From: Mark Steven Heyman (markheyman@infoproconsulting.com)
Date: Wed Jul 13 2005 - 15:53:33 BST
Hi Paul (and Ian),
Thanks to both of you for offering your thoughts on MOQ Conference I -
Liverpool. Let's hope it's only the first of many. I'm sorry I was
unable to attend, but maybe I'll make it to MOQ-Con II.
Any idea if the BBC coverage will make it to air?
Thanks again,
Mark
On 13 Jul 2005 at 12:31, Paul Turner wrote:
Hi all,
Taking Ian's cue, I just wanted to share a couple of brief thoughts
about the Liverpool MOQ Conference before I go back on my travels.
1) Bob
At the conference Robert M. Pirsig, author of one of the most popular
philosophical novels of all time, became Bob. One of the things he
said to me was: "Celebrity and Zen are diametrically opposed -
celebrity pushes the ego up, Zen knocks it down." It is probably not
surprising then to learn that there is no celebrity with Pirsig.
Partially because of this, and partially because of the intellectual
vigour of the attendees, although it would have been easy for the
group to sit and wait for a steady flow of pearls of wisdom to emerge
from the "Great Author," this didn't occur. The feeling I got was
that Bob was *part of* the conference, *part of* the discussion, but
not its centrepiece. And it was clear, and perhaps obvious, that the
discussion is for us to continue, not Bob. It felt to me as though a
tremendous intellectual effort that had started so many years ago
amongst enemies in Chicago had ended quietly amongst friends in
Liverpool.
2) moq.org
As we began to meet each other, the intellectual patterns we have
become familiar with over the years were supplemented by the
biological and social patterns of the individuals who comprise
moq.org. These patterns quickly formed a new kind of pattern, a new
social connection which, at this stage at least, may be as important
as the intellectual patterns which they support. Mati Palm-Leis'
paper, which will hopefully soon be available to all, has something
to
say about this with respect to overcoming academic resistance to the
MOQ.
A small word of caution though, which was discussed amongst a couple
of attendees over post-conference drinks, is that the social
community
must not be allowed to overwhelm the intellectual development of the
moq.org.
3) This is how it happens
A number of times during the three days I spent in Liverpool, the
phrase "This is how it happens" drifted through my thoughts.
Intellectual development, evolution, occurs during a wet July in
Liverpool as much as anywhere else. A modest static latch it may
have
been but I think it may turn out to be a significant one.
4) Gumption
The timing of the conference was significant for me personally. The
energy created by the events has replenished my waning enthusiasm for
philosophy and for the potential of the Quality idea to facilitate
change where it is needed most. Certainly, albeit regrettably, the
coincidence of the conference with the bombings in London (where I
would have otherwise been working) threw the significance and power
of
values into sharp relief.
Best regards
Paul
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archives:
Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Wed Jul 13 2005 - 16:05:08 BST