To: Platt, Jonathan, Rasheed and Simon
From: Roger
PLATT:
Rog, thanks for the clarification of your position. Correct me if I'm
wrong, but you make a distinction between an evolutionary direction in
individual species and evolution overall, there being no particular
direction in species, but overall a direction towards greater complexity,
versatility, awareness, and consciousness, implying purpose towards
a goal. I don't think Jonathan or Andrea will agree with this position
since they apparently object to the idea that evolution has any direction
or purpose whatsoever. Again I stand to be corrected.
ROG:
Inevitability does not mean goal or purpose (isn't this the same subject --
ie purpose -- as our very 1st discussion together about 3 years ago?). If I
roll enough dice I am sure to get "snake eyes" but that does not mean that
getting two ones is the goal or purpose of dice. Jonathan's comparison to
entropy seems quite appropriate to me.
PLATT:
Now instead of getting into a donnybrook about what the majority of
biologists consider to be the facts of evolution vs. their critics, I would
appreciate each of you gentlemen addressing head on Pirsig's
contention that Quality is a natural *moral force* like the other forces
identified by science (electromagnetism, gravity, strong and weak
nuclear).
ROG:
I suggest that DQ is that from which all forces are derived. All forces are
static 'manifestations' derived from the BIG "D".
PLATT:
My point would be that if you don't agree with Pirsig's explanation of
evolution, you cannot agree with his Metaphysics since it is built on his
idea of moral forces creating reality, including beetles, horseshoe
crabs and finally, thank God, us. (-:
ROG:
I think it still works with the above interpretation...no?
PLATT:
Isn’t the survival urge an *interior* phenomena like
consciousness, suggesting both have been around since the
beginning?
ROG:
Back to atomic awareness huh? You are tricky! Hee hee. Seriously, my
friend, I would say that according to your interpretation the answer is YES.
(we already know how we might choose different words to state it)
Let me know yer thots,
Rog
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