ROGER FINALLY GETS TO HIS DEFINITION OF THE INTELLECTUAL LEVEL
Below is my definition of the distinction between patterns and INTELLECTUAL
patterns.
1) Patterns are simplifications derived from the complex stream of
experience. All life attends to and selects and simplifies experience into
those patterns of most importance. Moving black dot = food for a frog.
Electric can opener sound = food for my cat.
2) The intellectual processes known as science, logic, math, philosophy, etc.
are the systematic processes of discovering, creating, or testing patterns.
These processes were developed out of society and refined through the
combined learnings of some of the greatest minds of all time, including
Aristotle, Galileo, Kepler, Descartes and Popper. (Unfotunately, until
recently they have tended to follow SOM to the core)
3) Intellectual patterns are those that have been created and "proven" via
these systematic intellectual processes.
4) Intellectual patterns can be applied to the other levels. Indeed, this was
their original purpose.
Note that the intellectual level is directly related to the pattern forming
process and the systematic ART of distinguishing the Quality of a pattern.
What distinguishes a good pattern? Below are some of the commonly recognized
features of good intellectual/scientific theories:
SIMPLIFICATION -- One key characteristic is in its ability to SIMPLIFY -- to
compress data into a usable form. In the words of physicist/metaphysicist
David Deutsch: “One comparatively simple and comprehensible theory can cover
an infinity of indigestible facts.” The philosophic term for this quality in
science is "Occam's razor". All other things being equal, a good pattern
should avoid unnecessary complications, should be universal rather than
particular to a certain place or time, it should be relatively easy to apply
and devoid of extraneous baggage. Aesthetically, it should be elegant, not
held together with chewing-gum and string.
VERSATILITY -- Another quality is a pattern's VERSATILITY. For example, how
many different ways can a pattern be used? How adaptable is the pattern to
other environments or circumstances? Science, math, philosophy and
metaphysics are full of examples of how patterns from different fields are
found to have applications in ways never imagined when the meme/pattern was
first formulated.
TRUTH -- Another feature of a quality pattern that is widely recognized in
all intellectual patterns is TRUTH. This is covered extensively in the
writings of James and Pirsig. In SOM, truth often means objective laws that
float out there like some idealistic platonic form. In the MOQ, we know that
truth "is one species of good" that involves a pattern's correlation with
experience and other patterns. In the famous words of James: "Realities are
not true, they ARE; and beliefs are true of them."
Intellectual patterns also need to correlate with other theories or other
intellectual patterns. James writes extensively on how new intellectual
patterns can sometimes conflict with other theories and beliefs. He explains
how we adjust our beliefs and graft the new one in a way that minimizes
disturbance to our basic belief structure while also encompassing the new
pattern. Pirsig and James also refer to this as "harmony".
MEASURABILITY/TESTABILITY -- Another characteristic of a good intellectual
pattern is its testability. Good theories are usually measurable,
quantifiable and falsifiable. A falsifiable scientific theory is always
chosen over an equal but unfalsifiable one.
RELEVENCE -- Remember Pirsig's example of the biology professor's application
for research grants? James calls this pragmatism, and built an entire
philosophy around it. I recommend every MOQ'er be familiar with James.
Based upon the above qualities, science, philosophy, logic, math etc have
evolved through the process of evolutionary epistimology as espoused by Karl
Popper. (Blackmore would call it a special case of memetic evolutionary
theory).
IN SUMMARY:
The intellectual level concerns a systematic methodology to create better and
better patterns out of reality. It also applies to the patterns that are
derived through this process. In memetic terms, the intellectual level
involves the evolution of the best memetic processes to discover, create and
test other memes. Math, science, logic and philosophy all involve the
systematic development and study of memetic pattern creation. Theories,
theorems and postulates are simplified intellectual models that allow us to
identify, learn, categorize, record and apply our experience. Through this
methodology, higher quality ideas evolve.
Please let me know your thoughts,
Roger
*****
"No theory is an absolute transcript of reality, but...may from some point of
view be useful. Their great use is to summarize old facts and lead to new
ones."
William James
******
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