Diana McPartlin (diana@asiantravel.com)
Tue, 2 Dec 1997 11:46:00 +0100
Hi everyone
I've said this before, but I'll say it again because the message didn't
seem to get through. The way I see it, there is a need for the Lila
Squad members to establish amongst ourselves what the MoQ is and is not.
This is not the same thing as a FAQ. Earlier I called it a catechism,
this name wasn't popular and principles (well principia actually) was
suggested. I find that acceptable so I've called it principles instead
of catechism. The point, however, remains the same.
It is by forcing ourselves to state what we think that we force
ourselves to examine what we think. This is the reason for writing
principles.
A FAQ on the other hand is primarily aimed at newbies. It's purpose is
to explain and illustrate the MoQ for those who are unfamiliar with it.
It should be written in a casual and approachable manner. It should be
clear and comprehensive. Every statement should be backed up with
evidence and example. It is a useful and needed document. But I totally
fail to see how we can write a FAQ of something when we don't understand
it ourselves, therefore I think the principles must come first.
In my efforts to distil the essence of the MoQ, I've found that in fact
there isn't much to it. There's the idea of Quality, the dynamic-static
split, the four levels and their relationships, the codes of morality
and that's pretty much it. Of course you can go on forever explaining
and applying these principles, but in its essence the MoQ is very
simple.
The principles below are a work in progress. No doubt they will need to
be reworded and perhaps a few more added on. But, for what it's worth
here they are:
1. The Quality principle
Quality is the fundamental nature of reality. Quality is morality,
goodness, rightness, value, experience, sensation, awareness,
consciousness and the Self.
2. The Dynamic-static split
The best way to split Quality is into dynamic and static quality.
Dynamic quality is experienced as freedom, newness, excellence, fun,
beauty. Static quality is experienced as structure, normality, apathy,
stability.
3. The four static levels
There are four discrete types of static value: inorganic, biological,
social and intellectual. These are experienced as patterns of physical
matter, life, culture and thought, respectively.
4. Static conflict
Each static level sees itself as the highest good and tries to dominate
the others.
5. Static dependency
Although the higher levels constantly try to break free from the lower
ones they are also dependent on them and should not destroy them
6. The hierarchy of morality
The purpose of all Quality is to do what is moral and the order of
morality from lowest to highest is inorganic, biological, social,
intellectual and Dynamic. The static levels also exhibit low quality and
high quality patterns within themselves.
Ultimately I hope to refine this set of principles so that it can be
drawn upon to answer every question about the MoQ.
For example the question about the intellectual level's destruction of
the environment can be answered by the static dependency principle and
the hierarchy of morality: Yes intellectual value is more moral, but no
it doesn't have the right to destroy the levels beneath it.
Sino-US relations can be explained first by the four static levels - one
country is ruled by the social level the other by the intellectual
level. Second by the static conflict principle - each country genuinely
feels that it is right. Third by the hierarchy of morality -- the
intellectual level is, in fact, more right than the social level. And
fourth, the whole result is moderated by the static dependency principle
which says that the intellectual level can change but not destroy.
The AI question is answered by the Quality principle and by the four
levels. Quality is awareness, a computer is inorganic awareness and
human intelligence is intellectual awareness. They are two discrete
things. (okay, okay, I'm not presenting this as the last word on AI,
only trying to show how the principles can be applied).
I could give more examples, but I think you get the picture. As I said,
I don't in anyway consider this a finished set of principles and I
welcome constructive criticism.
Thanks for reading
Diana
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