[MD] Purpose

[Stephen Hannon]

Hmmmm, that seems to make sense.  Once we realize we have free-will,
we realize we can direct our own lives and give it purpose.  So part
of "purpose" is ability to control your own purpose?  Seems to work.

When does consciousness of free will emerge then?  At the intellectual level?

Cheers,
Steve

On 1/23/07, ian glendinning <psybertron at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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