From: Wim Nusselder (wim.nusselder@antenna.nl)
Date: Mon Jun 28 2004 - 07:16:27 BST
Dear Horse,
You wrote 28 Jun 2004 01:05:46 +0100:
'It would seem from what you say above that a biological pattern of value
which determines skin colour also determines a whole bunch of social and
intellectual patterns of value but as these biological patterns of value
must have existed prior to social or intellectual values there would seem to
be a problem.'
I wrote about correlations. Not about determination.
Skin colour and other observable characteristics can be experienced as a
biological pattern of value which we can refer to as a particular 'race'. To
the extent that representatives of that 'race' choose not to change those
characteristics (like Michael Jackson did) they are determined by that
pattern of value.
Relative geographical isolation values both biological, social and
intellectual differentiation.
Low-quality social patterns of value (of the first type, as described in my
essay 'economics of want and greed') use 'given' characteristics to measure
status and hold societies together. They can choose (pre-existing) 'racial'
characteristics or other characteristics (e.g. totem animals who happen to
perform in one's dreams). There's no determination there.
Low-quality intellectual patterns of value justify the existing social level
status quo without much arguments why that would be the best. It's just the
'natural' way of things and 'natural' associates with 'good'/'moral'. If
biological diversity is given and if dividing lines between societies
historically happened to reflect it sometimes in some areas, that is
supposed to be the 'natural order' that must be maintained. Even low-quality
intellectual patterns of value can (and do) choose other (pre-existing)
'natural orders' to defend (e.g. noble/common lineage). There's no
determination there either.
With friendly greetings,
Wim
P.S. I'm sorry to break the 4 posts-per-day rules occasionally, but I didn't
know off-list posts count too. (-;
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