[MD] Flying Spagetti Monsters

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting "Laycock, Jos (OSPT)" <Jos.Laycock at OFFSOL.GSI.GOV.UK>:

> Hello Platt
> These were intended to be examples of moral codes applicable at all the
> different static levels, you've chosen to assign them to different levels
> which misses the point, my fault for being vague: 
> 
> Any event at any level of course permeates all those beneath, entities can
> though be defined by the highest level at whih they are manifest. Do you
> agree?

To some extent. Entities such as atoms and antelopes can be easily pegged as
belonging to the inorganic and biological levels respectively. People are 
harder to define, being at times biological, at other times social, and
occasionally intellectual. 

> Drinking bleach can be seen as a metophor for making a bad decision that
> breaks a moral code of the inorganic values system. Please feel free to pick
> a different one that we can agree on.
> Point is, that breaking it is a free choice that is available, and you will
> be punished for it by the destructive oxidation of a range of the mollecules
> that make up your inorganic pattern.

I consider drinking, eating, sleeping, fighting, f---ing and the like to be
biological level behaviors. Humans are unique in having some control over
these values. 

> Sleeping with your sister breaks a biological moral code and you will be
> punished by your progeny having limited diversity and becoming prone to
> genetic disease. 

I also consider inbreeding biological level behavior.

> Passing a red light breaks a cultural moral and the punishment is likely to
> be a fine.

Yes. A social value.

> Beoming irrational and denying the facts or logic that you are not napoleon
> breaks an intellectual moral code and you will be punished for it with
> "correction" likely applied by the intellect of a psychiatrist.
 
I think it's been fairly well established that most mental illnesses have as
their root cause a chemical imbalance in the brain. At least a great many 
of such illnesses are relieved by drugs. Talking things out with a psychiatrist
may prove helpful, but as you know Pirsig is no great fan of psychiatric "correction."

I hope this is responsive to your points. I get the feeling that you and I
may disagree on our understanding of Pirsig's levels. Perhaps further discussion
will be helpful. 

Platt






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