Focs: I was looking at chapter 22 the other day. That's where the social and
intellectual levels meet, so to speak. To really get a handle on the
intellectual level, I think we have to see how it is different than the
social level. To rightly assert that some "thing" or other is at the fourth
level, you've got to show how it transcends the third. Chapter 22 is the
place to go for that. It discusses the historical events that mark the
intellectual level's take-over after WWI and such. There is much talk about
Victorians and Anthropologists, but of course they represent that larger
struggle between the 3rd and 4th levels. They're like the front-line
soldiers in the battle between social and intellectual quality. It is a
complex chapter and the issues extend into the chapters before and after it.
In fact, the issues disscussed there go back to the section about the Giant.
(The Victorians built New York City, etc.) Its a huge part of the MOQ, its
about real-world historical events, its about a battle that continues even
at this moment. The Victorians are back. Fascism is back. I mean, this is no
academic exercise. If I understand what Pirsig has said about the history of
the 20th century, what I hear in the news everyday reflects this same
struggle. And since the MOQ is all about evolutionary morality, a victory
for the Victorians would mean a step back in evolution and the triumph of
evil, for lack of a better word. Ironically, the Victorians pose as the
defenders of morality, but they're just moths, doomed by their own static
stupidity. It would be like putting cavemen in charge of ancient Rome. We're
talking about a world too nightmare-ish even for Orwell to describe. I think
intellectual quality is very important and ought not be defeated. Perhaps
you've noticed that by now. Switching gears and getting a little more
specific, I'd like to offer a few thoughts about the relationship between
intellectual quality and "smart people" with PhDs. In a common-sense sort of
way, it seems that a reasonable amount of intelligence would be ONE OF the
requirements for real intellectual qualtiy. Being smart isn't enough all by
itself. The fascist bigot (William Pierce, author of THE TURNER DIARIES) who
inspired the Oaklahoma City bombing has a PhD in Physics. He's plenty smart.
But he's not mentally healthy. Hitler was not stupid, but clearly his mind
was not right somehow. This aspect of consciousness is almost entirely
overlooked. Its not just about putting the right information into a mind
that works properly, its about the evolution of our individual consciousness
within a single lifetime. By failing to grasp and life out intellectual
values, the individual impedes the evolution of the big picture. Its about
your responsibility in the battle that rages.
MOQ.org - http://www.moq.org
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