Dear Maggie,
You ask 17/8 15:48 -0400 (rephrased in my words) whether the interaction
between Q-levels influences the diversity/complexity of the lower level.
I wrote 13/8 11:31 +0200:
'Social progress has its own pace which intellectual patterns of values can
only force to a limited extent.'
The logic of the MoQ implies that also:
- biological progress has its own pace which social patterns of values can
only force to a limited extent.
- inorganic progress has its own pace which biological patterns of values
can only force to a limited extent.
My hunch is:
1) Normal progress at any level is towards more diversity and complexity.
2) This progress is slightly speeded up by the normal interaction with the
next higher level:
The next higher level gives some static patterns of values at the lower
level more freedom and a competitive advantage vis-à-vis other static
patterns of values at that (lower) level. Eg. the social gives particularly
homo sapiens more freedom and a competitive advantage vis-à-vis other
species competing for the same natural resources in order to survive.
As long as this competitive advantage is not so large that the other static
patterns of values are outcompeted to extinction (as long as the advantaged
patterns have not become entirely free from interdependence with other
static patterns of values at their level), this normal interaction means
more diversity and complexity. Eg. domestification of plants and animals
which leads to differentiation of domesticated from wild breeds/species
(lots of dog breeds differentiated from wolf, lots of apple varieties
differentiated from wild apple).
3) Only when the speed of progress at a level is forced by the interaction
with the next higher level, progress can turn into regression. This may be
the case when a static pattern of values overdominates (at its own level;
for instance because of getting too much freedom, given by the next higher
level) and outcompetes other static patterns of values (at its own level)
while still being dependent on them for collective survival (their freedom
from the next lower level still deriving from their interdepence).
For instance:
- Locusts can overdominate under certain circumstances (NOT getting too much
freedom because of a social level), outcompete other insects and their food
plants and become a plague. Without interaction with a social level, such a
plague is only temporary however. Without interaction with a social level,
species becoming extinct is usually a relatively slow process. (Big
meteorites making dinosaurs extinct etc. being the exception that proves the
rule.)
- Because of the social level, human influence on biodiversity is much
larger than that of any other species. Homo sapiens becoming a threat to
biodiversity in certain regions may be due to Western social patterns of
values giving it too much freedom and too much competitive advantage. This
is only a problem (for homo sapiens) to the extent that it is dependent on
other species (being part of an ecosystem) for its long-run survival.
- The intellectual level makes some social patterns of values more
successful than others. Western social patterns of values becoming a threat
to cultural diversity in certain regions may be due to science giving it too
much freedom and too much competitive advantage. This is only a problem (for
Western society/countries) to the extent that it is economically dependent
on people(s) with other cultures for its wealth.
With friendly greetings,
Wim
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