MF Discussion Topic for February 2005

From: Valuemetaphysics@aol.com
Date: Wed Mar 30 2005 - 03:04:48 BST

  • Next message: Valuemetaphysics@aol.com: "Re: MF CALL FOR TOPICS - APRIL 2K5"

    Mark and all Focusers:
    dmb says on 25-03-05:
    If emotions and egos were biological then we would be able to detect them
    with scientific instruments, but we can't, so they aren't. If you can show a
    picture of an ego or of anger, or show it to me in a microscope then I might
    buy it. This is why I think emotions have to be categorized at the social
    level, at least.

    Mark 29-03-05:

    Rephrasing the above:
    'If emotions and egos were biological then independent scientific reality
    would be able to detect them.'
    This is the same, 'Independent scientific reality' which cannot detect
    values, quality, and social patterns.

    Therefore, an appeal to independent scientific reality, which denies the
    very thing emotions are claimed to be, is inchoate.

    Ironically, lie detectors and electroencephalograms are scientific
    instruments which measure physiological responses accompanying emotional states.
    Lie detectors and electroencephalograms do not register Social patterns.

    The social patterns in the next box down include such institutions as family,
    church and government. They are the patterns of culture that the
    anthropologist and sociologist study. (Pirsig, 1995a, p.14)
    For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that the social patterns,
    denoted by the MOQ, tend to refer only to behaviour that is learnt through imitation
    (suchas rituals and social customs) rather than hard-wired genetic behaviour (as, for
    instance, observed in ant colonies).
    (McWatt PhD thesis December 2004. P.99)

    MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
    Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_focus/
    MF Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net

    To unsubscribe from moq_focus follow the instructions at:
    http://www.moq.org/mf/subscribe.html



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Apr 01 2005 - 01:59:03 BST