The modern traditionalists are the sort who also insist that ancient india had everything from airplanes (pushpaka vimana) to atomic bombs (brahmastra etc etc - must have got that idea from the cheesy fireworks displays in the Ramayana / Mahabharata TV soap operas)
> P.S. I hope 'pseudo-science' is clearer than 'pseudo-secularism'. It is even clear than "science studies" - a weird bastard offspring of science and post modernism, that lays claim to "academia". Did anybody around read the Sokal book that debunks it? Even more interesting is the science studies assistant prof (a tambram like us, from her name) who wanted to sue her entire class at Dartmouth for being allergic to her brand of postmodernist nonsense .. http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=659292 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pranesh Prakash Sent: Tuesday, 9 June 2009 4:02 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [silk] Indian foodies Why must we subject all traditions to logic? That results, most irritatingly, in 'modern traditionalists' (to coin a phrase) offering faux-scientific explanations for their practices. I'd rather follow logic-less traditions than be subject to cargo cult science. [general rant] Related to this is the practice of faux-scientific explanations for non-allopathic medicinal systems. They work (for a great many), and that's great. They (indigenous systems of medicine) offer a holistic view of human well-being, in stark contrast to allopathy, and that's wonderful. It is even better when they are examined using the scientific method and shown to have a scientific basis (though many critique this hegemony of the scientific method). However, it is painful when Western medicinal terminology is used to try to explain in a pseudo-scientific manner how unani or siddha work. The same applies to pseudo-scientific explanations for how astrology works. I am perfectly fine with people rejecting the claims to universality that Science makes. But why is there this great urge in astrologers and modern traditionalists to try to fit their pet superstitions within the realms of science while rejecting all that science stands for? [/ general rant] Cheers, Pranesh P.S. I hope 'pseudo-science' is clearer than 'pseudo-secularism'.
