Journey in being

Journey in being

Anil Mitra

Preliminary

A journey in Ideas and Identity

Ideas as the place of appreciation of being—of our being, of the world…

Ideas as the instrument of negotiation

Incompleteness of ideas as expression of possibilities and potentials of being

Identity. Transformation of being—of identity—completes realization

...in the finite and the infinite

The finite, the here-now is important—in itself and instrumentally

In the finite there are Normal but not ultimate limits

The boundary between the finite and the infinite is not absolute

The Journey is in and bridges the finite and the infinite or ultimate

A journey in being

We are already in and remain in being…

The outer reach of a journey in beingPossibility. What is possible for human being, for the individual?

The Good. What ends are desirable, aesthetic, ethical?

Feasibility. What is feasible?

Paths. What ways may we conceive, choose?

Presentation version

First emphasis—introduction and overview for ‘Journey in being’

Secondary emphasis—ideas that enhance and channel or derive from the journey

Designed to be accompanied by narrative andor notes

Other versions and detailshttp://www.horizons-2000.org

Presentation

Outline of topics

Audience and influence

Introduction

Ideas

Journey

Objections and counterarguments

Further contributions to the History of ideas

The story begins…

Audience and influence

Introduction

Ideas

Journey

Objections and counterarguments

Further contributions to the History of ideas

Audience and influence

Who I would reach

The influence that I would have

Audience

General—understanding and significance; transformation of being and identity; state of the world, values, choice, action

Technical—the sciences; technology, art, history, religion; philosophy and its nature, metaphysics, theory of transformation; logic, mathematics; choice and change

Influence

What kind of influence do I want to have?

The influence of resonance—not of copying or repetition

Listening, understanding, criticism, and selective use

Next in the story…

Audience and influenceIntroduction

Ideas

Journey

Objections and counterarguments

Further contributions to the History of ideas

Introduction

The essential ideasNew ideas and contributionsIssues: understanding and

reason

Introduction—outline

Journey

Being

A new view of the worldUniversal metaphysics / Metaphysics of immanence

An objection from science and common sense

The concept of the Normal

A note on meaning. Important concepts

Journey

In the immediate and the ultimate

From this world to the ultimate

…Discovery in ideas

Contingent or Normal and necessary limits

Transformation in being—in identity

Being

That which is or exists—whatever exists has being

When properly understood being is the central concept of understanding and transformation… of a ‘new’ and ultimate view of the Universe

A new view of the world

Metaphysics of immanence… or The Universal metaphysics

The one Law of the Universe is Logic

The metaphysics is ultimate in breadth and depth

A new view—continued

A potential problem of understanding

There is an apparent clash with common—limited—and scientific views of the Universe

However the truth of the view is demonstrated

The nature of ‘demonstration’ is clarified, grounded and advanced

The concept of the Normal

The apparent clash with common views is resolved via the concept of the ‘Normal’

This Normal world is required by the view

This resolves the further concern that the present view, though ultimate, is removed from the immediate

The narrative argument

It is convenient to defer some details of the arguments to a separate section

Therefore, the argument and its problems of reason are taken up in

The main discussion—Ideas and Journey

Objections and counterarguments

A note on lexical meaning

The world view or metaphysics is larger than any other—this is demonstrated

It is significantly new and larger than the common views—day-to-day or technical

Therefore, although the terms used are common their meanings are significantly altered andor enhanced relative to previous use—this, too, is demonstrated

Some important concepts I

Some terms with enhanced meaning—important concepts are boldbeing, journey, existence, idea, transformation, foundation, intuition, object, experience, concept, percept, reason, reference, abstraction, universe, possibility, actuality, necessity, logic, substance, determinism, metaphysics, philosophy, rationality

Some important concepts II

… depth and breadth of understanding, method, form, particular object, abstract object, grammar, meaning, mechanism, causation, human being, society, culture, institution, civilization, faith, religion, science, knowledge, ideational form, and dynamics of being

