[MD] Protestant Capitalism

[Ham Priday]

Bodvar, Platt, DMB, Krimel, John, and All --


>From the start, this thread has been a forum for PROTESTING Capitalism.  Am 
I wrong, or has the  theme not become "Protestant right-wingers be damned"?

Actually, I see no reason to tie Capitalism to a religious denomination at 
all.  The fact that many "right-wing" capitalists happen to be Protestant 
doesn't mean that there are no Catholic, Jewish, MOQist or non-theistic 
capitalists.  Milton Friedman (a Jew) was a follower of the Von Mises school 
of economics, a capitalist-based ideology.  Jonah Goldberg (Jewish) and Newt 
Gingrich (Catholic) are arguably today's best spokesmen for conservative 
capitalism.  So why the Protestant twist?

But since Bodvar now wants to turn the discussion into a pitch for the 
Quality hierarchy (by redefining Intellect), I have a few comments to throw 
his way.

[Bo]:
> No level can "check" itself, the 3rd. went all out in a social frenzy
> whiled it was "leading edge", humans as biological organisms  (2nd.
> level value) was valuable only to the degree they were willing to
> sacrifice themselves for "the common cause". We still see it in the
> social value-steeped cultures - particularly the islamic one - where the
> individual has no chance if not part of the faith and the will to 
> sacrifice
> the highest good. It was not until intellectual value emerged that
> individual worth and humanism gradually took precedence.
>
> But intellect is a static level and can as little check itself as the rest 
> and
> its relentless subduing of social value knows no limit and has caused
> the said looseness and insecurity. Intellect's S/O don't recognize any
> personal responsibility, we are either determined by our genes
> (objectivity) or victims of social injustice (subjectivity) . Only from
> MOQ's meta-level can the complete picture be seen, but this requires
> the 4th level to be regarded as initially intended. As long as we want
> the MOQ accepted by intellect's (=academy's) terms ... forget it.

Rather than dismiss the intellect of academia, I think we could all profit 
by standing back from the hierarchy and taking a look at where it has gotten 
us.

What I see from the descriptions proffered is a set of mechanical cogwheels, 
like the gears in a 4-speed transmission system, running from the largest 
(Inorganic) to the smallest (Intellectual ), with Biological and Social 
filling in the gap.  Evolution starts by driving the largest wheel at the 
slowest speed.  After our vehicle has overcome inertia and is proceeding at 
a constant rate, it shifts into second gear and begins to develop life forms 
at a more rapid pace.  Another shift engages the 3rd evolutionary wheel and 
Man emerges on the scene.  Finally, as we near the breakneck speed of 
civilization, evolution shifts to 4th gear and Intellect drives mankind to 
enlightnment, changing his perspective of the world ever after.

To use another anology, all of the pins in a turnkey lock have to engage in 
a specific order so we can open the door to reality.  The point I'm crudely 
trying to illustrate is that, according to Mr. Pirsig, this whole unfolding 
of the universe is an automatic process whose consequences.are indifferent 
to man, his thoughts, values and aspirations.  No matter how poetic your 
description of the MoQ hierachy, it's a mechanistic paradigm that runs its 
predetermined course inexorably toward cosmic "betterness", with or without 
man's participation.  Notwithstanding Pirsig's emphasis on Value, am I the 
only one who finds this scenario cold, unyielding, and inhuman?

Thanks for hearing me out.

--Ham