[MD] Patterns

[Ron Kulp]

Platt;

There's a grain of truth in Arlo's view of the individual vs. society --

maybe two grains. But completely and sadly overlooked  (or ignored) is
the 
role of the significant individual who changes society, whether he be 
Washington, Lincoln, Reagan or the brujo. Without such singular movers
and 
shakers societies would stagnate (as some have to this day) and we would

still be nomadic wanderers dressed in buffalo skins and hunting with 
spears. The essential role of the individual in the evolution towards 
social betterness finds expression in Lila with Pirsig's story of the 
brujo. In the following passage take special note of the fundamental
cause 
of societal evolution: "A tribe can change its values only person by
person 
and someone has to be first."  Some PERSON  that is, not an amorphous 
intellectual abstraction such as "collective consciousness."     


Ron:
Hello Platt,
I tink what Arlo was getting at was that society is a collection 
of individuals. Individuals who speak the same language share similar
ideas follow similar rules each individual having the power to
influence the way the other individuals think and act.
Jumping to the conclusion that he'selling a collective hive
Mind is kinda over-reacting. Especially when its this area
In which focus needs to be placed in order to grasp a more
Potent understanding of what intellect means and how it may be
Used with more precision in our discussions. Society provides the 
Frame and some of the pieces to develop our individual intellectual
selves.
Intellect does not reside in society, it resides in the individual
But society supplies those things necessary to develop it
Into individual intellectual awareness which are necessary
For an individual to function within it. 
A society is ever a collection of individuals how the society
Values the individuals in every way mirrors how the individuals
Value society. Success is measured from this.