How the World Can Be the Way It Is: An Inquiry for the New Millennium into Science, Philosophy, and Perception

Rating:
Summary: Buddhism Lite
Review: 10-Point Rating: (7.5)
Although this book presents some interesting issues and even though I accept its premise for the most part, the author's use of a mathmetical analogy to describe his "tetralemma" is severely flawed. To equate the metaphysical operator with the mathematical operator <+> rather than <=> is a serious mistake. To equate imaginary numbers (which are quite conceivable) with the concept of the Unconceivable does a good deal of violence to both. Another problem with the presentation is the "anti-positivist circularity" it partakes of: if statements always fail to "capture" reality, then no such statement can even be made to that effect, for even it would fail to "capture" reality. In other words, if I make the statement "there is no truth," or more precisely, "there are no true statements," then that very statement defeats itself, by disallowing even itself to be true. To be a little more blunt, the author sure seems to waste a lot of words and concepts trying to convince us of the uselessness of words and concepts.

Rating:
Summary: Buddhism Lite
Review: 10-Point Rating: (7.5)
Although this book presents some interesting issues and even though I accept its premise for the most part, the author's use of a mathmetical analogy to describe his "tetralemma" is severely flawed. To equate the metaphysical operator <is> with the mathematical operator <+> rather than <=> is a serious mistake. To equate imaginary numbers (which are quite conceivable) with the concept of the Unconceivable does a good deal of violence to both. Another problem with the presentation is the "anti-positivist circularity" it partakes of: if statements always fail to "capture" reality, then no such statement can even be made to that effect, for even it would fail to "capture" reality. In other words, if I make the statement "there is no truth," or more precisely, "there are no true statements," then that very statement defeats itself, by disallowing even itself to be true. To be a little more blunt, the author sure seems to waste a lot of words and concepts trying to convince us of the uselessness of words and concepts.

Rating:
Summary: Challenging
Review: Hagen does a good job at getting you to challenge your beliefs and "just see" as he calls it. He has one of the best laymans descriptions of Bell's Theorm and the problem of faster than light communication.

Rating:
Summary: Challenging
Review: Hagen does a good job at getting you to challenge your beliefs and "just see" as he calls it. He has one of the best laymans descriptions of Bell's Theorm and the problem of faster than light communication.

Rating:
Summary: Steve Hagen's How the World Can Be the Way It Is
Review: I think this is a great book. I wanted to write a review of it because I think a few of the other Amazon.com reviews are a little misleading. First, one reader questions "whether it is possible - through zen meditation or otherwise - to 'see the world the way it is'" and goes on to say that he doesn't believe it is possible. It seems to me that he is too quick to dismiss what Hagen calls "just seeing." Obviously, it is not something that can be believed or disbelieved, because it is beyond conceptual thought and therefore, doubt. This seems too important to simply write off as being impossible without giving it much consideration.

Another reader says, "To be a little more blunt, the author sure seems to waste a lot of words and concepts trying to convince us of the uselessness of words and concepts." I don't think Hagen is trying to say that words and concepts are useless, in fact, I know that isn't what he is saying. It would be impossible to get by on a day-to-day basis without concepts and words. How could this book have even been written if words and concepts were useless? I think that Hagen is actually trying to say is that we tend to mistake concepts for what is Real and completely lose sight of what is directly in front of us. Words and concepts are very important, but they cannot be substituted for Reality without causing a lot of harm to us. "Just seeing" does not mean that one becomes completely free from all concepts, it simply means that one becomes aware of all conceptual thought and is not confused or misled by it.

While this book may not be "groundbreaking" (in fact, it is simply a modern version of teachings that have existed for hundreds of years), it presents everything clearly and does not require a strong background in science, mathematics, or philosophy to appreciate. If you are interested, I would highly recommend reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: Steve Hagen's How the World Can Be the Way It Is
Review: Of all the books on Philosophy, Religion, Science, and their parts in the Big Picture, I have found this book by Steve Hagen the most helpful. Why? Because it puts into language I can understand--simple and to the point--the essence of Buddhism as exemplified in the story of the Eighty-Three Problems (qv) which is resolved by Gautama saying we all have all kinds of problems which he cannot help us with. But he can help us with the 84th problem: that we do not want problems in our lives. Everything depends on how you see things. That is the solution. Just see clearly. This book shows how. Not a slick and easy read, because it deals with the ultimate. But even at a first reading you can taste the truth in it.

Rating:
Summary: Hagen clearly carves out the limits of conceptual thought
Review: Steve Hagen spent a number of years as a "science researcher" prior to embarking on the study and practice of Buddhism, and his writing is largely reflective of that orientation. Steve Hagen has managed to express the ancient wisdom of Buddhism in a language which resonates for me with the greatest clarity and force. And for that I am deeply grateful.

Rating:
Summary: Hey!
Review: The passing white clouds do not obscure the bright blue sky! Read this book!

Rating:
Summary: Zen and the Art of Philosophizing
Review: This lucid book is yet another zen-inspired invitation to let go of the `metaphysical' prejudices which unduly clutter our thinking about the mind, the world and existence. As such, it is a healthy exercise in debunking. Welcome as it is, Hagen's criticism of Descartes's cogito is hardly groundbreaking (the demanding reader will be more rewarded with Varela, Thompson and Rosch's "The Embodied Mind"). When Hagen treads the paths of physical science, one must also be reminded his conclusions are no deeper than are the popular presentations he relies on (in regard to the infamous conundrums of quantum mechanics, the genuine `problems' may well turn out to lie elsewhere entirely...). Besides, I must admit I failed to be impressed by the author's reference to imaginary numbers in his introduction to the tetralemma (which, by the way, is by no means proven!). Finally, whether it is possible - through zen meditation or otherwise - to `see the world the way it is' in a truly (?) noncontextual, non-deceptive manner is up for grabs. In that respect, I would rather side with Lakoff and Johnson, who sensibly contend that "We cannot, as some meditative traditions suggest, "get beyond" our categories and have a purely uncategorized and unconceptualized experience. Neural beings cannot do that" ("Philosophy in the Flesh", p.19). Or can they? All those limitations aside, that book is a pleasure to read.

<< 1 >>