Re: MD Intellect as highest value

From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@kohath.wanadoo.co.uk)
Date: Sun Nov 21 2004 - 21:52:54 GMT

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    Hi David M,

    > As advocates of the MOQ I think we should put
    > intellectual values at the top of our list. We might like
    > to add freedom, a freedom dependent on the effective
    > organisation of the lower levels, but a freedom that also
    > recognises that Quality is a whole, so that underneath all
    > difference and Otherness is a singular point of identity.
    >
    > All this political and religious stuff has to be subordinate
    > to our intellectual values, and mere SQ set to be organised
    > and used to sustain our highest values of intellect and freedom
    > and recognition of the Oneness of Quality that we can find
    > in each other and everything else.
    >
    > Does anyone here really place anything above these values?
    > Are you in the right place?

    What counts as intellectual value? and how is it to be neatly distinguished from 'political and
    religious stuff'? After all, Pirsig himself considers theology an intellectual level activity (for
    example).

    I think what he says in Lila has to be emphasised: "The tests of truth are logical consistency,
    agreement with experience, and economy of explanation." If there is a common agreement to pursue
    those things - and therefore a willingness to explore our own points of view, expose them to
    criticism, but with a view to actually learning something from other's points of view, all with the
    aim of higher Quality - then this is the right place to be, right? Those are the things I would have
    thought were 'intellectual values' - but then I don't think they can exist apart from things like
    honesty, humility and self-control. Seems that those virtues are what's needed the most.

    Sam

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