>This is a good illustration of the over-simplification that results when
>Pirsig applies hierarchy to the static levels. If, as Pirsig states, (to
>paraphrase) "it is immoral for a lower static level to dominate a higher
>level", then the answer to your question is that it could be immoral for us
>to fight and destroy the higher-level beings. Something seems intuitively
>wrong with that view. As others have pointed out as well, the view that
>there could be an evolutionary peak with "x" at the top (people, roaches,
>crabs or light-beings) seems to be a very egocentric position. I guess I'm
>in the camp with those who resonate with Pirsig's overall position on DQ,
>but see problems when he attempts to illustrate it's manifestations in the
>static world.
Pirsig says that it would be immoral for a lower static level to dominate a
higher level, yes, and when referring to the virus and the doctor it is in
referrence to intellect dominating biological, which is moral. But, an alien
species coming down to destroy us is not necessarily in this same category.
I am not sure about the completeness of the MOQ, but let's presume for a
moment that it is complete. If so, then it is not moral for anyone or
anything to dominate us, for we are the highest level of static value
patterns, intellect. These alien beings might also be of high intellect, in
which case it would not be moral for them to destroy us, and if they were
attacking us, perhaps it would be moral for us to destroy them in defense.
Of course, on the other hand, if the MOQ as it stands right now is not
complete, and these alien beings were belonging to the next higher level of
static quality, then it would be moral for them to exterminate us, IF WE
POSED A THREAT TO THEIR EXISTENCE. In my opinion, anything that branches out
of intellect must be of higher quality than intellect, especially our
"earthling intellect," so there would perhaps be some other solution to this
problem that is incomprehensible to us, but of higher quality itself.
Brian
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