[MD] Dawkins quotes RMP on religion.

[Platt Holden]

> [Platt]
> The levels are in constant battle with one another. But, it is immoral moral
> for a higher level to completely destroy a lower level on which it depends
> for its survival. That's suicide.  "Just as a society that weakens its
> people's physical health endangers its own stability, so does an
> intellectual pattern that weakens and destroys the health of its social base
> also endanger its own stability." (Lila, 13).  But, as you know, evidence
> that we are destroying the planet is far from conclusive. Is it still
> snowing where you are?
> 
> [Krimel]
> What good is a system of morals based on levels when hierarchy of levels
> provides no guidance as to which level has moral priority? I thought that
> was your point over and over with the Doctor and the Germ. But if it is
> immoral for the higher level society to kill the lower level trees then what
> does the MoQ have to tell us about morality?

The MOQ is clear. The higher levels have moral priority over the lower. "In 
general, given a choice of two courses to follow and all other things being 
equal, that choice which is more Dynamic, that is, at a higher level of 
evolution, is more moral." (Lila, 13) Cutting down a few trees here and 
there hardly dents the vitality of the biological level supporting 
humanity. The sun's cooling has much greater effect, in case you haven't 
noticed. 
 
> [Platt]
> I agree. It (pre-intellectual) means sensation prior to concepts. Thought is
> a secondary, derivative effect from physical sense date.  
> 
> [Krimel]
> Are you willing to go further and say that what we experience
> pre-intellectually is a function of our biology. It is the memory of our
> ancestors encoded in our genes?

First question, yes. Atoms also experience, only non-biologically. Second 
question, depends on what you mean by "memory." Is the memory of the first 
human to build a fire encoded in our genes? No. Is the memory of being 
frightened by loud noises like motorcycles make? Yes.