From: Elizaphanian (Elizaphanian@members.v21.co.uk)
Date: Sun Oct 13 2002 - 18:43:40 BST
Hi Steve,
>
> Something might might appear to have high intellectual quality (i.e. Seems
> to respond to dynamic quality), but if it doesn't also preserve or improve
> society and lead to preservation of life or improved biological quality it
> is a bad idea. I think this is what Sam means by conservatism.
>
Am I allowed to shout 'Eureka!' or perhaps, with a nod to Pygmalion, 'By
George he's got it!'? That very much *is* what I've been trying to explain
as (how I understand) conservatism to be/understand itself - and I think it
does fit in with the MoQ. So thank you for showing that you understood what
I was trying to say. I've been starting to think that my powers of
explanation had seized up (which as I am currently writing a book trying to
explain the nature of theology was a bit worrying!).
I was pondering my yin/yang comparison a bit further. When it comes to
assessing whether a specific idea is a Quality improvement or not, no
ideology will always give the right answer. What is necessary is to have
'beginners mind' or clear perception, in order to have right discernment.
Which actually shifts nicely towards the mystical aspects that John B
recently referred to. In fact, Pirsig also talks about this (and again seems
to allow legitimate space for a Conservative outlook), in one of my
favourite passages in ZMM:
"So the thing to do when working on a motorcycle, as in any other task, is
to cultivate the peace of mind which does not separate one's self from one's
surroundings. When that is done successfully then everything else follows
naturally. Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right
thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce
work which will be a material reflection for others to see the serenity at
the center of it all. ...
I think that if we are going to reform the world, and make it a better place
to live in, the way to do it is not with talk about relationships of a
political nature, which are inevitably dualistic, full of subjects and
objects and their relationship to one another; or with programs full of
things for other people to do. I think that kind of approach starts it at
the end and presumes the end is the beginning. Programs of a political
nature are important *end products* of social quality that can be effective
only if the underlying structure of social values is right. The social
values are right only if the individual values are right. The place to
improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then
work outwards from there. Other people can talk about how to expand the
destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I
think that what I have to say has more lasting value."
Enough said.
Sam
www.elizaphanian.v-2-1.net/home.html
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