From: Erin N. (enoonan@kent.edu)
Date: Sun Jul 13 2003 - 16:49:12 BST
>===== Original Message From moq_discuss@moq.org =====
>> I have also yet to find anyone who has offered a better definition of
>> intellect than Pirsig's "manipulation of symbols." (Since that is the
>> author's definition, I take it to be "Q-intellect.") Anyone have a better
>> definition?
>
>"manipulation of symbolss" seams to me to be too broad a definition. by
>symbol i understand an item which is used in place of an object as an
>object. also, you cannot have a symbol unless you are able to manipulate
>it (a usage of symbols is a manipulation of them). so any form of memory
>is symbolic. eg that dog whose mouth starts to water when he hears the
>bell is engaged in symb. manip. i'd even say eyesight is symbolic. and
>it is more obvious that the social level works through symbols.
>
>so takin in a broad sence one might say that the biological, social and
>intelectual levels are concerned with symbols.
>
Symbolic can also mean when the relationship
between the symbol and what it represents
is arbitrary.
There is no redness in the word red.
There is no nineness in the number 9.
Its part of how they distinguish communicating
and language. A bee can do a dance to communicate info but
since that information is not thought to
be symbolic its not considered language.
I know one model calls them analogue vs symbolic
representations. All the animal/visual stuff mentioned
I would put under analogue representations.
Erin
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