Levellers,
In the analysis of static patterns, the four levels of 'static patterns of
value' is a fairly accurate representation of what can presumed to be an
ideal hierarchy of ascending moral order of 'static patterns of value'.
This moral hierarchy in its correct sense can also be viewed as reflecting
"Human Justice", the failure of which means that an inbuilt Justice
mechanism
inherent in Reality automatically takes over.
Now the only problem before MOQ is that in the current Reality of this
world,
this hierarchy has failed to reflect an ascending moral order, and an even
bigger problem is that this truth is not even acknowledged by those who are
in
control of or dominating this world, not only (mainly) in the western but
also
in the eastern world. Strangely, the reason for this lack of realisation is
very
different in the two cases whereas the cause is the same - the moral failure
of the Social level (ie Societies) to care for and assume responsibility for
the Biological Level- not only human but also plant and animal life.Now you
may
say that this is grossly unfair, but Reality says that the gift of
"intellegence"
also comes with a price tag that has to be paid sooner or "later with
interest".
This untenable situation, if realised, becomes a terryfying prospect for
a living human being, and if not realised, makes them members of the machine
world where there are endless prospects of entertainment.
To understand this moral failure, an examination of the Biological level
is vital, but first of all one must also be clear in this analysis about
what is meant by 'static patterns' and 'static patterns of value'.
STATIC PATTERNS can said to be in simplest terms as an arrangement of data
having an underlying order or form. This may be in the form of language,
symbols
visuals, sound , sensations, etc - in other words the FORM of static
patterns is
primarily SENSORY - that is related to the senses. Even non-sensory
experiences
are given form in terms and relation to sensory data - but that clearly
becomes
a secondary static pattern not neccessarily a true representative or even
close
to the original experience.Thus in a proper sense Static Patterns are
elements
of sensory or sensory related perception in a particular order or having an
underlying order or construct.
STATIC PATTERNS OF VALUE are thus static patterns having a value assigned to
them.
It is clear that for a particular static pattern, the value assignment can
vary
considerably from individual to individual, from Society to Society and more
so
from culture to culture. It is therefore appropriate to conclude that VALUE
ASSIGNMENT to static patterns is ultimately the internal function of an
individual, although no doubt many if not all values held by an individual
are
those that are acquired from society through 'education '. An individual can
reassign values to static patterns imposed by society if the individual is
sufficiently "free", but even then the underlying order(cultural construct)
of these static patterns is even more difficult to be free from.
THE BIOLOGICAL LEVEL :
Of all levels , the biological level is the most relevant because it is
under-rated in its importance, for the belief that seems to prevail every
where, including MOQ forums, is that humans have well and truly transcended
this level completely ( for has'nt society advanced like a rocket?). Nothing
can be further from the truth.
Hopefully, at least MOQers realise, that first of all, humans are
"biological
beings " and secondly a species of "animals" but with an advanced brain
which
makes humans more "intellegent", particularly much more rational ,
although
with technological advancement the "instinctive" aspect has (in my opinion)
diminished or devolved to below other animals levels. Now i have no quarrel
with those who believe that the "instinctive" has no value or negative value
in
"advanced societies",for they are welcome to the totally mechanistic world
in
which they live - adoring their machines to which they have become slaves
and
also more and more mimicking their masters.
So what does it mean to be a biological being ? It means that a being is
"born"
in an "environment", has a physical form "a body" , an inbuilt mechanism
provided
by "nature" for the survival of its body, interacts with its environment ,
that is ,
takes in something and gives out something else, and having a limited life
span,
"dies", although usually reluctantly. Hopefully this is simple enough to be
agreed
upon by most MOQers though some will say that "body" , "environment",
"nature"
"birth" and "death" are all illusory conceptions of SOMish thinking.
I will therefore proceed with the assumption that for the purpose of
analysis
these are valid conceptions. So first of all comes the consideration as to
what
constitutes "Biological Patterns of Value". For the sake of simplcity, i am
considering here Animal life having a nervous system which has inbuilt
static
patterns for survival, reproduction , etc and a "potential for
intellegence".
It is clear that for any biological being there have to be a minimum of
inbuilt
"static patterns of value" whose "value" is the survival of the physical
body of
the biological being.
REWARD and PUNISHMENT -
In order to study the effect and operation of these inbuilt biological
patterns
for survival, the most important factor is how the Value assignment takes
place.
In beings with a nervous system, the value assignment systems are the reward
and
punishment centres of the nervous system, where the perception of pain and
pleasure
occurs. Thus in a newly born being, those sensory input patterns that cause
pain
are ASSOCIATED with Negative Value (to be avoided ) and those sensory input
patterns that result in pleasure are associated with Positive Value (to be
sought
or "persued"). These associations also constitute the basic emotional
responses
of a biological being and become the fundamental DRIVING FORCES for
subsequent
associations and value assignments that become more and more complex as the
structure of static patterns develops and grows. This DRIVING FORCE OF
SURVIVAL
more often than not comes into opposition of the MORAL FORCE , and Moral
Dynamic
Value can only be attained if the Driving force of Survival is subservient
to
the Moral Force.
At first sight this appears to be a very basic and simple mechanism,
seemingly
valid only in the early stages of life, but once again far from the truth.
For one, these early and basic associations become buried into the
sub-conscious
where they operate without conscious volition and therefore inaccessible,
and
secondly, most subsequent and secondary associations are offshoots or links
to
these. Thus it develops to a stage whereby even "pain" or negative value
is sought for in anticipation of subsequent high positive value or pleasure.
Therfore it can be concluded that the effect of these survival static
patterns
of value continues till the death of a being, although these can be to
varying
degrees brought under conscious control of a central self, but is
nevertheless
very difficult to accomplish, requiring a lot of effort and time.
So if someone claims that he/she has completely transcended "biological
patterns
of value", it would almost certainly be an example of self delusion.
But even if the effects of the operation of biological patterns of value are
consciously realised, some degree of control is possible, and it definitely
then becomes far easier to transcend social and cultural patterns.
In conclusion i have tried to show in this post that biological patterns of
value are the most important and fundamental of all static patterns, the
most difficult to transcend or bring under dynamic control of the self, but
even if the operation of these are consciously realised to some extent,
the road ahead becomes easier.
Lastly i would like to add that biological patterns of value should not be
confused with "instinct" which is a purely dynamic attribute of a biological
being - something that Pirsig refers to as the 'intellegence of the cells'
in Lila.
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