In a message dated 29/08/2004 23:03:42 GMT Standard Time, Saicho@xxxxxxx
writes:
Hi Gang,
I may have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating in light of the
current discussion– simply for the value of showing the living presence of
Cartesian dualism in academe today.
Jeffery Schwartz, author of a book aptly titled The Brain and the Mind, was
on TV recently along with another (with an infinitely more balanced and
informed intellect!) speaker (forgot his name). Schwartz’s ideas are pure dualism,
pure ghost in the machine, pure spiritual homunculus, pure
anti-materialistic crap. Not only does he invoke Buddhism to help make his case for a
non-material presence that is separate from the physical brain, he also invokes
quantum physics!! – claiming that the non-local stuff (coming out of Bell’s
theorem, etc.) supports this controlling presence idea. He believes, and feels
that his gibberish of Buddhism and quantum physics proves it, that intentional
thought, he calls “effort” or “volition” controls the physical mind – not
the other way around. Yet, he staunchly denies being a Cartesian dualist! He
also claims to have been one of the pioneers in the study of mental disorders
via the analysis of brain activity (blood flow pictures, etc.). He was taken
to task by every questioner in the audience and the other speaker, but bent in
the wind from the harshest criticism, and I guess must be given some credit
for pure stubbornness. If you come across his book and are intrigued by the
title (which by its very nature should give one pause) I suggest you don’t buy
it.
Can you believe that such people actually still exist – and in a
university?!
Jud:
Hi Richard! The only good thing about these stupidities - I mean the effect
that such stupidities have on one of a superior intellect — such as you and
I ;-) is that at least the outrage felt increases the heartbeat and
constitutes a mild form of physical exercise? Now you know why I am in such fine
physical condition — 7-years on a Heidy list have turned me into a living
paradigm of healthy old age. Muscles bulge and sharp eyes gleam as my fingers dance
upon the keyboard — honed to physical perfection by the daily benison of
workouts on the Heidegger Spoons List, and the rather shabbier downmarket
callisthenics performed in the gymnasium called Heidegger dialognet.
The increase in the heartbeat rate saves one running around the block a few
times — allows one that extra glass of Chateau Neuf du Pape, so these
academic pillochs are performing some kind of a public service? Perhaps - him being
a Cartesian duellist an all — we could encourage him to continue with his
unconsciously sponsored health and fitness routines for outraged materialists,
but combine this activity by putting the somatic side of his enthusiastic
duality to work for another realm of public spiritedness — such as garbage
removal or the rounding up of feral cats? I say: "Thank God for the idiots — we'd
all be physical wrecks without them! I must watch a few more Bush
commercials - I'm putting a bit of weight on my tummy.
Thanks for sharing the workout:-)
Regards,
Jud.
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