Platt, All! May 10 you wrote > Those who consider static patterns to be of less value than DQ might want > to consider the positive effects of ritual in the practice of medicine. In > an article about placebos entitled "The Magic Cure," the author concludes:
Where do you place rituals in the static hierarchy? Or do you see rituals as "stability" itself? Maybe you speak about that lower down. > "It may be, then, that the simplest and least ethically hazardous way to > capitalize on the placebo effect is to acknowledge that medicine isn't > just a set of approved treatments -- it's also a ritual, with symbolism > and meaning that are key to its efficacy. As its best, the ritual spurs > positive expectations, sparks associations with past healing experiences, > and eases distress in ways that can alleviate suffering. These meanings, > researchers say, are what the placebo effect is really about." The article baffled me greatly, as does the placebo effect in general. The most baffling part was that about patients who were informed that they got a sugar pill or saline injection and yet "got well". I thought that would neutralize the placebo effect. Perhaps the thing is the social value of being cared for - treated - or receiving attention. Anyway it undermines SOM, that's for sure, but does it undermine the SOL interpretation of the intellectual level? (I hear wing beats from Andre coming like a Harpy) No, its the objective scientific attitude that has revealed the placebo effect and does experiments on it, and as the article show - don't pooh-pooh it but really goes into the matter with an open mind. > http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/05/09/the_magic_cure > /?page =full > In addition, a recent article in the Wall St. Journal entitled "The Power > of Lucky Charms" described various studies showing that ". . . the > activation of superstition can yield performance-improving effects." > Whether a from placebo or a lucky charm, the positive results from ritual > appear to be demonstrable. In fact, Pirsig also sees the benefits of > ritual: > "Phaedrus saw nothing wrong with this ritualistic religion as long as the > rituals are seen as merely a static portrayal of Dynamic Quality, a > signpost which allows socially pattern-dominated people to see Dynamic > Quality." (Lila, 30) Right, here it is: "socially-patterned people" The natives of many places had witches and witch doctors who mixed som disgusting medicines and it worked, as did death spells and Voodoo dolls and a million other such things, but God I'm glad intellect lodged on top of the social level and we have a medical profession that works on the premises of placebo being placebo. As said it does not heal broken bones or open clogged heart arteries. > Also interesting is Pirsig's description of the practice of Zen whereby > ritual is deliberately imposed in order to enlighten. IMO, the static rituals of ANY level was what made the DQ want to flee it and establish a new level. The drag of the social rituals made the thinkers of Greece (and India) establish their respective intellectual stages . The intellect of the West cemented into SOM and its (academic) rituals made young Phaedrus want to flee the Church of Reason. I speak in past tense because now that the Dynamic Urge has found its place at the top "All is quiet at the Western Front". Those who speak of a dynamic MOQ don't understand. > Just another example of the depth and explanatory power of the MOQ. That we agree about. Bodvar 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/md/archives.html
