Book Club: Angel Tech

[Verbal Mike]

Kai,
Thanks for the excellent definition of "term".

[Captain Utopia]

If it were that obvious, to the point where it didn't warrant repetition, then it wouldn't be so easy to get hung up on particular terms?

[Kai]

If it were that obvious, to the point where it didn't warrant repetition, then it wouldn't be so easy to get hung up on particular terms?

I don't understand what you're asking.

[Captain Utopia]

If it were that obvious, to the point where it didn't warrant repetition, then it wouldn't be so easy to get hung up on particular terms?

I don't understand what you're asking.

I guess it was more of a statement?

Since the newage terms do put off a lot of people, I think it is worth repetition of the definition of "term", so that readers are more likely to do the substitution you describe.. rather than just reject the meaning underneath the newage veneer.

[Kai]

People who inflect statements at the end as I  would a question annoy me.

That being said,

Term: a word or phrase with an unambiguous meaning within a particular context

In reading literature of many kinds, coming to terms is one of the most important parts of the analytical reading process.

Coming to terms: discovering what the authors terms are and what they mean via their particular context, thereby allowing you to replace them with your terms of the same meaning. The author's and readers terms become one, and thus a consensus of understanding is reached.

That is what I mean when I say coming to terms.


In angel tech there are many terms based in new age words and phrases that probably correspond well with terms that you are I as readers have. As Angel Tech is a practical work and not theoretical (practical works require action from agreement, while theoretical works don't require any action besides saying you agree; self help books are included under practical works), reading it is coming to terms with the author, figuring out whether you or I disagree or agree with the arguments, and then if we agree, integrating that information and putting it into action.


For more on the four levels of reading, coming to terms, pidgeonholeing a book and critiquing literature when you disagree with it, read How to Read a Book - Adler and van Doren. Probably one of the top three most useful books I've ever read. For a practical book that was written over 60 years ago it is still extremely useful, which says much about its overall value. Most of what I said above was a summary from it.

Anyway, enough of this threadjack.

[Kai]

http://goodlifezen.com/2009/08/12/what-if-we-treat-life-like-a-lucid-dream/ Seemed like an interesting tie in to 8th circuit stuff.

[the last yatto]

memes ARE people.

Memes

http://www.maybenow.com/Spell-grandma-in-french-.Meme-q7435518

[LMNO]

So, I just started reading it.  Only a few pages in, so I can't really comment yet, except to say I understand why people had a problem with the language, and I understand Kai's technique of getting around that. 

Hopefully, it will result in what RAW said in the intro, that this will be a clearer, more precise description of the model.

More to come.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

So, I just started reading it.  Only a few pages in, so I can't really comment yet, except to say I understand why people had a problem with the language, and I understand Kai's technique of getting around that. 

Hopefully, it will result in what RAW said in the intro, that this will be a clearer, more precise description of the model.

More to come.

That's what I found as well, I think Antero intentionally uses terms that you have to work around, rather than swallowing his book wholesale.

[LMNO]

Well, that would pretty much ruin the "Clear and Consice" angle, wouldn't it?

I think he used those terms because he wanted New Agers to get tricked into reading it.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Well, that would pretty much ruin the "Clear and Consice" angle, wouldn't it?

I think he used those terms because he wanted New Agers to get tricked into reading it.

Possibly 

[Captain Utopia]

Well, that would pretty much ruin the "Clear and Consice" angle, wouldn't it?

I think he used those terms because he wanted New Agers to get tricked into reading it.

Possibly 

Didn't RAW do a similar thing with regards trying to appeal to paranoid conspiracy theorists?

Which group today would be most susceptible? Pagans have fantastic gullibility, but seem to mostly lack intellectual rigor.. 

[Rococo Modem Basilisk]

Which group today would be most susceptible?

Discordians.

[Cain]

Birthers, obviously.

[Kai]

Glad this discussion is going.

If I chime in very little (now and over next 5 months) it is because I just took on a massive assistantship project in addition to two rigorous graduate courses and my thesis. I'll try to keep up with the book club though.