Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id LAA17882 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 14 Sep 2000 11:52:09 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745A12@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: solipsistic view on memetics Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 11:49:43 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>I like this definition of mysticism: the elevation of experience
over
>intellectualization. Says it all, really.
The problem with this position Robin is that if you do not attempt
to intellectualise experience, in other words critically examine experience,
you end up make false assumptions about cause and effect, and this in turn
can be manipulated by the unscrupulous.
Examples:
People suffering sleep paralysis interpret it as alien abduction.
People experiencing low frequency noise 'see' ghosts.
People suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy have intense feelings
of religiousity and assume God was talking to them.
People interpret the random neuron firing and endorphins released
near death as proof of heaven's existence.
People watch a medium cold read an audience and interpret it as them
making contact with the dead.
etc. etc. etc.
It seems to me that there is a lot of harm in mystifying natural
phenomena, deliberately obscuring understanding, because I instinctively ask
why? Why can't a mystic give a straight answer to a straight question? If
the 'secret' knowledge is so wonderful true and enlightening why not share
it with everyone in as clear and simple a manner as possible?
Vincent
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