----------
> From: rich pretti <richpretti@hotmail.com>
> To: moq_discuss@moq.org
> Subject: Re: MD Quantitative & Qualitative Genesis
> Date: 01 August 1999 16:43
>
Hi rich:)
please accept my apologies to the list. I have read Pirsig,ZAMM 3/4 times
and Lila once, I don't profess to know his work as well as you all. I know
I loved every minute of it but haven't philosophised it too much, doesn't
stop me enjoying this list though. However:
"Pirsig states that "not just life, but everything, is an ethical
> activity." This is the answer to the penultimate philosophical question:
> "just why exactly did life evolve?" - it was better than not to.
>
> As for the mind - being the combination of the social and intellectual
> levels manifested in each unique individual - yes, it exists. Yes, it
grows
> from the bio-chemical events in the brain."
If you believe the above to be true, then a tree has a mind, everything has
a mind? Personally I don't have a problem with the idea of it at all. I
believe the whole universe from atoms to planets and solar systems to be a
part of mind, but I also believe that "mind" exists independent of matter,
it just uses matter to give it form. For my part, "mind" is more than just
a biological artifact. This is a personal grudge argument of mine, as I
spent three years arguing this during my psychology degree. The notable
professor stated quite catergorically that "there was no such thing as mind
and no self respecting psychologist would discuss such a thing" however he
couldn't answer my question " well, then what is it that self-respects?" If
mind is "just" (Pirsig had a lot to say about this word if I remember) a
biological artifact, doesn't this raise "ethical" questions about
"persistent vegetative sydrome." The biological chemical processes are
still there, being kept operative by machines, how then can we justify
switching the machine off, "mind" would still be there? I appreciate this
has little to do with Pirsigs work and that is after all the object of this
discussion list. Please accept my apologies if this off list, as I said,
personal grudge argument and I bit.;))))))))))))))))))) Julie
>
> Rich
>
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>
> 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
>
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 - 16:03:09 BST