Hullo Platt,
You say
1. "you could be looking for some ego strokes for putting yourself "above
the fray.""
Could be, but I notice I am getting very few from you.
2 "those who don't see things as you do need changing--a frightening "I know
better than you" attitude."
Could be. I'm not the best one to ask about my attitudes, but I am sure some
of my friends think I act as though I know better than them at times.
I wonder do you find change itself frightening? I actually believe that
change is necessary, for myself and others, if Pirsig and Wilber are
correct.
"Societies and thoughts and principles themselves are no more than sets of
static patterns. These patterns can't by themselves perceive or adjust to
Dynamic Quality. Only a living being can do that. The strongest moral
argument against capital punishment is that it weakens a society's Dynamic
capability - its capability for change and evolution. It's not the 'nice'
guys who bring about real social change. 'Nice' guys look nice because
they're conforming. Its the 'bad' guys, who only look nice a hundred years
later, that are the real dynamic force in social evolution." (Lila Ch 13)
3. "You, or course, are at a higher level than me or Roger or others who
defend the U.S"
If I am defending an 'intellectual morality', and you are defending a
'social pattern', I would have to agree. At least that's what the MOQ says.
"In general, given a choice of two courses to follow and all other things
being equal, that choice which is more Dynamic, that is, at a higher level
of evolution, is more moral." (Lila Ch 13)
4. "Do you deny the record?"
Yes. Your record. "We are suffering great pain because of this deformity" is
a sentence you invented. When I pointed that out you asserted wrongly "You
said Roger was. (And by implication, those who agree with him.)". I spoke of
"the pain implicit in Roger's words", not yours, and I said "I experience
this pain now". I went on to argue that the experience of pain is
characteristic of "any transition between levels". I see no evidence that
you are interested in change or are in transition. Roger may be. "Abnormally
tainted" is a term Roger used. They are not my words. And the pain I refer
to comes from awareness of the inadequacies of our positions, and the need
for change that follows.
5. "you attacked his personal character"
On the contrary, I paid Roger the compliment of believing that he was
grappling with a transition between levels. I could be wrong, and no doubt
Roger will clarify that if he chooses.
6. "Roger, I and others "defend" the U.S. and the free enterprise system
because the underlying ideas are necessary for the intellectual level to
flourish."
"There is an intellectual morality, which is still struggling in its
attempts to control society. Each of these sets of moral codes is no more
related to the other than novels are to flip-flops." "The static patterns
that hold one level of organization together are often the same patterns
that another level of organization must fight to maintain its own
existence." "Intellect is not an extension of society any more than society
is an extension of biology. Intellect is going its own way, and in doing so
is at war with society". (Lila Ch 13)
John B
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