[MD] Another parallel

[skutvik at online.no]

John 
(the raiser of a thousand issues per post ;)   

24 July wrote:

> I am clearly making a distinction between images
> and words here, based upon the MoQ hierarchy of the social vs. the
> intellectual.  Images are a form of social communication and words are
> primarily intellectual.  

Is this is saying that language is the hallmark of the intellectual level? 
Well, no one (except this person) has any idea what defines intellect or 
when it first manifested itself on "our" scene (the "orientals" may have 
achieved it and transcended it for some Quality-like development)  but 
at least I believe that everybody agrees that Cave Man were prior to the 
4th. level - but the Cro Magnons and possibly the Neantderthals "had 
language" so that's clearly a blind alley.    

But what characterized social existence was/is the lack of SOM, no 
conviction that words were mere subjective description of something 
else, or that images/statues/totem poles were just dead matter formed 
into something resembling something else. "Words - in a correct 
uttered way (rituals called) were a powerful means of getting in touch 
with whatever powers who governed existence. Likewise re. pictures, 
they weren't "decorations" but also played some ritualism role. 

The non-SOM still characterizes social value, religion its most 
prominent pattern where prayer isn't mere words but a means to get in 
touch with "god", Christian sacraments the same, the intellectual SOM-
ists point to the ridiculousness in believing in wine-as-blood ...etc. and 
the suicide bombers belief in becoming martyrs or voodoo dolls bringing 
destruction to the "effigied" person ... etc ...etc, but social value is an 
"older" and more strong latch and we will all "drop" to that  level when/if 
the intellectual latch gives way. But luckily it's strong.

Bodvar.