John Beasley wrote:
To return to the relationship between social and intellectual realms, I
think Pirsig is generally correct in asserting that social values are
static, and can only change or develop insofar as they are challenged by
individuals who can perceive or adjust to Dynamic Quality.
Andy: I think it is because I am coming at it from a different angle. When
Pirsig speaks of the intellectual and social levels, I immediately fit it within
the complex systems paradigm. But he is speaking of values and quality. And I
think he means for these values to be in competititon with each other. In this
case the intellectual values will reign supreme over social values, according to
Pirsig. Okay, I am not sure I fully agree, but I can accept this. My point is
that society is a result of interactions between individuals. The social fabric
that holds us together is these connections. Together we form "society." Yes,
individuals can challenge these connections, remove themselves from the web, but
the accomplishments that we make as humans are a result of this web called
society, not the individual. If we associate intellectual values with the
individual and social values with society (the giant), then the social values
will be higher. But, perhaps, intellectual values are also formed in the social
level and these are the dynamic components of society. This is where Pirsig
loses me. Of this I am sure: If we could place an individual from a hunter and
gatherer tribe in prehistory with the highest IQ ever recorded in an isolated
environment with an infinite lifespan, this individual could never develop
langauge, mathematics, complex technology, or a MOQ by himself. Society is
necessary for any advancements our species has made over the past 10,000 years.
regards,
Andy
>
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