Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 12:02:57 +0200
From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl>
Subject: FW: Zenification vs. Dennetisation
To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
-----Original Message-----
From: Gatherer, D. (Derek)
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 1999 7:55 AM
To: 'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'
Subject: RE: Zenification vs. Dennetisation
-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron Lynch [mailto:aaron@mcs.net]
Sent: Monday, April 19, 1999 5:45 PM
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Zenification vs. Dennetisation
Aaron:
I already recognize Dennett's endorsement of the book a whole.
Derek:
Good. In that case my misgivings on that score were unfounded.
Aaron:
However, I
do not take this to mean as Jake suggested that the two of them had a
serious discussion of Zen and its role in memetics or in the book. I can
easily see the possibility that Dennett disagreed with the Zen material,
but didn't have the time for persuading Blackmore of his views on this.
Derek:
But why? What evidence do you have of Dennett's views on this? I think it
would be perfectly in tune with Dennett's philosophy.
Aaron:
This is why I raised the subject of how deeply involved Dennett was: I was
casting doubt on the image Jake raised of the two of them sitting side by
side through the whole project and therefore inevitably having the Zen
conversation that Jake envisioned. The 4/16/99 sentence of mine that you
earlier quoted as a fragment reads in full:
>I suspect that Dennett has been too busy to get very deeply involved in the
>book, which might be why he did not exert a de-Zenifying influence.
Derek:
Yes, but why should he want to 'exert a de-Zenifying influence'? Since
Dennett is a philosopher who puts Hume and Ryle in his lineage, I reckon he
would simply see it as confirmation of the strong links that many writers
have identified between the skeptical/behaviourist tradition in Western
philosophy and certain aspects of Buddhist philosophy.
Aaron:
The real question, then, is not how many hours Dennett gave to the project,
but whether his involvement was enough for him to exert any de-Zenifying
influence if in fact he disagrees with the Zen material. Another
possiblity, of course, is that he tried to exert a de-Zenifying influence
but did not totally succeed. Perhaps I'll ask him.
Derek:
Please do, and please tell us what he says.
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