Re: MD The mall of ideas.

From: skutvik@online.no
Date: Mon Apr 01 2002 - 08:54:46 BST


DMB
Again you made my day. All these strange notions of what the Intellectual
level is and then one single reasonable voice. I naturally had wished you
devoted your time to the MOQ rather than amending the Constitution but...:-)

> Hmmm. I think competiton is a feature of the lower levels, all the
> blue ribbons and tropheys, all the promotions and kudos are social
> level values. That stuff is as old as civilization, or maybe even
> older. Intellectual level interactions operate with a whole different
> set of rules. These rules are not at all concerned with which
> scientists will "win". The rules are aimed at at different goals, at
> producing scientific truth

This contains it all: PRODUCING SCIENTIFIC TRUTH. IMO, "science" came
later as a result of the initial "search for what is objectively true ....

> academic integrity, and adding to the sum
> of human understanding. Attaining any of these goals requires the kind
> of intellectual honesty that can put self-interest aside.

..... in contrast to subjective self-interest. EXACTLY! This is the soul of
intellect's value.

> Sure, there
> are ambitious scientists who covet the Noble Prize, but that's a
> corrupting impulse, and contradicts intellectual values. So
> "competition" in the normal sense of the word is a form of interaction
> that doesn't suit the intellectual level very well.

You are right, this demonstrates the social roots of Intellect

> It always wants
> the truth to win. That's why the "marketplace" description of the 4th
> level is odd.

The idea intellect is what I have been protesting all the time, the
"marketplace" another term for what I called a various things - container f.eks.
- because it brings "thinking" (as such) into the MOQ. Intellect becomes THE
MENTAL realm.

> I'd go even further. Competition on the biological level is a ruthless
> and bloody affair. And too often the kind of social darwinism that
> enshrines competition as a corner stone of capitalism points to
> biological evolution as their model and thereby endorse an
> inappropriate level of ruthlessness. Ha! The "marketplace" analogy
> isn't even quite right for the actual marketplace.
 
Thank you David. Hope your reputation isn't hurt by my embrace :-)
Bo

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