[MD] Types of Patterns

[Steve Peterson]

Hi John, (all)

You've been talking about how to distinguish types of patterns of  
values. I want to offer my thoughts on the matter. A long lost MOQist  
named Wim made a suggestion that helped me greatly. He considered  
Pirsig's idea of static latching which brought him to thinking about  
how the different types of patterns are latched or maintained.  
Biological patterns are maintained through DNA. Social patterns are  
maintained through unconscious copying of behavior. Intellectual  
patterns are maintained through unconscious copying of rationales for  
behavior. Looking at how patterns are maintained can help you  
distinguish what sort of pattern you are talking about. For example,  
though ants have societies in some sense, their behavior is rigidly  
controlled by their genes. they do not, as far as I know, learn new  
behaviors from other ants the way mammals do. They do not participate  
in any social patterns. There is no such thing as ant culture which  
is passed down through other means than DNA. The biological/social  
distinction is then very clear, at least in theory. All we have to do  
is think about whether a behavior is a DNA encoded response to an  
organisms environment or a copied behavior chosen based on its social  
quality where terms like celebrity and status are helpful in  
understanding what quality is.

Perhaps the social/intellectual distinction is still difficult, but  
considering whether a behavior is maintained through copying one to  
another or whether we aren't even talking about a behavior but rather  
a rationale for behavior can be helpful.

What do you think?

Best,
Steve