Next in the story…

Audience and influence

IntroductionIdeas

Journey

Objections and counterarguments

Further contributions to the History of ideas

Ideas

…Are essential to appreciating and negotiating

the world

...A significant part of the journey

Ideas—outline

Intuition

Metaphysics

Objects

Cosmology

Normal worlds

Method

Contributions to the history of ideas

Intuition

Introduction

Being

Existence

Intuition and Object

Experience, concept and reference

Intuition I

How we experience the world, e.g. in terms of space and time and cause and properties, occurs outside experience

Why we see in certain terms—space and time, red versus blue and so on—may be explained by adaptation

That we see in such terms has been labeled ‘Intuition’

Intuition II

This sense of Intuition was used by Immanuel Kant (philosopher, 1724-1804)

In this sense, Intuition is the ability to perceive and concerns subjective experience of and is ‘bound’ to things

Reasoning regarding things involves free images and symbols

Intuition III

Here the meaning of Intuition is extended to cover perception and reasoning

Conception—having mental content—is perception and reasoning. Then:

Intuition is the ‘faculty of conception’ or, in modern terms, ‘the ability to have conceptions’

Intuition IV

Perception—the empirical side of Intuition—is perfect for the simple objects being, all being, and absence of being

The reasoning or thought side of Intuition has been held perfect for logic. However, logic itself is experimental

A new concept ‘Logic’ will be found to be perfect logic—non-empty and powerful

Unity of Intuition I

Thus far Intuition is the dual that is roughly perception and reason

Perception is bound to the Object; reason is free and occurs via recollection as icons and symbols

Alternately expressed, reason is remotely or loosely bound—even pure experience has a remote and a potential Object

Unity of Intuition II

The origin of—the capacity—reason is in perception

Though Normally bound, even perception has freedom—this freedom lies in the nature of being

Perception and reason constitute an original unity

This unity also lies within Experience

Intuition and metaphysics

The necessary aspects of Intuition—perfect perception of the simple objects and Logic are the two pillars of an ultimate metaphysics… that lies within intuition

This metaphysics is foundation for the depth and variety of being and, with particular disciplines—e.g. the sciences, understanding of specific areas of being

Metaphysics

Necessary ObjectsExistence or being, ‘all,’ ‘part,’ ‘absence’

Universe

Domain

Void

The Universal metaphysics or Metaphysics of immanence

Metaphysics—conclusions I

The universe is all being. Therefore…

There is exactly one Universe

The Universe contains all Objects, all Law, all Form, all kinds, all Creators… the Universe itself can have no creator

The Actual and the Possible are identical

…these and the following conclusions are a representative sample

Metaphysics—conclusions II

Domain

One part of the universe can create another

A limited God makes actual and explanatory sense

This, however, gives little support to any predefined God of this cosmos

Metaphysics—conclusions III

The Void

The concept of the Void is fundamental in showing the nature of the Universe (all being) which is its complement

The concepts of Universe, Domain and the Void are instrumental in developing a ‘Universal metaphysics’ or ‘Metaphysics of immanence’ which is now taken up

The Fundamental principle

The Fundamental principle of the ‘Universal metaphysics’ states that The only restriction on actual states is that of Logic—the capitalization is explained later

This principle is the central and foundational theorem of the metaphysics

We now demonstrate the Fundamental principle

Fundamental principle—proof I

The Universe is all being

Therefore the Universe exists and contains all Entities and other Objects—Laws, Forms…

The Void is the complement of the Universe relative to itself

Therefore the Void exists and contains no Entities, Laws, or Forms…

…Proof II

If from the Void a state whose description involved no contradiction, no violation of logic, could not manifest—that would constitute a law of the void

Therefore the only restriction on actual states is that of logic

This defines ideal logic—Logic, non-empty since it is approximated by the logics

…Proof—Objections I

Because of its significance, it is essential to criticize the Fundamental principle… by

(1) Criticism of the given proof and, if it is wanting, provision of alternate proof. (2) Questioning the principle itself… whether the principle and its consequences violate what we already know—science, common sense…

