Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id QAA15294 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 13 Sep 2000 16:19:12 +0100 Message-Id: <f04310101b5e5456e052e@[194.154.110.185]> In-Reply-To: <20000913141134.AAA6270@camailp.harvard.edu@[128.103.125.215]> References: <20000913141134.AAA6270@camailp.harvard.edu@[128.103.125.215]> Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 16:16:25 +0100 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk From: Chris Lees <chrislees@easynet.co.uk> Subject: Re: solipsistic view on memetics Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Wade wrote :
>Does the intellect really need a booster rocket?
Your close to where my thought is here , Wade, but I don't conceive
of an individual intellect needing a boost. What I was getting
at, is that our collective knowledge advances as new minds add
conceptual richness to our vocabulary, and that this sometimes
allows us to discuss areas which were previously totally obscure.
So what I'm saying is that there is a challenge, to any individual
intellect, to formulate conceptual tools, even neologisms, to refine
the enquiry so that those who are interested can comprehend more.
Zen practice certainly produces or allows extraordinary experiences.
Yet there does not seem to be anything weird or abnormal involved,
but rather a feeling of getting closer to what is 'kinda true and natural'
if you'll forgive the woolly phrase. These experiences must have *some*
connection to other domains of human enquiry, such as western psychology,
deconstruction, neuroscience, info theory, etc. It's legitimate to
discuss what those connections might look like. Nothing 'mystical'
about that, in whatever way the word is interpreted. It's a treacherous word
and causes endless avoidable confusion whenever it gets used because
everyone is automatically talking at cross-purposes. Best avoid imo
and speak of specific examples, such as Sufi or Blake's or whatever.
I've got to drop out again now, but thanks to all for the thoughts and
comments.
C.L.
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