Platt, Ron --
David Darling in 'Soul Search' said: "The brain begins to look more like a regulator or editor of consciousness--a reducing valve." This is the point we fail to acknowledge when we speak of the "mind emerging from the mindless". As Micah may one day explain to us, objective reality is actually the reverse of this proposition. The insentient universe emerges (appears) as a construct of the finite mind. Since they've got it backwards, the objectivists struggle with an unsolvable problem. Differentiated (proprietary) awareness is a reduction of undifferentiated value--the finite organism's sense of otherness. We can only perceive this otherness incrementally via the brain and its sensory receptors. The result is a limited perspective of ultimate reality objectivized as things and events occurring in time and space. This "fractionated" perspective is shared by all cognizant creatures and becomes the universal reality we call "existence". In my ontology, existence is a dichotomy in which "awareness" is conditionally separated from "otherness". Instead of mind/matter, I posit the dichotomy as awareness/value. Objects are created (intellectualized) from Essential Value, the "pre-intellectual" sensibility that is primary to self-awareness. Thus, the appearance of existing things divided by nothingness is a sensory illusion caused by value becoming aware (of being). I regret that Pirsig didn't see the need to develop such an epistemology for the MoQ. It might have resolved a lot of controversial issues. [Ron]: > In many ways this is the conclusion I have come to on this issue. > Some say it is a nihlistic view. Belief systems are integral and very > important and powerful factors in regard to our position as agents > of change. But it helps to be aware of this function of the brain and > to take this into account when formulating ideas and decisions. Insofar as this applies to Darling's point about the brain's function as the "editor of consciousness", I agree. However, I suspect that you're not accounting for the valuistic component of man as an "agent of change." For me this is critical. Thanks for the opportunity. Essentially yours, Ham > ------------------------------------------------- > This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ 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/ > 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/ 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/
