The Zen of Python is not Zen - Printable Version +- Python Forum (https://python-forum.io) +-- Forum: General (https://python-forum.io/forum-1.html) +--- Forum: News and Discussions (https://python-forum.io/forum-31.html) +--- Thread: The Zen of Python is not Zen (/thread-22888.html) Pages:
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The Zen of Python is not Zen - ichabod801 - Dec-01-2019 As a student of Zen, the Zen of Python has always bugged me. Having been ordained as a lay Zen monk today, I thought I would explain. We are all (most?) familiar with the Zen of Python: import this Wrote:The Zen of Python, by Tim Peters However, I expect far fewer of you are familiar with this classic Zen verse by Sengcan, featured in the second case of the Blue Cliff Record: Jianzhi Sengcan Wrote:The Perfect Way is only difficult for those who pick and choose; But the Zen of Python is pretty much all about picking and choosing: this is better than that over and over again. It denies the equanimity and acceptance that is at the heart of Zen practice. It denies the emptiness of categories that is at the heart of Zen philosophy. So it may be good coding practice, but it is not good Zen. RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - Larz60+ - Dec-01-2019 I don't think it was ever intended to be taken literally as valid Zen. RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - ichabod801 - Dec-01-2019 Then why call it Zen? RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - Larz60+ - Dec-02-2019 Chinese Checkers - Invented in Germany Arabic Numerals - Originated in India Koala bears - Not bears, but Marsupials Starfish - Not a fish, it's an echinoderms. Panama hats - From Ecuador ... RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - Gribouillis - Dec-02-2019 ichabod801 Wrote:But the Zen of Python is pretty much all about picking and choosingIt is probably a western (and therefore more or less ignorant) view of zen. It's a set of wise maxims that should guide the python programmer in its quest of writing good programs. I remember reading a small book by Ray Bradbury, the science fiction author, named "Zen in the art of writing". He gives many advices in order to improve one's ability to write. You could perhaps read it and tell us if it has anything to do with zen. RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - Larz60+ - Dec-02-2019 Likely from a very popular book from back in the 1970's and early 80's: Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/zen-motorcycle.pdf After the book was published, a whole rash of Zen and ... items appeared. RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - Gribouillis - Dec-02-2019 I'm very much impressed. It contains many sections about mathematics and Poincaré. I wonder what this has to do with motorcycles. RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - Larz60+ - Dec-02-2019 I read the book back in the 1970's, but can't remember much. I do seem to recall someone who travels about, repairing a motorcycle along the way. Philosophy of some sort. I have difficulty remembering where I left my coffee, much less remembering something that I read so long ago. RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - perfringo - Dec-02-2019 One can interpret Zen this way: Perfect Way: - do not like - do not dislike Python Way: - Beautiful is better than ugly ... - Namespaces are one honking great idea -- let's do more of those! There are rules to be obeyed to follow the Way, both in real Zen and 'Zen of Python'. RE: The Zen of Python is not Zen - ichabod801 - Dec-02-2019 I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as well. I have a motorcycle, so as a Zen biker people where constantly asking me if I'd read that book. There is some Zen in there, but not a lot, although I did stop reading it part way through. I think he gets Zen right in the sense of the distinction between experience and conscious thought, but then he seems to go overboard in saying that if it's not conscious thought, then it comes from some external absolute. This ignores the possibility of thought that we are not conscious of. |