From: SQUONKSTAIL@aol.com
Date: Sun Jun 08 2003 - 22:41:28 BST
Hi Squonk
> Hi Paul,
> Applying DQ/SQ tension to social patterns, do you
> feel it is appropriate to
> suggest:
> Institution = static social pattern - Celebrity =
> Dynamic social pattern.
Yes, I think celebrity in politics is clear to see.
The social sense of value evoked in voting is directed
to some degree by celebrity. The political media is a
social pattern of value that supports celebrity.
I think politicians have to straddle the social and
intellectual level carefully to be successful.
Celebrity is clearly important at the social level; a
charismatic leader carries the party along with it.
The party policies are at the intellectual level and a
leader has to bring about coherence amongst different
intellectual patterns held by the party members.
> Thus, a combination of the static component with a
> Dynamic component produces
> a DQ/SQ tension that has the possibility of
> coherence?
I think good political parties have that tension
within them. The tension between members who hold to
traditional ideology and those with more radical ideas
is essential to keep the social pattern of value (the
party) evolving. When the tension is just right, the
whole party may be transformed for the better. The
success (albeit temporary?) of the New Labour party in
the nineties may be an example of that?
> For example, one may envisage a Government (Static
> social pattern) with a
> Celebrity at its head - King/Queen, president, PM
> (Dynamic social pattern.) The
> relationship between the two may produce a well
> balanced social pattern?
Interesting choices, I recall Pirsig describing the
King or constitution as a static pattern and
parliament as the Dynamic eraser.
In British government, you could argue there is a
static house of lords and a Dynamic house of commons.
I find the DQ-SQ tension concept a great way to put
the MOQ to use in thinking about almost anything.
These are just some initial ideas on government, I'll
give it some more thought.
cheers
Paul
Thanks Paul,
Yes, i recall the example Pirsig gives. The English monarchy is now divorced
from government, and the relationship between them has evolved. (Of course,
politicians like Tony Ben would argue that having a Sovereign has allowed our
government to do undemocratic things in the name of King/Queen and country when
it suits it!) But our government does play the dynamic eraser.
New labour appears to have become unstable just when it may have been at its
most coherent? I feel very unhappy about that, as it may have slipped further
into stasis than its predecessor. (And we all remember those good old days?)
This may be due to an emerging dynamic presidential style which has no static
constitutional basis for restraint?
The US model has a built in second chamber to deal with rogue presidents. (Or
in the present case, a president in the pay of business interests?)
One other question if i may?
Having seen DQ/SQ tension working well at the social level, would the
following be appropriate at the intellectual level: Symbolic repertoire = Static
Intellectual patterns - Intuition = Dynamic Intellectual component? Very unsure
about this!
Thus, a scientist/poet/artist has a vast symbolic repertoire available to
him/her, while intuition provides new combinations and creative leaps into new
expression. Intellectual activity may be rather like a jazz or Bachian
improvisation - its movement is away from the totality of the repertoire, but contained
by static latchment necessary for a coherent repertoire.
I was reading about technique involved for Classical guitar in the liner
notes to Steve Hackett's new CD, 'To watch the storms.' He says there that Bach
increased the sophistication of playing, but the whatever the complexity reached
has to have an overall simplicity! Blimey! This DQ/SQ is truly everywhere! At
once i felt although sophistication provides more dynamic expression, all the
while coherence and balance is the goal, and hitting that goal produces
sublime music of a most transporting nature. You feel it? It improves one's life?
All the best,
squonk
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 : Sun Jun 08 2003 - 22:41:49 BST