To ALL: First I would like to thank Ron and Bodvar attempting to answer the questions as I laid them out. I would like to thank Marsha for the moral support and Ian also supporting the idea for a greater need for the defining both the social and intellectual level. And thank you all who I have missed Gav, Chris...
The first exercise (gauntlet I) was pretty interesting discussion wish but bearing very limited fruit. It kind of is like being in a room of drunken sailors, nice guys with a bunch of their own idea's drifting in and out of lucid consciousness. Ok put your drinks down or get yourself another round, whatever suits you best. :-) I need you to think about this next problem which is in the form of a scenario. Before I give you the scenario I will be upfront with what I am up to. If you read my conference paper (2005) that I submitted (Yawn, Yawn) you will note that this issue of defining the difference between the social and intellectual level is key problem. I proposed that perhaps an academic group might come together and to develop and assess possible definitions. Hmmmm. it was 2005 (about 1000 days ago or), 3 years ago since the last conference and I am not aware of any specific institution of higher learning endorsing MOQ in any respect and no conference on the horizon. So perhaps I will enlist you guys to perhaps help with this issue and see if we can make some progress, perhaps working together as group. Here is the scenario: You are a doctoral student studying Scandinavian Cultures. You tend to be interested in the Ugro-Finnic languages and the cultures of Finland and Estonia. You also are interested in the generational differences found in various cultures. It has been over 10 years since Estonia has been liberated from Soviet oppression. As a country you note Estonia has progressed both culturally and economically in line with other Scandinavian countries since its freedom. In a recent visit to Estonia you noted some stark generational differences between those individuals 30-35 year of age (we will call them the pre-Soviet liberated generation) and those 20-30 years of age (post-Soviet Liberated generation). You want to study the differences and similarities of intellectual and social values of the pre/post Soviet Liberated generations. You have met with you doctoral advisor is generally supportive of your research idea but has a limited understanding of MOQ and has raised the following questions. 1. How does your definition or understanding of intellectual level/value differentiate the social level from the intellectual level as well as social values from intellectual values? Please provide examples of both intellectual and social values and share how your definitions of each level are able to clearly discern the levels. 2. Given there is a evolutionary process to each of the levels, what is a possible historical point in which represents the likelihood for the birth of the Intellectual level, and what is the basis for this period/event(s) chosen and how intellectual level changed or remained the same over time. 3. It seems clear that both social and intellectual levels use language, but in different ways. Please describe how each level utilizes language to sustain its level? 4. Given that intellectual values dominate it's parent level, the social level, yet must sustain and maintain a relative harmony with the social level. Given your definition or understanding of intellectual levels how do intellectual values do that? Ok you are about to go into your first meeting of doctorial committee to pitch your research idea and this group is who will eventually approve or nix your research proposal. You have heard they are generally interested in you research idea but again know nothing about MOQ. Your Doctorial advisor has asked you to be ready to provide a general overview of MOQ and to provide answers the questions for the meeting. He strongly urges you to be precise and clear about your answers and if you wish to cite RMP or others to support your answers, great it adds credibility. Remember no flowery bull, no discussion about intellectual freedom, that pisses doctorial committees off in a hurry. I doubt any one of you might be able to answer the questions alone, and it might take a coordinated effort or perhaps a group effort. As far as research topics I realize that what I made up has various limitations and may be too broad. The proposal process works to address that issue. What the proposal process won't do is do your work to provide a definition of what are social and intellectual values from a MOQ perspective. You will need to do that in such a way that merits validity and integrity and meets academic muster with your committee. Now in I will be changing my email address in the upcoming week so after Monday or Tuesday I will be out of communication with the group for several days. If you have any general questions or ideas as to how one might address such a scenario let me know before then or it might be a several day delay. Sincerely, Dr. Mati Palm-Leis Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
