GKMARH@IRISHMVS.BITNET (steven horst 219-289-9067) (08/25/88)
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Date: Wed, 24 Aug 88 11:34 EDT
To: ailist@ai.ai.mit.edu
From: steven horst 219-289-9067 <GKMARH%IRISHMVS.BITNET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Subject: Religion & Cognitive Science
Here are two questions that came to mind while browsing through the
recent spate of submissions on "the godless question". The first
is food for thought. The second is a request for information.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: There is a certain similarity between cognitive
science and religious cosmology in that both employ intentional
explanation to account for their respective data. (Though of
course neither intentional realism nor theism should be regarded
primarily or solely as scientific theories - both predate
scientific inquiry and have ramifications outside the sphere
of scientific investigation.) A question for those who are
disposed to accept at least Dennett's views on the need for and
utility of the "intentional stance" in psychology: If you are
prepared to ascribe intentional states and processes to explain
some events (i.e., in psychology), is there any reason to not
proceed in the same way in other areas? I'm not asking this
evangelistically -- I'm just interested in hearing some ideas
on why the kinds of considerations which may warrant intentional
realism do or do not also warrant theism. (Or, for that manner,
animism.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Is anyone aware of any projects that
apply computer modeling to religious practice in studying the
phenomenology of religion?
BITNET Adress..........gkmarh@irishmvs
SURFACE MAIL...........Steven Horst
Department of Philosophy
Notre Dame, IN 46556