[lit-ideas] Re: Smullyaniana
- From: John McCreery <john.mccreery@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Lit-Ideas <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2015 12:56:41 +0900
Thank you for the pointer. I have just obtained a Kindle edition of *The
Tao is Silent*. At a cost just a wee bit more than what I just paid for
lunch at a neighborhood Chinese restaurant, it seemed worth having a taste.
That Smullyan was a student of Alonzo Church is interesting. Whether he
demonstrates competence in reading Chinese will be critical.
John
On Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 11:08 AM, Redacted sender Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx for
DMARC <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> In a message dated 3/2/2015 7:47:21 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx writes:
> I give up on Thaoism then.
>
> Smullyan seems a good key to the thing, figuratively.
>
> Smullyan is a Taoist philosopher, who believes, naturally, that Taoism
> neatly solves most or all traditional philosophical problems (including
> some
> pseudo-probolems, too) as well as integrating mathematics, logic, and
> philosophy into what he calls "a cohesive whole."
>
> Smullyan was not _born_ a Taoist. He _became_ one.
>
> He taught mainly at Lehman.
>
> In "The Tao Is Silent" Smullyan provides a beguiling and whimsical guide to
> the meaning and value of Eastern philosophy *to Westerners*.
>
> The implicature seems to be Easteners don't need it.
>
> 'To me,' writes Smullyan, 'Taoism means a state of inner serenity combined
> with an intense aesthetic awareness.'
>
> 'It may mean something different to *you*,' he adds with a bit of sarcasm.
>
> 'Neither serenity nor awareness alone is adequate: a purely passive
> serenity is, to start, kind of dull; on the other hand, an anxiety-ridden
> awareness will not appeal all.'
>
> Asked about the topic of his book Smullyan replied, "Well, it's about life
> in general."
>
> So I suppose the keyword should be Smullyan's LIFE.
>
> Smullyan sees the Taoist as 'one who is not so much in search of something
> he hasn't, but who is enjoying what he has.'
>
> Smullyan, who taught at Lehmann, is witty and sophisticated -- yet deeply
> religious, and he discusses dogs (not just straw dogs), gardening, the art
> of napping, and computers who dream that they're human.
>
> Smullyan thought of entitling the book, 'This Book Needs No Title' -- but
> then he found out he had already written one with that title.
>
> His PhD was under Alonzo Church, if that helps.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Speranza
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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--
John McCreery
The Word Works, Ltd., Yokohama, JAPAN
Tel. +81-45-314-9324
jlm@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.wordworks.jp/
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