[MD] The Trouble With Wilber

[pholden at davtv.com]

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

> Hi Platt
> 
> Recent advancements increase the intensity and quality of all sorts of things. 
> More arrete(acute) has been injected on all sides - but unfortuamtely this also
> means that we increase the quality of the things that we dont like. (judge
> stupidity from stupidity's standards not erudition's)
> We also become far "better" at being ignorant, "better" at being beligerant,
> prejudiced and artless. Can we say that the most shoddily constructed cheapest
> product possible is absolutely the "best" (highest quality) one available in the
> eyes of the ruthless fat cat counting his resultant fortune?
> 
> All these things are "better" according to their own standards, but what of the
> whole?
> If the social elements that are "improved" are not condusive to intelectual
> emergence/re-enforcement, then they are bad and "advancement" will only drive us
> backwards.
> 
> That said "us" is a big group - If the tv is crap, turn it off. 
> Would you say that you are reaching a higher level of insight through these online
> discussions as compared to what you would be able to achieve through written
> correspondence? How would any of us have even met in the first place?

Your point if I understand it right is that with advances in technology we
(as a broad generality) have become wiser intellectually in spite of being
exposed to a lot more low quality biological and social patterns. If that's
a correct summary of your view, I respectfully disagree. I see little evidence
of an increased intellectual acumen over previous generations.  

As for this group, it's the exception. I've personally learned a lot here.
For that I'm indeed grateful to technology.

Regards,
Platt

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: moq_discuss-bounces at moqtalk.org
> > [mailto:moq_discuss-bounces at moqtalk.org]On Behalf Of pholden at davtv.com
> > Sent: 13 June 2007 13:40
> > To: moq_discuss at moqtalk.org
> > Subject: Re: [MD] The Trouble With Wilber
> > 
> > 
> > Quoting Krimel <Krimel at Krimel.com>:
> > 
> > > All this while virtually ignoring the emergence of real 
> > expanded awareness
> > > and consciousness that is booming around us in the form of 
> > cell phones,
> > > instant messaging, e-mail, Google Earth, GPS, webcams, Alternative
> > > Intelligences, the expansion of identical shared memory in 
> > the form of film
> > > and voice recording and the sum total of human knowledge 
> > instantly available
> > > at the touch of a button. All of this higher level 
> > consciousness emerges
> > > specifically from the direction of rational thinking 
> > suggested by Piaget
> > > whom Wilber butchers while you applaud.
> > 
> > You invited me to jump into the discussion you are having 
> > with DMB, but since
> > DMB is more than holding his own I see no reason to. But, I 
> > couldn't help but
> > point out in your description above of "expanded awareness" 
> > that you cited 
> > only the means by which awareness has spread horizontally but 
> > nothing about
> > the meanings or depth of understanding of this broader 
> > dispersion of data brought
> > about by technology. There is precious little evidence that 
> > the new gimmicks
> > of communication have made us any wiser or brought us to a 
> > "higher level of
> > consciousness." Expansion in breadth doesn't promise 
> > penetration in depth. Flatland
> > is not conducive to insight.  


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