[MD] A.I.

[plattholden at gmail.com]

On 20 Jul 2010 at 17:57, ARLO J BENSINGER JR wrote:

[Platt]
"Although Dynamic Quality, the Quality of freedom, creates this world in which
we live, these patterns of static quality, the quality of order, preserve our
world." (Lila, 9)

[Arlo]
Even accepting your "God" allusion here (which I am sure Pirsig did not
intend), Pirsig's MOQ clearly posits that intellectual patterns emerge from
social patterns, Quality is not a "God" that magically poofs intellect ontop of
biology.

Your solution to "mind magically appearing from matter" is to suggest a
Qualigod that makes such an appearance happen (you move from "magically
appearing" to "poof, there it is!"). Pirsig looked to social patterns as the
foundation of intellect, as a necessary strata between biology and intellect,
and I (and most modern scientists, maybe you should update your rhetoric) 
agree.

[Platt]
So I guess Pirsig didn't really mean it when he wrote, " Natural selection is 
Dynamic Quality at work " (Lila, 11) And, he really didn't mean it when he 
wrote, "But restrictions that stop the degenerates also stop the creative 
Dynamic forces of evolution." (Lila, 14)  And, he really didn't mean it when he 
wrote many other passages citing value forces as the catalyst of pattern 
creation. And, your solution to the appearance of mind from matter is "Aha," 
the Panthigod who magically emerged from society while DQ was off in another 
galaxy somewhere.

The academic mind never ceases to amaze.