This thread has probably stretched far enough, but it's hard to resist getting in a final shot:
Jim Guinee wrote: > > What I meant to say is that it's one thing to posit senility, but I would > > be more convinced if one could demonstrate that Flew's writing and oral > > communication are indicative of the common symptoms one experiences as a > > result of dementia. and Paul Smith replied: > > As you must be aware, though, dementia is a progressive condition, beginning > with > small, intermittent, and barely detectable changes well before progressing to what you're describing here. I just want to remind people that my original post actually referred to a remarkable new paper on the famous novelist Iris Murdoch, and never mentioned Flew directly. Garrard et al (2004) showed that despite the great skill Murdoch displayed in writing her last novel, _Jackson's Dilemma_, a computer analysis of the text showed that hidden within it were subtle signs of the onset of the disease with which she was diagnosed a year later. By mentioning this case in the context of a discussion on Flew, I was, of course, hinting that the same might apply to him. What makes the paper remarkable is that it shows that even while one is still functioning at a very high level (who among us could write a novel even half as good as this mediocre one from Murdoch), the disease was nevertheless beginning to exert its relentless effects. So I think it's reasonable to speculate that something similar is taking place with Prof. Flew. I never said that belief in God is a form of dementia, which is what Jim seems to think I said. Stephen Garrard, P. et al (2004). The effects of very early Alzheimer's disease on the characteristics of writing by a renowned author. Brain, Epublication December 1 ahead of print. ___________________________________________________ Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Dept web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy TIPS discussion list for psychology teachers at http://faculty.frostburg.edu/psyc/southerly/tips/index.htm _______________________________________________ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
