dmb said to David M: (On how to tell the difference between mystics and nuts who say they are) ...Its no different from any other area of inquiry. We have to guard against fraud and abuse in medicine, rocket science or anything else.
DM replied: Nonsense, science suggests/uses repeatable experiments, try again. dmb says: If you were doing a stand up comedy act I'd call that an absurd nonsequitor but since we are talking about the philosophy of science I'd call it an absurd nonsequitor that isn't funny in the least. I mean, if I said science DOESN't use repeatable experiments you'd have a great point, but I didn't. If anyone said so around here, it would be news to me. And an empirical study of mystical states would be no different in this regard either. Expanding what counts as valid empirical evidence beyond sensory experience does not alter the basic rules of science nor is it immune to the same problems. Like nuts trying to pass themselves off as legitimate thinkers, for example. You're alway going to get some of that no matter where you are or what you're doing. Obviously. And I'd seriously like to know what you mean by "the sphere of the possible". Where did you get this notion? This is another chance to have a real conversation, if you're interested. P.S. I found Husserl's phenomenology to be one of the least interesting things I ever encountered in the philosophical world. And the word has become impossibly vague since then. I was totally underwhelmed by it. Yawn. I don't object to the basic idea of beginning with experience and in fact William James coulda, shoulda, woulda been the founder of an American phenomenology if thing has turned out just a little differently. _________________________________________________________________ Get a preview of Live Earth, the hottest event this summer - only on MSN http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthhm moq_discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
