[MD] Mountain View

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting skutvik at online.no:

> Hi Platt
> 
> On 11 Feb. you wrote:
> 
> > I agree with the first part of the first sentence, but not the second
> > part. After all, we have seen vast improvement in the social static
> > level over thousands of years, from feudal societies to democratic
> > republics. 
> 
> This will be more or less a repetition of what I wrote to Marsha. 
> An important MOQ tenet is that a static level can't be improved, 
> it's the next level that "improves" the overall Quality evolution by 
> subduing the former level's value. The Western democracies 
> aren't good "social value", but good because intellect has 
> subdued the values that look harsh and cruel. To see more naked 
> social value look to the Taleban regime in Afghanistan.   

A static level can't improve itself, but it can be improved -- by
the next higher level. Makes sense. But when I look at the biological level,
I wonder how the next higher level, the social, helped to improve bioforms from
bacterial pond scum to the mighty lion. Can you explain?

> > To take the MOQ out of the realm of intellect puts in
> > squarely in the hands of witch doctors who, as the suffering of
> > humanity attests, have wrought great harm. 
> 
> This interesting, first because it affirms my assertion that intellect 
> is REASON, but you put things upside-down. LILA says that 
> intellect join(ed) forces with biology to thwart society, thereby 
> creating social social havoc (this is about USA in the sixties, but it 
> applies to the West in general. Ref. your excellent point about 
> New York city before tough mayor. This is what fetched LILA so 
> much bad reception from intellectuals who saw Pirsig a get-
> tough-on-crime advocate.  So you see. Platt, it's INTELLECT that 
> exposes us for "the dreadful nights" by subduing social value too 
> much. It's only by "taking the MOQ out of intellect" that Pirsig was 
> able to see the this context..   

Yes, you're right. I'd forgotten that modern intellect has this blind
spot, this Achilles heel, this defect that has wrought, and continues to
wreak, so much damage. You would think of all things I would remember, it
would be this insight from the MOQ. Yet, so immersed am I in this culture
where SOM intellect is worshiped without question that I became immune to
seeing its dark side. I am grateful that you have persisted to expose 
the intellectual level's true nature and its inherent flaw. 

> > We have not progressed from
> > huddling around fires in caves to modeling weather patterns on
> > computers only to have it all revert to dancing around in circles
> > imploring a sun god to stop global warming.
> 
> I agree with you about global warming - at least the man-made 
> part, but isn't it the intellectuals who are in forefront here?  

Yes. Excellent point.

> > Rather I see the MOQ as
> > occupy the top rung of the intellectual level,
> 
> A static level can't have "rung" that reduces it's own value 
> (reduces intellect to a mere static level) It can only evolve its 
> basic value to ever greater complexity, and from intellectual 
> complexity the MOQ emerged.   
> 
> > reaching out to bridge
> > the gap between intellect and art, much as Pirsig describes at the end
> > of his SODV. 
> 
> Well, all postulates about what is beyond are MOQ postulates 
> thus what's beyond intellect is the MOQ. But here I'm at the end 
> of my wits. 

Again, point well taken.

I know it must be frustrating for you to keep harping on the idea that
the MOQ is beyond intellect. But SOM has replaced the religion of our fathers
to become the new religion for modern man. As a result, we worship the ideology
and methodology of science. I've been brainwashed along with the rest. For
your and Pirsig's efforts to rescue me and others from the cult of SOM, I am
forever grateful. 

Besides, you are a helluva artist! :-)  

Best,
Platt





  


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