Platt,Ken,Struan
Kev's high, Ken's low, I'm going to suggest the middle, late biological-early social
Evidence of mysticism goes back as far as there is evidence in art, writing,
or storytelling. It is so ancient that speculating when, from an evolutionary
perspective, it emerged is just that speculation.
Struan recent post in the other M thread indicates that one of the
characteristics of mysticism is :
> 5) A belief in the value of intuition over reason.
That got me to thinking, which lead me to posit this evolutionary sequence.
Instinct>Intuition>Intellect
I think we all agree on where the extremes lie, but what is the case for the middle.
Mysticism is a component of most religions and Pirsig clearly states that
religions are on the social level.
The case can be made that, at least in the Western World, the intellectual
level has been successful in dominating mysticism. While Pirsig clearly
believes that the mystical is a valid part of reality no place can I find that
he places it on any level.If it is on any level other that intellectual this
domination is moral or good.
But the best case is the issue of greater good. Let's assume for a moment that
the majority of what in known about mysticism and mystic experiences is true.
That in MoQ terms it is possible for anyone through some "seventh sense" to
access all or a significant part of DQ. Without any overiding social or
intellectural codes, morals, laws, traditions etc, How many could handle it?
Would they latch or fall into chaos?
The Guidebook to Zen speculates that Pirsig,in retrospect, would probably
rather had the guidance of a Zen master,in that Chicago room, than go insane.
Dave Thomas
MOQ Online Homepage - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Unsubscribe - http://www.moq.org/md/index.html
MD Queries - horse@wasted.demon.nl
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:02:58 BST