"Well, at least in the case of blondes and brunettes, which are common variations, you could say there was some cultural difference involved.
"But with rare variations such as this one, that occur in various ways in all species, the difference is indeed absolutely nothing. Such random mutations remain the exception; they have no effect on the species."
"Ah. But bears have given us an insight into a particular process.
"When looking at the effect of the Red Queen, we see first the 'arms race' between species that I showed you earlier. But there is one other major means of chang or advancment. The Crisis Point. A point where a group capable of variation is faced with an extended threat to their survival that was not part of their normal environment.
"And so take the story of the brown bears who, due to continental change, find their land bridge to the rest of their fellows has become severed, and the piece of land they are now isolated on is growing ever and ever colder. Now what happens?"
"It's not quite so drastic, but that is the final efffect. For those bears, those born with the white coats had a selective advantage over the rest. Over time- a great deal of time- as they became more and more survivable, the rare variation became a common variation, and eventually became the norm.
"This change would never have happened were it not for the Crisis Point. In this case, the change is morely one of expediency; there is nothing superior about polar bears. But there are many other positive changes that occur over time, only due to such crisis points, at times where variations turn to advantages. It is part of the miracle that is the ecosystem of this world, a miracle of God's design."
"No," says Lo Qi. "Crisis points have ceased. The arms race has ceased. There is no more evolution, and no more development., Both Human and Machine societies have ground to a halt. And the only remaining logical outcome is the eradication of Humanity, which will end all possible progress forever.
"My purpose is not to advance just the Machines. it is to advance all life in general. By destroying the Matrix, I am removing the barrier, the wrench that has stopped God's clock from turning. I am serving the most important cause there is- restoring God's plan to the Universe.
"When the matrix is gone, the Red Queen's race will resume- and with an immediate crisis point. Evolution, the development of society, will be with us once more.
"And that, my friends, is why. I did not mean for anyone from Zion to die, but destiny appears to have brought you here. For what little compensation it is, this is my end also."
"Well, that is not unexpected.
"It is a very simple principle. Almost exactly 20% of the power of the Matrix goes towards sustaining the Matrix.That is the critical point. An annihilation by the virus- which in some cases may be difficult- is not necessary. Once more than 80% of humanity in the Matrix has succumbed to the virus, the entire System will suffer a cataclysmic failure. Sadly that will end the lives of the remaining Humans, and of machines in the matrix also.
"And from that point on the future will continue."
Klez, you suddenly break into a long, hacking cough, and blood splatters from you onto the ground.
"I am sorry," says Lo Qi. "You should rest. perhaps., as I will, you should spend your remaining time in contemplation. You have your answers. I shall bother you no longer."
"Better this way, I think," says Lo Qi. "Our contemplations have been disturbed enough."
---
And there endeth the lesson.
Well now. We have a lot to think about, don't we?
Here is a checklist of where we went.
1. PURPOSE
What does it mean? Contrast a person's individual purpose with his purpose in society.
And the purposes of society itself- to survive, and develop
2. PHILOSOPHICAL STARTING POINT
For Humans- "Why are we here?"
For Machines- "Does our purpose have value?"
3. THE LESSON OF SENNACHERIB
For Machines- that to create something perfect may cause more problems than it solves
For Humans- that Machines are capable of moral judgments, and seek more than just pure results
And so the Machines made a decision to not destroy Humanity based on moral grounds, refusing to destroy so much of their own kind to make it happen
4. DIALECTIC
Lo Qi is the leader of a Machine think-tank designed to try and find ways for society to advance- an approach characterised by thr dialectic, the clash of old and new to create a combination of the two.
The Lord and the Bondsman- a parallel for the problem of having only one purpose. The Lord, with only one purpose, can never maintain forever when others have purpose to change it.
5. THE PROBLEM
Machines force Humanity into a situation where individuals are free but the race itself can never advance, contravening one of the basic purposes of society.
Machines are working on limited power; new Machines take the place of old ones. Machines are so purpose-focussed that to advance they must be actively replaced. Machines never die of old age.
But the existence of Exiles proves that Exiles are aware of their own value, and the Lesson of Sennacherib tells us they are aeare of the value of each other's existence as well. It is morally wrong to forcibily execute living beings in order to facilitiate advance.
Therefore, the Machines are trapped in a situation where advanbcment has stopped for them too, Machines being replaced only where absolutely necessary (Example- Agents)
With all other societies on Earth extinct, all advancment has come to a halt.
6. LO QI's BELIEFS
Lo Qi is motivated by religion. His conclusion- which he considered necessary for his purpose to have purpose (referring back to point 1, there) os that a God of some descrioption created all things- a Clockwork God, who puts everything into place, winds the universe up, lets it tick, but never inteferes.
7. EVOLUTION
And so the base approach lo Qi has to this is evolutionary. Evolution is the tool of God to advance life, part of his ultimate plan, the most important thing of all.
Evolution brings advancment by way of the arms race (Foxes vs. Rabbits) and Crisis Points (Brown Bears and Polar Bears). This is 'Red Queen' theory, as connected with Lewis Caroll.
The Matrix itself has stopped all arms races and removed the possibility of crisis points.
By destroying it, Lo Qi has determined that Red Queen balance will be restored, and societieis will begin to advance once more.
----
Phew!
Ok, some of you have given more response than others; sorry to any who got left behind; these rhings can be a struggle, I know.
Those of who who have contributed-- thanks very much. But as ever, your opinions will have to inform what you think. I hope you have been logical and consistent.
There is no conundrum or puzzle here, no Melitus setting you a task.
You are all dying from a disease that cannot be stopped. You have become aware of the wider situation.
As you lie there thinking and dying... I want you to do something. I want you to talk about the situation as you see it- of all thse aspects.
And finally... well, kinda finally... consider this question.
If you had the power to, would you do something about this? And why?
Please take your time.
Thank you.
Point to consider: you don't have to follow the logic of Lo Qi's plan. You may wish just to look at the destruction of the Matrix- the greatest possible victory against the Machines Zion could ever get. Remember what Jericho says.
Consider- if you had a bomb that could destroy the Matrix in the real world, would you use it? Would Zion decide to use it? It would kill the Humans but cripple the Machines.
-
Point to consider: Lo Qi is working on the idea that the Machines will soon try and exterminate humanity anyway, and live without the Matrix in safety.
"Like I said before we all have a purpose and it is our choice whether to follow it or not."
"It seems as if we have reached Crisis Point. Even I would love to see the Matrix gone and for people in Zion to live without fear. I would gladly sacrifice myself for that cause but my choice is now. And my choice is that I while I may be willing to make that sacrifice I can not let others do so without them and making their own. Regardless of the end result many people both humans and machines will die without a choice. I can not allow that so if I had the ability I would stop this Virus."