Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id OAA02951 (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 14:53:51 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745A26@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: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 14:51:24 +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 see what you're saying, but what I was getting at was more along the lines
of your point about the bicycle.
Besides, making oneself feel good, or whatever one does to get past OK
(sorry Richard) is not a good enough reason for privileging one set of
beliefs or practices over another on a general basis.
More later, as I have to prepare for a seminar (which, incidentally is a lot
less fun than these debates, which despite the apparent antagonisms that
emerge I enjoy immensely).
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Wade T.Smith
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 2:03 pm
> To: memetics list
> Subject: RE: solipsistic view on memetics
>
> 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
>
> ===============================================================
> This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
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===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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