[MD] an aside

[John Carl]

On Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 10:01 AM, Arlo Bensinger <ajb102 at psu.edu> wrote:

[Ron]
> But this shows how an intellectual ideal can overcome all that. It proves
> the potential of strength through diversity. That not all intellectual
> patterns are evil, that some transcend cultural values and it's these
> intellectual values of a social community is what really makes this country
> dynamic.
>
> [Arlo]
> Typically, words like "multiculturalism" and "diversity" are simply empty
> words charged with being a boogeyman of some sort. As Craig pointed out, and
> I've been talking about with John, I think its important to talk about "what
> kind of 'diversity' is being talked about".
>


John]

I was thinking about this a bit this morning. Most of what I idealize in
education I realize at our local community college mural art class.  I guess
part of my life long matriculation from Sierra College.   There are about 12
students, most all of them far past the "student" age, and coming from
various walks of life - a sign painter who graduated from high school in
1967, somewhere in Florida, a counselor to alcoholics - a highly various
group, but lots of cumulative life experience.

Our assignment this quarter, is to come up with something for the local
Child Protective Services Building.  A brand new building.

Painting is a solitaire affair.  Murals are not. Murals on public spaces
take extra thought and input and murals on public places where children in
crisis are gonna be subjected to institutional takeover of their life...
 well that kind of art takes on a whole new level of discussion.  And a lot
came out in a short time this morning, I was encouraged to see.  There are
good people out there.  With good ideas.  I'm glad to be part of this one
small space where there is the potential for good ideas to be made into
healing art.

So... the rhythm of colors on the walls... intellectual or not?  Concepts
relating to images which you can put words to, but you can't describe
completely.  I think my experience  illustrates Ron's point:

"That not all intellectual patterns are evil, that some transcend cultural
values and it's these intellectual values of a social community is what
really makes this country dynamic."

at the same time proving mine, that Quality is definable experientially.


In my opinion, diversity in social patterns is irrelevant so long as those
> patterns do not violate (governing) intellectual principles (i.e., those
> that can be shown either subvert intellectual dominance or attempt to
> dominate biological patterns in the absence of justification that doing so
> is necessary for the survival of society). To be clear, I place the burden
> on proof ahead of accusations of "immoral" subversion or dominance.
>

In my opinion, diversity in social patterns co-exist with their
similarities.  That's what makes them fascinating.  The harmony in the
disunity.   But objective study of social patterns is one thing.  Enemy
formation is a completely other.


>
> The reason I place burden of proof upfront is that it is from diversity
> (biological, social and intellectual) that DQ operates.


Dynamic is virtually synonomous with Diverse...  I agree!  Biodiversity is
the highest quality biological or natural value.

A social pattern which offers the most diverse choices of being is the
highest dynamically, in almost every regard, diversity and dynamic are the
same.  The only difference is that I believe dynamic contains the shading of
free choice, and diversity does not of necessity include freedom.




> Historically, times of our greatest "dynamic" evolution occur at the
> meeting point between very different cultures (even if that is later denied
> by those wishing to associate all of mankind's glories to one particular
> race or group).
>
> So we have things like "biological diversity" (say, diversity in melanin
> levels, body size/shape), "social diversity" (say, religion or ethnic
> ritual, punk rock or country music), and "intellectual diversity" (say,
> quantum physics or Newtonian)*. The important thing, IMO, is to recognize
> that from diversity DQ flows (on all levels), while holding the reigns
> static just tightly enough to prevent devoltution or subversive dominance of
> a lower level of a higher level.
>
> * I guess for completeness I'd add "inorganic diversity" (carbon or
> oxygen).
>


I agree.  Which is a big relief because disagreeing with Arlo can be
quite... strenuous.





>
>