[MD] Social Darwinism

[MarshaV]

At 07:27 AM 5/21/2007, you wrote:
>Quoting Krimel <Krimel at Krimel.com>:
>
>
> > [Krimel]
> > Mine is a pretty stripped down version of the MoQ. I think the static and
> > dynamic distinction is a critical insight that goes along quite nicely with
> > complexity theory, Taoism and common sense. We have no trouble in 
> daily life
> > distinguishing between things that are good or bad for us. We recognize
> > things that might happen and things that are likely to happen and things
> > that ain't never gonna happen. We are gamblers at heart and the best of us
> > know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. I think Pirsig folded 
> to soon on
> > his metaphysics of randomness.
>
>Metaphysics of randomness? Not on your life. A metaphysics of purpose would be
>more like it.
>
>"On the other hand, the shift in cell reproduction from mitosis to meiosis to
>permit sexual choice and allow huge DNA diversification is a Dynamic advance.
>So is the collective organization of cells into metazoan societies 
>called plants
>and animals. So are sexual choice, symbiosis, death and 
>regeneration, communality,
>communication, speculative thought curiosity and art. Most of these, 
>when viewed
>in a substance-centered evolutionary way, are thought of as mere incidental
>properties of the molecular machine. But in a value-centered explanation of
>evolution they are close to the Dynamic process itself, pulling the pattern of
>life forward to greater levels of versatility, and freedom." (Lila, 11)
>
>Unless and until you accept Pirsig's explanation of evolution, your version of
>the MOQ is more than stripped down. It's naked as a Jaybird.

Platt, Arlo, all,

Pirsig has stated clearly that Quality cannot be defined.  If Quality 
is defined as "betterness", how would you explain/dismiss the following:

If everything is betterness, and there is nothing that is not 
betterness, then there is no meaning to betterness, for there is no 
way of distinguishing a difference between betterness and nonbetterness.

Marsha