[MD] Intellect? Never.

[Platt Holden]

Hi Jon, 

Since you asked you may find the principles of the MOQ below to shed
some light. At least it could be the start of an interesting discussion. One 
caveat: not everyone agrees with these principles, but Pirsig described them
as "excellent." So, as a reflection of the MOQ they have some authenticity. 
 
> So let me ask any of you who think I don't understand moq...what is the
> postition of differing views? How is such conflict to be dealt with, and how
> can a civil society be ordered by those who can't be civil on a discussion
> list.
> 
> All views, values, are not the same...they conflict as we have seen. So how
> do we choose what laws, norms, ethical and legal, to build society on.
> 
> I know P tries to avoid relativim of values, yet he does in other places
> seem to say none are right or wrong, they just are. This is my point. Many
> world views, and their values, and the laws that stem from them are mutually
> incompatible. Not only this, they are mutually offensive. Not only this,
> they are mutually blasphemous.
> 
> How amongst all do we choose a world view and a value system?
> 
> One other point on the Platt-Pirsig quote. Pirsig seems to think that such
> values regarding rights are a good thing. OK, but where does he think they
> come from and how can they best be sustained.
> 
> I would like to have a serious discussion on this and other issues with
> those who can do so with the more mature members of this group. Those who
> have more heat than light, whose egos are easily bruised when someone dare
> to disagree with them, who worship the great void between their ears, are
> free to ignore me.

Principles of the Metaphysics of Quality

The Quality Principle. Quality is simultaneously an immanent and transcendent 
moral force. It created and gave purpose to our world, motivated by the ethical 
principle of the "Good" which is its essence. Quality is synonymous with 
"morality" and "value." Thus, the world is primarily a moral order, consisting 
not of subjects (mental things) and objects (material things) but patterns of 
value.

The Awareness Principle. The essence of quality is known to us as awareness 
without content-pure, unpatterned experience. As such, it's impossible to 
describe. Whenever we try, we end up describing what we are aware of, not 
awareness itself.

The Dynamic/Static Principle. To explain the inexplicable, the Metaphysics of 
Quality divides quality into two parts, Dynamic and Static. Dynamic Quality is 
the moral imperative to create; Static Quality is the moral imperative to 
survive.

The Levels Principle. Quality became manifest in our world by an evolutionary 
sequence of Dynamic Quality Events. Left in the wake of these events were four 
static levels of evolution-inorganic, biological, social and intellectual. Each 
level is a static pattern of Quality, organized and governed by its own unique 
moral laws-the laws of physics, biology, culture and reason respectively.

The Awareness Hierarchy Principle. Each higher level evolved from and included 
the lower but expanded awareness. For example, the intellectual level can 
apprehend mathematical patterns that the lower levels cannot. Also, all levels 
possess, in addition to environmental awareness, an awareness of values. Even a 
lowly virus knows what's good for it.

The Moral Hierarchy Principle. Because higher levels are more aware, they are 
more moral than levels below. Intellectual patterns take moral precedence over 
social patterns, social patterns over biological and biological patterns over 
inorganic.

The First Dominance Principle. Because a lower level is largely unaware of 
levels above it, it considers itself to be the most moral and strives to 
dominate other levels. What is moral and lawful at one level is often immoral 
and unlawful at another. For example, biological laws defy the laws of physics.

The Second Dominance Principle. Static patterns within levels that humans 
identify as entities are possessed by varying degrees of Quality  depending on 
their affinity to the next higher or lower level. They often try to devour 
other patterns to enhance their own survival. This causes suffering, the 
negative face of Quality that drives the creative process.

The Dependency Principle. When a higher level attempts to assert its moral 
dominance over a lower level, it must be careful that it does not endanger the 
stability of the lower level on which it ultimately depends for survival. For 
example, if the intellect in its quest for freedom from social inhibitions 
causes social instability, intellect will suffer.

The Individual Principle. At the present stage of moral evolution, only living 
beings can respond to Dynamic Quality. Humans, composites of all four levels, 
are the most capable of responding. However, responses to and evaluations of 
Quality vary by individual because each has a different static pattern of life 
history.

The Truth Principle. Truth, an intellectual value pattern, is a species of 
Good. There's no single, exclusive truth, but those of high quality are 
empirical, logical, elegant and brief. In any case, it's immoral for truth to 
be subordinated to social values.

The Freedom Principle. To create ever higher levels of awareness, Dynamic 
Quality strives for freedom from all static patterns. Freedom is the core value 
and highest Good in the Metaphysics of Quality. Thus, the best social and 
intellectual patterns are those that promote freedom consistent with 
maintaining the static patterns necessary for survival.

The Proof Principle. That reality is morality strikes most people as loony. But 
in denying that the world is a moral order they have to employ moral judgment. 
They cannot refute that Quality is reality without asserting a value. And they 
will have to concede that it´s impossible to live without assumptions of what 
is Good. For life requires action, action presupposes choice, choice 
presupposes purpose and purpose presupposes values.

Regards,
Platt