more than you really asked
here, but thought a larger frame might help.
You also asked if I regarded Greek or Nordic or Indian mythology the same as
the "many intellectual traditions" that I'd mentioned. No.
However, it is precisley BECAUSE there are different mythologies, cultures
and languages that we get the various intellectual traditions. In SODV he
reminds us that "we are suspended in language" and in Lila he tells us that
Descartes thinks only because there is French culture. The main idea is that
we can see a variety of thought systems because intellectual patterns are
formed in the context of the culture out of which they arise. (One of the
main problems with SOM is that it thinks otherwise. It thinks ideas are not
culturally determined and otherwise misunderstands intellect's connection to
the rest of reality, as in the mind/body problem, all of which creates a
lonliness of cosmic proportions.)
The East is the furthest removed from our own culture and that makes it a
little easier to see. I think we can rightly say they have non-SOM
intellectual patterns.As far as understand the nature of the "mind", they're
way ahead of us. And that understanding is intellectual, even scientific in
some sense of the word, but it isn't SOM and they have a profound respect
for so-called "subjective" states. The West has nuclear weapons and rockets
that go to the moon. We've explored outwardly. But the East is equally
advanced in the other direction. their discovery has been inward, so to
speak.
Also there is the matter of non-SOM ideas even in the West. I think the MOQ
is a set of non-SOM intellectual patterns. It takes some extra effort for us
Westerners to overcome the gravity of SOM, but it doesn't require a
transcendence of the intellectual level so much as overcoming a linguistic
and cultural bias, which is more of a social level thing.
I think we all agree about the intellectual level allowing freedom from the
social level, but in addition to the old myths and gods that level includes
a whole host of other things. There is the language with its conceptual
categories, the traditions and habits, forms of organiztion and lots of
other stuff. I think Intellectual static patterns is a much, much smaller
category, so to speak. Most of what goes on in our hearts and minds is
social and we have just a little intellectual frosting on top of it all.
Sort of. Depends on the individual.
More Catholic than the Pope? Ha! I like that. To have a creative imagination
at the intellectual level is really where its at. That's the cutting edge
and its where we want to be. But, my friend, I think SOLAQI alters the MOQ
in a way that the MOQ does not need.
I think it solves a problem that doesn't exist, you know?
Also it seems that the role and rights of individuals is very much a part of
the struggle to transcend social values. We may disagree about the role of
"objectivity" in this fight, however. Its a process of individuation
wherever you see it at all, but I don't think the process necessarily needs
SOM or objectivity. And by the way, SOM has served that process well in the
West. SOM ain't all bad. But it has run it course, its job is done and now
its time to move on.
Speaking of moving on...
I've been talking to Diana and offered to leave. She thinks its a pretty
good idea and so I'll probably be un-subscribed by the time this is posted.
(wild cheers)
May each and every one of you have an ego-shattering, mind-blowing,
life-altering, mystical experience. (Its kinda like a prayer.)
Thanks for everything. Feel free to drop a line. DMB
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