[MD] Alternatives to the scientific method

[David M]

Hi Ian

I think the basic thing here is to think about behaviour.
Things have behaviour and so do life.
Life's behaviour is more complex and has more
possibilities than the behaviour of things due to
the levels built upon between particle things
and living things. So in this sense consciousness
as we know it was not around until us. But where
did the values to direct our behaviour and the
feelings we experience when we are effected by
our environment originate. I think Pirsig is right to
say that in as far as particles react and behave
and interact with their environment we cannot
claim that these behaviours are mechanical it makes
just as much sense to say they are chosen and valued
as such. We talk of the mechanical (a metaphor) because
some behaviours are repeated and are therefore predictable.
Whitehead suggested that all interactions are 'felt' before Pirsig.

David M

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ian glendinning" <psybertron at gmail.com>
To: <moq_discuss at moqtalk.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:09 PM
Subject: Re: [MD] Alternatives to the scientific method


> Thanks Keith,
>
> As I said despite being a general fan of Dennett's writing and humour
> I actually found "Consciousness Explained" didn't do what it said on
> the tin. I buy the emergent complexity natural explanation of higher
> mental activity ... involved in consciousness - thinking meat ... an
> idea I already subscribed to.
>
> Though I only recently know why, I found he didn't really get as far
> as why that explains the first person perspective we experience all
> mechanics, no "experience"- the "hard problem" as Chalmers called it.
> We should start another thread on naturalistic explanations of
> "consciousness" ....
>
> Ian
>
> On 8/14/07, Keith A.  Gillette <Keith.Gillette at detling.org> wrote:
>> I'm with Ian: I highly recommend all of Daniel Dennett, especially 
>> *Darwin's
>> Dangerous Idea*.
>>
>> I also recommend his *Consciousness Explained* for a naturalistic
>> explanation of the phenomenon of conscious experience.
>>
>> *Freedom Evolves* & *Breaking the Spell* are still on my "to read" list.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Keith
>>
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