Re: MD Dealing with S/O

From: Dan Glover (daneglover@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat Sep 27 2003 - 23:54:54 BST

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    Hello everyone

    >From: skutvik@online.no
    >Reply-To: moq_discuss@moq.org
    >To: moq_discuss@moq.org
    >Subject: Re: MD Dealing with S/O
    >Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 09:39:32 +0200
    >
    That there is a general
    >unease about the present (LC) definition of the intellectual level is no
    >secret, nor is it a secret that I have suggested a different formulation
    >(from the "solution" message Mark will find that I claim it to be Pirsigs
    >original idea).

    Hi Bo

    I've noticed several members have objected to the definition of the
    intellectual level offered by RMP in Lila's Child. Since I fail to see a
    problem I haven't responded. I looked up the definition of intellect in the
    dictionary (The American Heritage Dictionary) and this is what I found:

    ----------------------------------------------------------
    1.
    a. The ability to learn and reason; the capacity for knowledge and
    understanding.
    b. The ability to think abstractly or profoundly. See Synonyms at mind.

    2. A person of great intellectual ability.
    ----------------------------------------------------------

    I also looked up (in The American Heritage Dictionary) the synonyms for
    mind:

    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Synonyms: intellect, intelligence, brain, wit, reason

    These nouns denote the capacity of thinking, reasoning, and acquiring and
    applying knowledge. Mind refers broadly to the capacities for thought,
    perception, memory, and decision: “No passion so effectually robs the mind
    of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear” (Edmund Burke). Intellect
    stresses knowing, thinking, and understanding: “Opinion is ultimately
    determined by the feelings, and not by the intellect” (Herbert Spencer).
    Intelligence implies solving problems, learning from experience, and
    reasoning abstractly: “The world of the future will be an ever more
    demanding struggle against the limitations of our intelligence” (Norbert
    Wiener). Brain suggests strength of intellect: We racked our brains to find
    a solution. Wit stresses quickness of intelligence or facility of
    comprehension: “There is no such whetstone, to sharpen a good wit and
    encourage a will to learning, as is praise” (Roger Ascham). Reason, the
    capacity for logical, rational, and analytic thought, embraces
    comprehending, evaluating, and drawing conclusions: “Since I have had the
    full use of my reason, nobody has ever heard me laugh” (Earl of
    Chesterfield).
    ----------------------------------------------------------

    The definitions and the synonyms seem to be a perfect fit with Robert
    Pirsig's annotations in Lila's Child. RMP has said that he didn't define the
    intellectual level in Lila, and ZMM doesn't pertain directly to the MOQ, so
    I don't see why there is an uneasiness over the LC annotations or why a
    different formulation of intellect is needed. I know you've been over all
    this many times, but could you explain your objections to me in simple terms
    using definitions we can all agree on?

    Thank you,

    Dan

    PS to Mark/(squonk?): I was trying to be modest by saying that I've read
    just about every one of Bodvar's posts. Actually I've read all the posts
    over the years to the various MOQ discussion groups, including all of Bo's
    posts. Not that I'm claiming to be an expert--I just mention it in passing
    so you know I haven't missed any of Bo's posts, or yours for that matter.

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