[MD] Purpose

[ian glendinning]

Hi Steve,

I've no doubt we as (individual and collective) humans create purpose,
reasons to make progress beyond our current social / intellectual
states, etc, as you describe. But I see that kind of purpose as
something that emerges once we have self-consciousness of our
free-will. In that sense it is "our" purpose, we can set goals to aim
for. (I see this as where as Maslow-like psychological view fits well
with Pirsig, when we are talking about "intelligent beings".)

Without that conscious will, that's where the baggage of the word
"purpose" - teleological towards some goal - is more contentious.
Without that conscious / reflective will, I have trouble seeing the
use of the word purpose as being more than simply directed -
tendencies to self-organise against entropy and chaos, but with no
"goals" in mind, no "mind" really, tendency for masses, poles and
charges to attract and repel, etc.

Ian

On 1/24/07, Stephen Hannon <stevehannon at gmail.com> wrote:
> [Ian]
> Growth, progress, improve, learn, get better, etc ... all good, all
> about increasing value / quality and entirely consistent with MoQ as
> you say, and I would agree.
>
> I'm happy with a pragmatic view that says
> The purpose of Biological (life) is to add value to the Physical
> The purpose of Social (life) is to add value to the Biological
> The purpose of Intellectual (life) is to add value to the Social
> The purpose of the MoQ is to add value to the Intellectual, etc.
>
> It still leaves baggage under the word "purpose" though, no ?
> Whose purpose ? or simply naturally emergent purpose, and if the
> latter what does the word "purpose" really have to do with it ?
>
> [Steve H]
> Hello Ian,
>
> Good thoughts and questions.  What to do about the word purpose?
> Purpose of life in particular.  Well, throughout life, we have
> experiences, we relate to our immediate environment.  I think
> "purpose" in this context simply means that these experiences and
> relationships are important.  I think that's why we feel such a need
> to improve the low Quality ones, or replace them with better ones.
>
> I wonder if purpose is individual or not?  I think it might be,
> perhaps as creatures who can affect all of the levels, our purpose is
> to share our Quality ideas and improve upon our bad ones
> (Intellectual), to enjoy our Quality relationships and improve upon
> our bad ones (Social), to maintain a quality body and improve it as
> necessary (Biological), and to take care of our environment and
> improve it as necessary (Inorganic).
>
> Just some initial thoughts,
> Steve H
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