[MD] The Academy is Evil! Here's what I'd do instead...

[rapsncows at fastmail.fm]

Mark, Arlo,


> 
> [Mark] As it turns out, evolutionary jumps come from the inside, but they
> need environmental pressure to occur.  It is an interaction,
> entanglement if you want.  This is of course just an analogy from
> biology.  Pressure on the academy has to come from those who are
> funding it, and that would be us.

[Tim]
point noted.  Thank you.


> [Mark]
> Yes, you are pointing to a growth concept here.  The intellect serves
> the society, not the other way around.  I think there is some
> confusion about this around here.  It would seem our current political
> theoreticians are confused as well.

[Tim]
hmmmm.... which political theoreticians are you speaking of?


> [Mark]
> Actually it is a great place for mavericks.  Just look at Phaedrus.  I
> agree with Arlo on this (below).

[Tim]
maybe I was misleading.  perhaps when you say 'mavericks' I said 'great
tortoises'.  Either way...





> [SNIP]


> > [Tim]
> > Is it possible to have a society that does not force individuals to compromise
> > (dynamic) Quality?
> >
> > [Arlo]
> > I think your question is oxymoronic, as "society" is by definition static
> > patterns of value. The closest analogy I can think of otherwise is a state of
> > pure anarchy, but the freedoms we enjoy that permit intellectual activity would
> > rapidly disappear. Some balance between static and Dynamic Quality is what
> > moves evolution forward.
> 
> [Mark]
> I think the concept of "force" is wrong here.  Society grows.

[Tim]
well, 'force' is exactly the word I intend.  The preeminent social
pattern is the government, which works only by 'force', or the threat
thereof.

> >
> > [Tim]
> > Or, is society such a constraint on dynamic (and intellectual) Quality that we
> > will forever be nibbling at the margins?
> 
> [Mark]
> If we construe the concept of constraint rather than growth, then bad
> things happen.  How big can the government get?  I think the idea is
> that in the end everybody can work for the government, and get what he
> need to live.  Platt and I are against this.  (Hope you agree with
> this Platt, I am making assumptions, but I consider you to relate to
> this world as I do).
> >
> Cheers,
> Mark
> 
[Tim]
I don't think I got what you were getting at with the distinction
between growth and constraint; it seems opposite from your use just
above...

Tim
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