[MD] The SOM/MOQ discrepancy.

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Mel]
In that the Intellectual Level is more dynamic than the Social, which 
is more dynamic than the Biological in turn more so than the 
Physical; this makes the place of man prone to a greater dynamism in 
general by whole levels more.  So, I suspect that was the way Pirsig 
was looking at things when he focused on man as uniquely 
responsive.  (Capable of the most dynamic functions in the most 
dynamic layers.)

[Arlo]
I don't have a problem with this, and I think its correct. "Man" does 
evidence a "greater dynamism" in the depth and breadth of her/his 
repertoire of possible responses to DQ than anything we have yet to 
witness. I do think its incorrect, however, to say "uniquely 
responsive" as I'd argue that at the boundaries of the levels we do 
see not a clear line but a hazy one. IMO, certain other species do, 
in fact, evidence very rudimentary (or primitive, if you like) 
intellectual responses to DQ. And, even if I were to back away from 
that, I think we can certainly see that other species do respond to 
DQ socially (again, even if the complexity or range of these social 
responses is "primitive" compared to man's). But your last part, 
again, fully agree, the human species is "capable of the most dynamic 
functions in the most dynamic layers".