From: "Friedman, Howard J." <hfn-AT-sdpfr.powersoft.com>
Subject: Re: effort
Date: Tue, 09 Jan 96 10:04:00 PST




Subject: Re: effort
Date: Friday, January 05, 1996 1:28AM

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>Douglas, I stumble over this term "effort" because I keep imagining that
you are saying that it is "your" effort; that its unity is created by
"your" situation. Whether we say the effort is "in" something, or "on"
something, or "against" something, the real question is "where" this
effort comes from. I'm trying to reconcile "effort" with "spasm" in this
discussion. I mean, does it take effort to spasm? It certainly involves
fatigue, but *who* makes an effort in the spasm? Perhaps the "effort"
you are talking about belongs to the invisible forces, to the outside.
>steve o'connell
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On the discussion about "effort" vs "spasm": it seems that the difference at 
first glance between effort and spasm is intentionality.

1. Starting with the assumption that intentionality is the result of a sort 
of mental gymnastics or the product of mental effort, and

2. Defining this process (mental effort) in terms of two stages and defining 
intentionality as the second of these stages:
*assemblage of multiple space-time crystallizations/holograms (images, 
ideas, concepts ...)
*selection of a focus of crystallization

3. The reflection of intentionality is not like that from a mirror, it may 
return with a completely different image each time (as it is refracted 
through the "noosphere"), giving the impression of complete autonomy

4. The autonomy is limited, however, in the sense that it cannot negate 
sensations (at the risk of becoming schizoprhenic...)

5. The body perceives the intentions and dances to them (D&G quoting 
Spinoza, I believe: We don't know what the body is capable of).  Even if 
perception is the reception of signals from the physical world, it is always 
mediated by the virtual

6. Although it is the body that expends effort in spasms or intended 
actions, the ego, associated with intentionality, is credited (or blamed) 
for the latter. It cannot, however, appropriate the former.

7. If we recognize spasm as effort -   which is only logical --  then we 
must attribute an intentionality as its source (a deity, for example, or the 
body without organs), or the claims of the ego as productive are 
destabilized or schizzed

.:. Ideas are powerful only through the effort of bodies. This effort gives 
rise to further reflection and allows bodies to keep on keepin on.

WeeWee, West of Paris.

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