[MD] The SOM/MOQ discrepancy.

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Ron]
Due to the fact that biological life is present in the universe, one 
could argue that reality is indeed a self reflecting system. What 
that means or what that entails I'm not sure I know. But it does seem 
to be an existing feature.

[Arlo]
Hey, I am all about self-referential systems (I prefer the term to 
"self-reflecting", as the latter seems passive). Self-referentiality 
seems to be a cornerstone of evolutionary progress (Hofstadter writes 
a great deal on this). Its the nature of that "self-referentiality" 
that's at issue. And I'd say there is a world of difference between a 
complexity-emergent self-referentiality and a needy Deity who needs 
"its magnificence" worshipped and so creates "man" to fill allay its vanity.

I'd also argue that in the MOQ, it is not only at the appearance of 
"biological life" that the cosmos gains self-referentiality, but it 
certainly does advance it a great deal from the inorganic level. 
Indeed, I'd say that biological level is the result of (admittedly 
simple and humdrum) self-referentiality on the inorganic level. Thus 
there is (IMHO) not a difference in kind, but a difference in degree, 
with the fundamental processes by which ALL MOQ levels emerge from 
the previous level.