From: Wim Nusselder (wim.nusselder@antenna.nl)
Date: Fri Jun 18 2004 - 07:09:58 BST
Dear Gavin,
You asked 17 Jun 2004 19:34:37 +1000:
'would everyone agree that the simplest and major distinction between the
3rd and 4th levels is that the
3rd level operates unconsciously, whereas the 4th level operates
consciously.
the evolution of consciousness being the point at which the 4th level broke
from its parent 3rd level.'
No. 'Consciousness' can have too many meanings to be a simple distinction
between levels.
In my version of the MoQ the 3rd level is about (non-hardwired/instinctual,
non-motivated) behaviour and the 4th level is about motivations of actions
and explanations of experience. It can help to realize that
non-hardwired/instinctual, non-motivated behaviour is usually unconscious,
but it sure can be made conscious. Becoming conscious about hunger doesn't
make it intellectual instead of biological. Neither does becoming conscious
about status make status-seeking intellectual. Acting upon the idea that
relieving hunger is better than fasting (or the other way round!) IS
intellectual. So is acting upon the idea that a society held together by a
status hierarchy and by everyone striving for a higher status is a better
one than an egalitarian one in which other purposes predominate (or the
other way round!). Social behaviour and intellectual action can conflict,
even in one person! Just as biological behaviour (e.g. eating when it is
available) can conflict with social behaviour (e.g. fasting to save food for
weaker or more essential group-members like pregnant women and children).
With friendly greetings,
Wim
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