[MD] Dawkins quotes RMP on religion.

[Ron Kulp]

-----Original Message-----
From: moq_discuss-bounces at lists.moqtalk.org
[mailto:moq_discuss-bounces at lists.moqtalk.org] On Behalf Of Platt Holden
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 3:49 PM
To: moq_discuss at moqtalk.org
Subject: Re: [MD] Dawkins quotes RMP on religion.

> [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]
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.

Ron:
Makes me envision a Gary Larson cartoon of the Neanderthal biker gangs
Of the ice age tundra doing burn outs and terrorizing mastodons.
"Og would have joined the gang but his prehensile tail made him
Self-conscious" (caption of a mastodon with the graffiti 
"Unk walks upright and loves it"