A little while ago Richard Brodie (main proponent of Level 3, I think he
first used the term) posted this summary explanation:
>LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
[KLIPP]
>To backpedal a bit, Level 1 of consciousness is instinctual and
>animalistic. Level-1 operators do not live by conscious philosophy.
>Abstractions such as economics and physics are foreign to them. They
>live with the hand they were dealt, not making much use of learned
>philosophy.
>
>Level 2, where most educated people operate, makes use of conceptual
>tools to map out life and plan results for the future. Religions, the
>scientific method, and all academic learning are examples of Level-2
>structures. In Level 2, one's picture of the world gets clearer and
>clearer. Often people will not break through to Level 3 unless and until
>they have a life experience that invalidates and shatters their world
>view.
>
>Level 3 is characterized by the ability to flex your meme-space on the
>fly; to use multiple models depending upon your purpose and priorities.
>It's possible to gain an intellectual understanding of what this means
>from Level 2, but probably not possible to really feel the impact of the
>difference in life experience. The Level-3 mind has a great capacity to
>hold dissonant, contradictory beliefs. (Einstein was said to have this
>ability.)
I disagree with this straight 3-level division; I can't imagine how
something as complex as memetic interaction can divide into 3 neat levels.
But then, I haven't read his book yet. I'll post on this issue again when I
have... what're your feelings?
Dave Pape
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