[MD] Intellectual activity

[Platt Holden]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for a most interesting account of what we mean when someone is 
engaged in intellectual activity. I don't discount your theory all 
together by any means, but have a couple of problems with it. 

[Scott]
> So, then, what are we doing when we are reading LILA? Well, what I would
> say that Pirsig was doing in writing LILA is proposing *changes* to our
> vocabulary. So in reading it, we are being asked if we go along with the
> changes being made. He is proposing that we change the meaning of such
> words as 'substance', 'cause', 'empirical', 'karma'. He is also creating
> new symbols, notably, "Metaphysics of Quality", "Dynamic Quality" and
> "Static Quality". So intellectual activity is not just the collection and
> manipulation of symbols, it is also the creation and modification of
> symbols. That is the difference between reading LILA and reading a romance
> novel, and the difference between social use of language and intellectual
> use of language. At the intellectual level we are engaged in modifying our
> vocabularies, not just using them.

As you know there are plenty of changes to our vocabulary suggested by 
those with a "sensitivity" agenda, namely the creators of "political 
correctness" whereby a bum becomes a homeless person and a gang becomes a 
youth group. I would submit that this practice is a social rather than an 
intellectual use of language, and I'm sure many of such "creation and 
modification" of symbols were instigated by those who think of themselves 
as intellectuals.

Which bring me to my second point. If we restrict intellectual activity 
only to the criteria you suggest, it seems that 99 percent of those who 
consider themselves to be intellectuals (and who I consider likewise) 
would fail to qualify. At least I don't know many people I consider to be 
intellectuals like Milton Friedman, William F. Buckley and Paul Davies to 
be especially noted for their creativity in adding to or changing our 
vocabulary.

To throw in my own two cents on the question, I think intellectual 
activity has more to do with making others understand your thinking on 
matters pertaining to the "real world" (as opposed to creating fiction) by 
working hard to be lucid, intelligible and rational instead of confusing, 
incoherent, and nonsensical.

But as soon as I say that, I think of great fictional books and poetry 
("Twas brillig and the slithy toves . . .) that certainly reflect high 
intellectual activity. So I'm back in the soup again.

Anyway, the struggle to define what is meant by intellect, and by 
extension, the intellectual level, isn't over by a long shot. It may turn 
out to be one the most difficult questions we've tried to address in the 
years this site has been on line. In any case, thanks for getting the ball 
rolling.

Best,
Platt