Hi Kestrel(welcome from one newbie to another), Glen, and All,
In regard to Free will/Determinism
I agree with Glen in that, our behavior (and choice) is constrained by our
SPoV.
A child is open to vast amounts of possible choices; with age, those choices
are narrowed to an extent depending on the SPoV formed.
So in a way, we are free to choose, but increasingly, not free to choose
what we choose!
However, being aware of this, allows us to make a choice to change, and
although initially, the DQ we perceive is limited, with each leap, a wider
scope of awareness of possible choices ensues - until we are no longer
simply slavishly following static patterns.
Ofcourse, the earlier this happens the better.
That is why, IMO, instilling in children the love of knowledge, truth and
free thought (as opposed to A truth, A set of defined facts to memories, A
formula to follow), is so important in keeping DQ accessible to them.
Unfortunately, the aim of most parents and education systems is to only
teach children to fit into an established SPoV system, limiting quality free
choice in the future -breeding DQ out of them.
Below is an excerpt from a book "Genius and Philistine" by the psychologist
William James that talks about this, albight using different terms:
"It is claimed on good evidence, biological, physiological and
psychopathological, that man possesses large stores of unused energy which
the ordinary stimuli of life are not only unable to reach, but even
tend to inhibit. Unusual combinations of circumstances, however, radical
changes of the environment, often unloose the inhibitions brought about
by the habitual narrow range of man's interests and surroundings. Such
unloosening of inhibitions helps to release fresh supplies of
reserve energy."
"You have heard the psychologizing educator advise the formation of
good, fixed, stable habits in early life. Now I want to warn you against the
dangers of such
unrestricted advice. Fixed adaptations, stable habits, tend to raise
the thresholds of mental life, tend to inhibit the liberation, the output of
reserve- energy. Avoid routine. Do not let your pupils fall into the
ruts of habits and customs. ..... rigidity, like sclerosis, induration of
tissue, means decay of originality, destruction of man's genius.
With solidified and unvariable habits not only does the reserve energy
become entirely inaccessible but the very individuality is
extinguished.
Do not make your schools machine-shops, turning out on one uniform
pattern so much mediocrity per year. Cultivate variability. ...beware of the
philistine with his set, stable habits. The important principle in
education is not so much formation of habits as the power of their
re-formation....It is in this power of breaking down habits that we
can find the key for the unlocking of the otherwise inaccessible stores of
"the reserve energy".
If we substitute DQ for "reserve energy" and "ruts & habits", for the
negative effect of SPoV, it makes sense within the MoQ and offers some
insight into how to expand our awareness of DQ.
What is genius if not the manifestation of DQ, (in the form of Art, science,
math etc.)
Genius takes a radical leap away from SPoV....as V. Nabokov said : "Genius
is a Negro dreaming of snow"
Victoria.
----- Original Message -----
From: <gmbbradford@netscape.net>
To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2001 8:28 AM
Subject: Re: MD Self, Free/Determinism : a short essay (again... ;)
> Kestrel,
> I enjoyed the little tour of Amsterdam you gave us. That was a treat!
> And welcome to the discussion.
>
> PIRSIG, Ch. 12
> In the Metaphysics of Quality this dilemma [free will vs. determinism]
> doesn't come up. To the extent that one's behavior is controlled by
static
> patterns of quality it is without choice. But to the extent that one
> follows Dynamic Quality, which is undefinable, one's behavior is free.
>
> GLENN:
> It's a hollow "solution" to the free will/determinism problem.
> All he's done is recast a nearly identical problem in MOQ terms. Now the
> question becomes, "When am I free to follow the path of DQ and when am I
> constrained to follow static patterns of quality?"
>
> KESTREL:
> When are we free to follow the path of Dynamic Quality, and when are we
> constrained to follow static patterns of quality?
>
> Always.
>
> Okay, maybe that sounds to simple (it is simple), but lets reduce the
> question to it's core: "When are we free?"
>
> We are free to choose between dynamic quality and static quality at all
> times.
>
> You obviously come down on the side of "Free Will" on this age old
question,
> which is fair enough. That's your opinion. But if you read Pirsig's words
> more carefully, you'll see he's not saying this. He says our behavior is
> sometimes constrained by spovs, and when it's not, we can follow DQ and be
> free. Your answer of "Always" doesn't jibe with this, because your
behaviour can't always be constrained by spovs and be without choice and
> *also* always follow DQ and be free. See?
> Glenn
>
>
>
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