[MD] Regarding The Fundamental Nature of The Intellectual Level

[Christoffer Ivarsson]

My Fellow MOQers

This thing regarding the nature of the intellectual level has proven to be, 
well, difficult - to say the least. I think we can all agree that the nature 
of the intellectual level is that of a way of 
responding/understanding/seeing/etc Quality in ways that are different to 
the ways that the other levels /responds/sees/understands Quality.

Most everyone of you are fully aware of the debate concerning the "Symbol 
manipulation" given by Mr Pirsig and other explanations and interpretations 
of the nature of the intellectual level  - most notably Bodvars SOL.

I myself tend to discard the symbol manipulation explanation because of 
the - as I  see it - quite obvious reason that this is not in conflict with 
anything. The MOQ is a moral order, as we all know, and the different levels 
have more or less competing "views" on Quality and how to follow it. Thus I 
am inclined to thing along the paths of

"What is not by it's _fundamental nature_ in service of either the 
inorganic, the biological or the social level?"

As I said - manipulation of symbols doesn't really cut it for me - where is 
the FUNDAMENTAL conflict?

 Today I thought about "human nature". Human nature and what thing it is 
that is usually connected to the expression that it is in "the human nature".

The Quest for knowledge. Embedded in us since  - well, pretty much always. 
This drive that seems to be something that is a fundamental part of what 
makes humans humans, and something that  - of course - may service our 
biological needs and our social standards, but that in essance is separated 
from these things, that in essance is something that strives towards 
something quite aside from these Patterns of Value. Knowledge for knowledge's 
sake.

I am not sure that it *is* the Intellectual level, but it sure seems to be a 
most notable manifestation of it.

Knowledge for Knowledge's sake. Alone.