Hi Roger and Group:
About Principles 5, 6 and 7 Roger asked:
> Of course, I do have a few quibbles with it...... They are in points 5, 6 and
> 7. Now I finally find out about the roots to the "particles are aware"
> conversation. The concern I have with all three points is the emphasis on
> awareness across all levels. We seem to be using a definition of awareness
> that ,at the least, is begging for clarification. Does it mean "attracted", or
> "interacts", or "values"? Something else? Could you please help me with
> this?
IMHO it means all of the above. Pirsig says, ”Particles 'prefer' to do what
they do." (Lila, Chap. 8). So I include in the meaning of awareness such
ideas as "want," "will," "desire," "like," "intend," “sense, " "intuit,"
"apprehend,” etc.
Through the veil of our pseudoscientific acculturated minds, it’s simply
preposterous to think of atoms or anything at the inorganic level as being
aware. Yet, as Pirsig argues, if scientists are aware and scientists are
composed exclusively of atoms, then it follows that atoms are aware too.
(Lila, Chap.12.)
A major switchover in my thinking occurred when I saw physical laws as
”laws of behavior” or "habits of conduct." Then suddenly the idea of
awareness penetrating all levels became more plausible.
Then, of course, awareness plays a crucial role in the quantum world.
Bertrand Russell put it this way:
"So far as quantum theory can say at present, atoms might as well be
possessed of free will, limited however to one of several possible
choices."
Finally, thee clincher for me was to learn of a legitimate branch of
philosophy called "panpsychism" that cogently argues (without any
reference to Pirsig) for the existence of awareness at all levels.
Nice to have third party endorsements of an otherwise loony-tunes
concept.
Platt
> The points are as follows:
> <<
> 5. The Awareness Hierarchy Principle.
> Each higher level evolved from and included the lower but expanded
> awareness. For example, the intellectual level can apprehend
> mathematical patterns that the lower levels cannot. Also, all levels
> possess, in addition to environmental awareness, an awareness of
> values. Even a lowly virus knows what's good for it.
>
> 6. The Moral Hierarchy Principle.
> Because higher levels are more aware, they are more moral than levels
> below. Intellectual patterns take moral precedence over social patterns,
> social patterns over biological and biological patterns over inorganic.
>
> 7. The First Dominance Principle.
> Because a lower level is largely unaware of levels above it, it considers
> itself to be the most moral and strives to dominate other levels. What is
> moral and lawful at one level is often immoral and unlawful at another. For
> example, biological laws defy the laws of physics.
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