…Proof—Objections II

Science and common sense are addressed via the idea of the Normal

A Normal state or world is one, such as our world, in which only a limited number of states is feasibly or normally accessible

The Fundamental principle requires the existence of Normal worlds

…Proof—Objections III

An objection to the given proof of existence of the Void. Whereas complements of ‘proper’ sub-domains exist, it does not follow that the complement of the Universe itself exists

An alternate proof is given next

Slide Objections and counterarguments has alternate demonstrations

An alternate proof

There is no distinction between existence and non-existence of the Void

Therefore the Void may be taken to exist

This in turn implies existence of the Void

Details of proof are in notes to the Objections and counterarguments slides

An objection from physics

Objection. The quantum mechanical ‘vacuum’ is a place of vast energy and activity. Therefore the Void cannot be the absence of being

Counterargument. Quantum theory is local. It is not the Law of the Universe. Science allows this possibility which is here demonstrated

…Proof—Objections IV

Objection. The variety of being in the Universe is defined by Logic. However, as noted, Logic is a defined concept. Therefore, ‘Logic as Law’ shows nothing

Counterargument. Logic as Law derives from logic as Law which is not empty. The problem of Logic is not that it is empty but of the degree of infinity of variety permitted

…Proof—comments I

Identification of Logic and Metaphysics has been considered by Gottlob Frege (logician, 1848-1925) and Ludwig Wittgenstein (philosopher, 1888-1951)… and of Metaphysics and Intuition by Kant

Here, powerful forms of these concepts culminate in the identity of the rational Intuition, Logic, and Metaphysics

…Proof—comments II

It has been noted that the Fundamental principle is the keystone of the powerful ‘Universal metaphysics’

Among various objections to the principle and its demonstration is the fact that ‘so much appears to come from so little’

See slide Objections and counterarguments for responses

The Universal metaphysics I

Introduction

Fundamental principle of the Universal metaphysics

On Logic

A cosmological variety

The Normal

The edge of the Normal

The Universal metaphysics II

Substance, determinism and explanation

The Universal metaphysics is ultimate in depth and breadth

Completion of the rational (empiric-logic) ‘Method’

Form

Limits

Objects

Concept and ObjectNecessary and Contingent or Normal Objects

Particular and Abstract Objects

A system of Objects

The fundamental concept of the metaphysics

Logic, Grammar and Meaning

Cosmology

The concept of cosmology

Variety

Process—mechanism, causation

Space, time and being

Mind

Local / physical cosmology

Principles of thought and action

Cosmology—variety I

The Fundamental principle underlies the cosmological variety

Because the only restriction on Actual states of the Universe is that of Logic, the only fictions are the Logical fictions

Subject to Logic, all of literature has an Object

Cosmology—variety II

Given interpretation as conceptual, then subject to Logic, all emotions, all works of art, all music must have Objects

What is actual is necessary. This—our—cosmos is necessary. Every individual is necessary; and their identities are necessary

Cosmology—variety III

The Universe must pass through both Void and manifest states, i.e. there must be occasions of ‘something’ and of ‘nothing’ This resolves what has been called the fundamental problem of metaphysics (why there is something rather than nothing)… and is seen to imply that the fundamental problem is ‘What exists?’

Cosmology—variety IV

Examples. Karma. Annihilation / creation of manifest phases of the Universe. Subject to Logic, every actual Object recurs infinitely, ‘rising from the dead’ is actual in countless cosmological systems, Normal identities merge in Identity; limited gods are necessary. Comment. The examples remove absurdity but no support is given to occurrence in this cosmos

Ideational form I

Science and religion are examples of ideational form in that they provide a picture of the world or, at least, the base for a partial picture

The mesh of modern economics and ideational forms, e.g. secular humanism, is such that a return to a religious paradigm of the past is difficult to imagine

Ideational form II

The difficulty—but not impossibility—is compounded in view of the immense improvement of the political and economic status of the common individual

