[MD] Social level for humans only

[Krimel]

dmb said:
The MOQ says that even subatomic particles can express preferences....  and
greater and greater degrees of consciousness unfold throughout the whole
evolutionary  process.

Dave T replied:
So what you are proposing as your theory of reality is that quarks are
conscious? What next? Equal rights for quarks? What about gay quarks getting
married? 

dmb says:
No, Dave. That is NOT what I'm saying. The only thing you've done in this
response is prop up the same ridiculous straw man that Krimel uses. 

Krimel's Straw man #3) atoms are decision makers  
Your ongoing defense of Pirsig you have consistently defended his use of
"preference" as an alternative to "cause".

dmb's actual position #3)
You anthropomorphize the behavior of inorganic patterns in a way that Pirsig
would never endorse and neither would anyone else. The actual idea is that
it makes more sense to think of the "laws" of physics in a less mechanistic
way. And of course with the way the field is these days, the probability of
needing a quantum leap in re-conceptualizing these "laws" is very high.

This is also the view that Chalmers entertains and it is the view that James
arrived at, by the way. It's called panpsychism.

[Krimel]
What I hear is that Strawman #3 just ate your other arm. You are in fact
endorsing the projection of human qualities of mind into inanimate nature.
You are advocating the very anthropomorphism you claim no one would endorse.
Panpsychism is fundamentally a belief in the supernatural. Panpsychic of
course deny this as you no doubt will, but their denial is merely the result
of redefining the supernatural as natural. Just as one might claim God is
not supernatural because he is part and parcel to nature. Mind and God are
comingled in this squirrely view. It is in fact the very point my strawman
has been making low these many years and it is good to hear you fess up to
it at last.

Strawmen - 1
dmb    -   0