[MD] Consciousness a la Platt

[Krimel]

Ron:
If that means the highest social values are languages, then I agree.
If it means the highest social values are conformity and consensus, then
I disagree. Thanks for asking.

Ron:
What I mean is, the higher social values define intellectual values.
I would consider conformity to be a lower social value.

[Krimel]
Aren't conformity and consensus the very essence of the social level? It
would certainly be more dynamic if everyone just drove on which ever side of
the road they felt like and saw traffic signs as opportunities to exercise
free will but think the impact on average life expectancy.

I would say the measure of the value of a society is not so much the level
of conformity as the amount of force required to maintain that conformity.
After all there is wide spread consensus and conformity over the social
prohibition against eating shit and it's not like there are policemen with
their guns guarding sewage plants.