May 25, 2018

Happy birthday Raymond Smullyan

A mathematician friend of mine recently told me of a mathematician friend of his who everyday "takes a nap". Now, I never take naps. But I often fall asleep while reading -- which is very different from deliberately taking a nap! I am far more like my dogs Peekaboo, Peekatoo and Trixie than like my mathematician friend once removed. These dogs never take naps; they merely fall asleep. They fall asleep wherever and whenever they choose (which, incidentally is most of the time!). Thus these dogs are true sages.

I think this is all that Chinese philosophy is really about; the rest is mere elaboration!

Raymond Smullyan, The Tao is Silent (1977)


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