[MD] MOQ levels

[Steven Peterson]

Hi David,

>> Steve:
>> Thick and thin are on a continuum. I don't see how inorganic, biological, 
>> social, and intellectual are on a continuum.

DM:
>I don't know. Are apes social on a sliding scale that can evolve to what is 
>human?

Steve:
To the extent (if at all) that apes can manipulate symbols that stand for patterns of experience, they participate in intellectual patterns. I think gorillas have been taught sign language wihich suggests to me that humans are not the only animals capable of participating in intellectual patterns.

DM:
>Are tool making, agriculture, story telling, art of war, language, the arts, 
>social patterns that evolve
>on a sliding scale to what we might call intellectual?

Steve:
I think of social patterns as maintained through copying behavior of others without thinking (manipulating symbols) while intellectual patterns are maintained through copying rationales for behavior.  I don't see any sliding scale or overlap between a rationale and a mimicked behavior.

Regards,
Steve