Raymond Smullyan has died • Hacker News Board

Re: Raymond Smullyan has died

#61

Post by huxley » Mon, Feb 13, 2017, 9:32 PM UTC

andybak wrote: post #31

I can't remember if it was via reading Douglas Hofstadter, Daniel Dennett, William Poundstone (or someone writing in a similar vein) that I came across Smullyan but his name cropped up in many things that have captivated me over the years. This dialogue is absolutely marvellous: http://www.mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/godTao...

It might have been Hofstadter and Dennett's "The Mind's I" which includes both "Is God a Taoist?" and "An Unfortunate Dualist"

Re: Raymond Smullyan has died

#62

Post by mercer » Tue, Feb 14, 2017, 2:09 PM UTC

nocoder wrote: post #48

This is why I love coming to HN. Once in a while you discover something really beautiful. I come from India & never heard of Raymond Smullyan, but I just discovered his wonderful puzzles & writings. Thanks.

Same here. I spent a full day reading the various articles linked to from this thread, and buying/reading his book on Taoism and more. HN at its best!

Re: Raymond Smullyan has died

#63

Post by andybak » Fri, Feb 17, 2017, 4:10 PM UTC

huxley wrote: post #61

andybak wrote: post #31

I can't remember if it was via reading Douglas Hofstadter, Daniel Dennett, William Poundstone (or someone writing in a similar vein) that I came across Smullyan but his name cropped up in many things that have captivated me over the years. This dialogue is absolutely marvellous: http://www.mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/godTao...

It might have been Hofstadter and Dennett's "The Mind's I" which includes both "Is God a Taoist?" and "An Unfortunate Dualist"

Yep. That was it. I still have a copy. Amazing book - even if I'm not sure I agree with either of them on the nature of consciousness any more.