The future of the ‘ideational form’ may be difficult to anticipate but Universal metaphysics emphasizes the practical necessity of its future evolution

Ideational form III

This evolution will be likely though flexibly tied to the evolution of political-economics; truth requires reason but its spread is interwoven with political-economics—the understandings of immediate and ultimate truth may impinge upon one anotherThe world is not divided into two ‘spheres,’ the sacred and the ideal or ideational and the mundane that includes the political and the economic

Death I

As a result of the scientific world view and the advent of secular humanism one dominant modern Normal view of death is that it is absolute: individual consciousness begins with birth and ends with death

The Metaphysics shows, however, the merging of individual identities in Identity. Thus the Normal view of death is a relative one

Death II

In life, this world is, roughly, finite; in life, the Universe may be experienced as infinite

In death, therefore, it is as if the infinity of the Universes collapses to the individual; alternatively, in death the ‘finite’ individual becomes the infinity of the Universe

Normal worlds I

Introduction and scope

Human world: individual and societyHuman being

Social world

Civilization

The state of civilization

Faith

Normal worlds II

Common and experimental endeavor

A system of modes of being and knowing

Human modes and their limitsThe animal. Primal holism—early religion-myth,

and science. Religion / ideal Religion | Secular humanism | Science / ideal Science

The future of the ideational form—in which economics and politics are likely to be as significant as reason

Method

Intuition and Object

Faithfulness—its meaning and range

The One and the Many—The Universal metaphysics

The One and the Many—Normal and Local studies

Action

Perfection

Method—comments

The foundation of ‘the method’ and content of metaphysics is found in the analysis of Intuition

Details are in the notes of the previous slide

Contributions to ideas I

Contributions to the following topics are distributed among the previous slides:

Intuition, Metaphysics, Logic, Theory of Objects, and Cosmology

The possibilities of Human and Animal Being

Human knowledge

Contributions to ideas II

Potential contributions to logic, science…

Secondary contributions

Secondary contributions are those that are side interests or offshoots that may once have been thought to be primary

For secondary contributions see the slide Contributions to the history of ideas

Next in the story…

Audience and influence

Introduction

IdeasJourney

Objections and counterarguments

Further contributions to the History of ideas

Journey

Transformation in being and identity

Journey—introduction

Ideas are an essential part of the journeyIdeas are essential to appreciation of the world and the journey

Ideas are essential to understanding and negotiating the world

As journey in being, ideas are incomplete

Transformation in being and identity completes the journey

Journey—outline

A principle of the journey—its necessity

Concept and character of the journey

Transformation and theory

The transformations

A principle of the journey

Necessity of the journey for completeness of being:

Without the journey, without action, without transformation, being is incomplete, a shadow…

Journey: concept and character

JourneyThe way from the immediate, from limits to the ultimate—transformation in ideas and identity

Transformation is essential and includes ideas and being-identity

Origin and evolutionIndividual. Shared. Emergence of focus, ambition and goals

Transformation and theory

Dynamics of being

Catalytic states and modes of transformation

Development of the dynamic

Concerns of the dynamics

Negotiating the feasible

Exploring what is desirable…

Incremental andor large scale change

Exploring the means of change—physical, psychological, social, technological

The transformations

A minimal system

The journey so far

Assessment; the way aheadStudy

The future

Next in the story…

Audience and influence

Introduction

Ideas

JourneyObjections and counterarguments

Further contributions to the History of ideas

Objections and counterarguments

Response to objections is crucial, not only to the

argument, but to understanding and method

Objections / counterarguments

The foundational fallacy

Experience and existence

Being

The Void

The fundamental principle

Non-rational objections

Final thoughts of the story…

Audience and influence

Introduction

Ideas

Journey

Objections and counterargumentsFurther contributions to the History of

ideas

Some further contributions to the history of ideas

Significant ideas that are secondary to the main

development

Some areas of contribution

Philosophy and metaphysics

Problems of metaphysics

Significant problems—some new—resolved in the development

The idea of method

A system of human knowledge

Author

Anil Mitra

The End