[MD] Democracy

[Platt Holden]

Hi Chris, 

> I do not disagree that a lower level pattern may be overlaid and
> controlled 
> by a higher one, all I'm saying is that  intellect doesn't control the 
> social level only because we have democracy. Intellect controls the social
> level when intellectual values are always more central than social ones. I
> can imagine that when everyone within a democracy let's rationality 
> supersede social level values every time they are in conflict - that would
> be the ideal state for the intellectual level.

Two problems with relying on intellectual level rationality.1) Reason alone 
(SOM) doesn't provide a basis for moral judgments. 2)  "So convenient it is 
to be a rational creature, since it enables us to find or make a reason for 
everything one has a mind to do."  -- Benjamin Franklin. Obviously 1 and 2 
are related. Example: In the current presidential contest there is no lack 
of reasons on either side to cast one's vote.

Platt