Glove and all other 99 percenters,
I have been gnawing my thumb and trying to stay out of this for a week or
so and I can hold out no longer.
I think that the point at which everyone is stopped is on the definition
of Dynamic Quality.
My take on Dynamic Quality is that it is the energy and the conditions
that were initially set up at the birth of the universe. It is the store of
energy plus the presumed 75/25 split between Hydrogen and Helium that
resulted from the "Big Bang", plus the fundamental laws of the universe
such as gravity and time. As such DQ set the possibilities and supplied the
energy that resulted in all else. From this beginning the process was
established which resulted in the starry universe which resulted in a
continually increasing range of possibilities which resulted in our current
concept of the universe. DQ is the force that drives the universe toward
greater possibility as well as toward greater entropy. I tend to believe
that when Pirsig says that DQ is unknowable and indefinable he just means
that we cannot know what its origins were. The operation of DQ seems clear
to me.
Driven by DQ every possibility was tried. Some of these results ended in
a dead end when no further possibilities were available. Some of these
results allowed interactions with the outputs from other QE and SQ
interactions which generated further possibilities. In this way DQ creates
and destroys. All the while driving the universe toward a state of greater
complexity.
Quality Events result from DQ acting on the range of possibilities
available.
Static Quality results from the interaction of two or more compatible QEs
which produce a latched level of complexity which is made available for
further universal growth in complexity through further QEs driven by DQ.
During the inorganic phase observation consisted of DQ driven QEs which
produced SQ latches. Sentience was not present or necessary for the
development of further complexity in the universe. Again, Sentience is not
necessary for observation to occur. Observation simply means that further
possibilities exist.
The levels emerged as DQ drove QEs to explore alll possibilities.
Whether these results were a foregone conclusion is a good question. A
similar question is: If the universe started over again with the same set
of initial conditions would it wind up at the exact same spot that we
occupy now. I don't know the answer to that. It would seem to make sense
that it would. The reason that everything looks good to us as we look back
on our understanding of the universe is because that universe has operated
to produce us. It all looks good to us because it has led to us. I imagine
that if we could ask every element and every life form in the universe if
the development of the universe was all good they would all say yes for
similar reasons.
As Pirsig says, the entire universe, including us, is a collection of
Dharmas. We are perched on a pinnacle of Value because we have resulted
from a process driven by Dynamic Quality.
When sentience entered the universe the operation of DQ changed. We
humans now have the capability of influencing the operation of Dynamic
Quality in our corner of the universe. We have the ability to alter the
progression of life forms on Earth. Whether this is good or bad I don't
know. It would seem to be bad but if we relinquished the ability to
manipulate the biosphere we would have to drastically alter our
relationship to the biosphere. Which way is ultimately better for humanity
I don't know.
I tend to think that the levels are an artifact advanced by Pirsig to
make explanation easier. We get into trouble when we try to make the
workings of DQ, QE, and SQ fit neatly into each level with no interaction
I will leave you with a question.
What happens when DQ is all used up. What happens when we reach a state
of complete entropy? Will it start all over again?
Got to go work outside. I still have lots of questions and opinions. Ken
MOQ Homepage - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
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