I guess I’m still confused about the basics of simulacrum levels, because I’m not sure what level those sentences are on. e.g., “Please pass the potatoes” is intended to have the consequence of causing someone to pass the potatoes, rather than attempting to accurately describe the world, which (I think) matches how people have been describing level 2. But also it seems concrete and grounded, rather than involving a distortion of reality. So maybe it is level 1? Or not in the hierarchy at all?
Interesting question. An experiment off top of head.
Level 1: “Please pass the potatoes” because you want potatoes.
Level 2: “Please pass the potatoes” because I want you to think you make good potatoes.
Level 3: “Please pass the potatoes” because I want to fit in with the potato-eating group.
Level 4: “Please pass the potatoes” because I can see there are no potatoes and this will lower the status of the people who didn’t make enough potatoes or raise the status of those whose potatoes are in high demand, or cause a fight over who ate too many, or whatever.
Yeah, I don’t really know where imperative statements fall. They seem more like level 3 if I imagine a soldier telling some people to stand down, but in simple things like “please pass the potatoes” there is also a substantial component of just saying “I would like to have the potatoes”, which is just a really straightforward level 1 statement, and indeed in some polite cultures the second one might completely replace the first, showing that they are kind of equivalent.
I guess I’m still confused about the basics of simulacrum levels, because I’m not sure what level those sentences are on. e.g., “Please pass the potatoes” is intended to have the consequence of causing someone to pass the potatoes, rather than attempting to accurately describe the world, which (I think) matches how people have been describing level 2. But also it seems concrete and grounded, rather than involving a distortion of reality. So maybe it is level 1? Or not in the hierarchy at all?
Interesting question. An experiment off top of head.
Level 1: “Please pass the potatoes” because you want potatoes.
Level 2: “Please pass the potatoes” because I want you to think you make good potatoes.
Level 3: “Please pass the potatoes” because I want to fit in with the potato-eating group.
Level 4: “Please pass the potatoes” because I can see there are no potatoes and this will lower the status of the people who didn’t make enough potatoes or raise the status of those whose potatoes are in high demand, or cause a fight over who ate too many, or whatever.
Yeah, I don’t really know where imperative statements fall. They seem more like level 3 if I imagine a soldier telling some people to stand down, but in simple things like “please pass the potatoes” there is also a substantial component of just saying “I would like to have the potatoes”, which is just a really straightforward level 1 statement, and indeed in some polite cultures the second one might completely replace the first, showing that they are kind of equivalent.