Mike Roth wrote:
"I think the talk of "levels" is very good, and
Pirsig deserves respect
for being a pioneer in this domain. But I want a kind
of cybernetic
sophistication, when we try to actually grapple with
these levels"
Mike, I'm not sure that the following is
"cybernetic sophistication" but, anyway:
Pirsig talks about "higher levels dominating,
controlling lower ones" . The key-word here might be
"controlling" because Control is considered the
cornerstone of Cybernetics.
The fellows at Principia Cybernetica came out
with a pretty wide definition of Control; it starts by
saying: Control is the operation mode of a control
system which includes two subsystems: controlling (a
controller) C, and controlled, S.
It is tempting to think that a pattern at a
higher level may 'control'(cyb) another at a lower
level, and then begin with a cybernetic approach.
Problem is that first one would have to decide whether
it's permissible to treat the the controlling and the
controlled patterns as systems. I don't know enough
about those patterns to give an straight yes or no
answer. Perhaps someone else around here could have a
go at it.
You also write:
"The cybernetic solution to a conflict is to find ways
of walking around it
- very rarely to join in the fight. Speaking purely
for myself:
"intellect" is not at war with other levels of quality
which I seek to
embody in my life. It is a servant (or better yet,
"i" am a servant,
when I embody intellectual quality in real time),
"it" and "i" are
attempting to mediate between other contending
factions. One of the crucial tools
in this mediation, is listening to all the points of
view."
I am not sure that there is one preferred cybernetic
solution to a conflict. It very much depends on the
type of system. I tend to agree with you that it looks
more appealing to consider that the "intellect"
shouldn't be at war with other levels. I don't think
Cybernetics has an answer to that. If a particular
subsystem interferes with the smooth functioning of
the system the controller will try to depress or
suppress it; if not, they controller and controlled
can get along nicely.
Personally, I tend to think that the MOQ levels
are still "too green" for a cybernetics approach to be
of any use. Perhaps others view this differently.
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