[MD] Collective intelligence

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting ARLO J BENSINGER JR <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Platt]
> If you care about your readers, you should be sorry for any word that might
> give them trouble. You will not find words like "dialogism" in Pirsig's
> writings.  
> 
> [Arlo]
> Sorry, I assume people here are are either more read, or know how to use online
> dictionaries.

Yes, by all means, make your readers work to understand you. 

> [Platt]
> Adding the word "individually" points to the fact that you, me, Lila and the
> brujo each consist of the four static levels or morality plus the ability to
> respond to DQ.  If that's S/O dualism, Pirsig is equally guilty.
> 
> [Arlo]
> No, he states clearly the collective consciousness unites our minds like cells
> in a body. The "individual" is a pragmatic reference point, but does not exist
> apart from the patterns of which it emerges. Since it emerges from the
> collective consciousness (in part) it is not apart from them. 

Speaking of the individual Lila Pirsig wrote: "Biologically she's fine, socially
she's pretty far down the scale, intellectually she's nowhere. But Dynamically . . .
Ah! That's the one to watch." (Lila, 13) Now, what did you say? 

> [Platt]
> The ability to respond to DQ is the normal state of being a human being.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Really, so nothing could respond to DQ prior to humans? Or did other things
> stop responding to DQ the moment the first human was "created"?

My, you certainly read into statements things that aren't there.

> All patterns are capable of responding to DQ on their level. Since the "self"
> contains the collective consciousness (mythos and logos), it is capable of
> responding to DQ on the social and intellectual levels. A dog is capable of
> responding to DQ on the biological level.

Give me an example of a dog responding to DQ. Howling at the moon perhaps?

> [Platt]
> As Pirsig made clear, no culture needed for a baby to respond to DQ. She just
> does what comes naturally. Later she acquires social/intellectual patterns
> (common knowledge) that are "transmitted from generation to generation." (Lila,
> 9)
> 
> [Arlo]
> No culture is needed to respond to DQ from a bodily-kinesthetic POV. But "what
> comes naturally" on that level does not include participation in social and
> intellectual patterns. That comes only after culture. "So and so culture
> exists, therefore I think, therefore I am".

OK. I get it. Without other people, the individual wouldn't last long. Duh.  

> I'm skipping your "translations", as all they are attempts to restate what I
> said in the language of S/O dualism. I have no interest in that.

I guess not since all our language and common understanding is built around S/O dualism.

 

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