[MD] Social Ants?

[Steve Peterson]

Hi Platt,

Platt:
We have seen Nazi and Communist societies in the 20th century commit the most horrendous biological savagery ever recorded.

Steve:
These savage behaviors were committed by individuals. As the NRA says, guns don’t kill people, individuals kill people.


Platt said:
What makes the individual level superior to the social level is the recognition by individuals of society's role in keeping criminal biological elements at bay … 


Steve:
As far as I can tell what makes the individual level superior is that you invented it and you say so. Pirsig supports the moral superiority of the intellectual level over the social level based on an evolutionary perspective.


Platt:
With the personal values that comprise the intellectual 
level …

Steve:
Please don’t use the word “intellectual” to describe your special level. It has nothing to do with Pirsig’s MOQ and you will confuse people using that term in this forum. The patterns of value that comprise Pirsig’s intellectual level is the world of ideas while Platt's individual level is a list of morals that define Quality for you.

Note 95. "Intellect is simply thinking."

Note 25. "For purposes of MOQ precision, let's say that the intellectual 
level is the same as mind."

Note 70. It’s important to remember that both science and Eastern religions regard “the individual” as an empty concept. It is literally a figure of speech. If you start assigning a concrete reality to it you will find yourself in a philosophic quandary.

Platt:
…such as hard work, personal responsibility, self-discipline, 
individual initiative, craftsmanship, commitment to excellence, thrift, delayed gratification, honor of achievement, optimism, life long pursuit of knowledge, etc., firmly established as the highest moral order, reversion to senseless animal behavior by freedom-loving individuals becomes a rarity.

Rigel would like to sum up this list up for you, Platt…
“But I'd say that in general, and with many qualifications, quality is found in values I've learned in childhood and grown up with and used all my life and have found nothing wrong with. Those are values that are shared by personal friends and family, my law associates and other companions.  Because we believe in these common values we're able to act morally toward one another.”

Steve:
If you insist on your individual level having something to do with Pirsig’s work I would suggest calling it “the Rigel level,” after all, with hard work, personal responsibility, self-discipline, individual initiative, craftsmanship, commitment to excellence, thrift, delayed gratification, honor of achievement, optimism, life long pursuit of knowledge, etc. you are describing his ideas about quality.

Regards,
Steve


 		
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