[lit-ideas] Re: Smullyaniana
- From: John McCreery <john.mccreery@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Lit-Ideas <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2015 15:08:43 +0900
Then, do tell us more about him.
John
On Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 2:28 PM, Adriano Palma <Palma@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Raymond Smullyan taught mostly at Indiana University, Bloomington. The
> silly remarks of "how do you know" do not apply since I worked with him
> and for him.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
> lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: 03 March 2015 04:09
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> Subject: [lit-ideas] Smullyaniana
>
> 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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