[MD] The difference between a Monet and a finger painting

[David Thomas]

Arlo,

> [Dave to Ham]
> I was listening to the CBC "Understanding Science" in one of them
> there was a discussion about the problems that arises from the
> misunderstanding of
> "agency" and assigning it exclusively to humans. In this case they
> were comparing the agency of  bacteria that change their "behavior"
> based on the introduction of antibiotics. How does this fit into your views.
> 
> [Arlo]
> While I doubt it fits Ham's views, I'd say that this in accord with
> the MOQ. "Agency", quite simply, could be seen as the ability to
> respond to experience. Obviously, context provides some manner of
> "structuration", as the responding pattern is always limited by a
> contextual repertoire of possibility. Bacteria lack the "agency" to
> build airplanes because their biological structure does not support
> social patterns, and hence they ipso facto lack the possibility to
> respond to experience "intellectually". Humans, of course, have a
> very diverse and deep "response repertoire" to draw from, while
> inorganic patterns have the least complex and varied. This follows
> the MOQ trajectory precisely, in that evolutionary morality serves to
> increase the repertoire of possibility the patterns in question have
> with which to respond to experience (DQ).
Agree. The problems inherent in tying "subject" to "agency" diminish or at
least are more apparent under a value based system. Although is sounds weird
where value exists so does agency to some tiny degree. Very hard to wrap
your head around though. Christopher Alexander (architect) in his "Nature of
Order" makes a similar claim about "life". That where ever there is order
from quarks to quadrangles there is life. Beyond the limits of my circuits.

Dave
> 
> Moq_Discuss mailing list
> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc.
> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org
> Archives:
> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/
> http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/