Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id OAA02721 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 18 Sep 2000 14:07:58 +0100 Subject: RE: solipsistic view on memetics Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 09:03:46 -0400 x-sender: wsmith1@camail2.harvard.edu x-mailer: Claris Emailer 2.0v3, Claritas est veritas From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu> To: "memetics list" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Message-ID: <20000918130510.AAA8363@camailp.harvard.edu@[128.103.125.215]> Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
On 09/18/00 07:19, Vincent Campbell said this-
>failed to offer more than one, contested, example of mysticism's benefits
>over rationalism.
In Robin's, and any other mystically-inclined leaner's, defense, I don't
think he ever really tried to offer a benefit, as such, that mysticism
may have or not have over rationalism to produce workable knowledge of
nature, but I may also be laying my own feelings about it over his words,
something we humans tend to do, immunizing agents that we are.
I would suggest that the 'mystical communion' with nature is a teasing
self-play, in the same way that any meditative state is, and that, since
it is a common human experience (or common enough to have generated
mystics), that, like in hallucinagin research, the biological state is
what science needs to explore.
Mystic supporters may offer the system of breathing, chant, asceticism,
and diet as a 'technology' to produce a mystical state wherein supernal
knowledge is certain, but, this has been offered as well by chemistry
majors working in their basements preparing for a rave. They may then
mention that, like riding a bike, their system is not forgotten, and one
advances in skill, whereas the ecstasy of the drug experience is left
behind and only offered again (in diminishing returns) by a new dose of
the drug.
So, in this realm at least, the realm of imaginative speculation and
induced euphoric states, mysticism is a decided benefit- fewer side
effects, more guaranteed efficacy, repeatable, and, educatable through
mentoring.
- Wade
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