Dear Gary,
The start of the intellectual level required the ability of connecting
symbols with meaning, but the intellectual level is not defined by it. It is
defined by the USE of this ability to create intellectual patterns of
values, by creating (patterned) collections of symbols that stand for
patterns of experience and by preserving them through manipulating these
symbols. Intellectual value is experienced as a 'fit' of symbols and the
experience they stand for (it is not simply a reflection/copy of the value
implicit in the experience they stand for).
Likewise the social level needs a stronger definition than your 30/8
15:27 -0700 definition:
'the Social level starts with communication. Social level is the level of
social interaction.'
You would at least have to skip the word 'social' from 'social interaction'
to get a proper definition. Then it becomes applicable to everything from
interacting quarks forming a neutron up to our interaction via internet.
'Communication' is little better. Even plants communicate! E.G. they send
out chemicals when they are attacked by gluttonous insects that induce other
plants to produce more bitter flavours in order to become less attractive to
these insects.
No I stick to the creation of culture, patterns of behavior that can be
learned and passed on, as defining for the social level. Passing on culture
requires communication, of course, but communication doesn't always create
culture.
You ask:
'And are they two events or again one occurring around the same time as the
other?'
You know my answer. Creation of culture predated the creation of collections
of symbols by some 2 million years. What is yours?
With friendly greetings,
Wim
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Oct 25 2002 - 16:06:23 BST