Hi all,
ROGER:
> WHAT DOES PIRSIG MEAN
> BY THE FOLLOWING QUOTE, AND IS IT SUPPORTED,
> OR IS IT JUST 'CAUSE HE SAYS SO?
>
> "In general, given a choice of two courses to follow and
> all other things being equal, that choice which is more
> Dynamic, that is, at a higher level of EVOLUTION, is more
> moral."
>
> COULD EACH OF US SUMMARIZE OUR CURRENT
> POSITION IN ONE PARAGRAPH?
I don't' think that Pirsig's statement is not particularly controversial
and accords with many widely held and respected scientific,
philosophical and ethical positions. Thus I will illustrate this with a
number of statements I believe to reflect the same idea:
1. Thermodynamics: Systems tend to maximize degrees of freedom.
2. Ecology: Genetic diversity should be actively maintained and
protected.
3. Strategy: A flexible approach is of greater value.
4. Economics: A mixed market economy is most stable and most productive.
5. Evolution: To evolve is to survive, to stop evolving means
extinction.
6. Morality: Life is better than death.
7. Entertainment: Variety is better than monotony.
(The list can be extended indefinitely)
The lesson of flexibility and adaptability is especially important to
our species, as illustrated by the following quote:
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion,
butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance
accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give
orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem,
pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently
and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." --Robert A. Heinlein
Jonathan
MOQ.org - http://www.moq.org
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:03:26 BST