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Law, Psychiatry, Postmodernism, and Critical Thomism
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Introduction
This Book is a collection of Essays or Tract Books dealing with Law,
Psychiatry, Postmodernism, and Critical Thomism.
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Table of Contents
Chapter
1. Aquinas, Lonergan, and the Fourfold Path
2. Aristotle, Evolution, and Rupert Sheldrake’s Morphogenetic Fields
3. Being
4. Classical Liberalism
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5. Deconstructing Deconstruction: Deconstructing Derrida
6. Deconstructing Psychiatry
7. Deconstructing the White Male
8. Experience, Knowledge, and Wisdom in Aristotle’s Metaphysics
9. Faculty Psychiatry
10. Freewill and Determinism
11. Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Karma and the Dao
12. Intellect and Analytic Understanding
13. Intuition, Reason, and Derrida’s Postmodernism
14. Law Levels and Jesus Christ
15. Music, Intuition, and Psychiatry
16. Objectivity
17. Phenomenology and Psychiatry
18. Psychiatry, Due Process, The First Amendment,
and Section 1983 in Tort
19. Body, Mind, Spirit, Mysticism and Psychology
20. Reason, Derrida, and Postmodern Deconstruction
21. Social Responsibility of Business, Business Ethics,
and The Ethical Matrix
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22. Telepathy and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution
23. The Illiteration Doctrine and Classical Philosophy
24. The Politics and Magic of the Number Zero
25. Transpersonal Psychiatry
26. Emergent Probability
27. The Bible, Magic, and The Law
28. Self-Defense and Non-Violence
29 Reciprocity Revisited
30. Levels of Consciousness
31. Authority and Obedience
32. Eminent Domain, Natural Law, Psychiatry, and the Constitution
33. God, Mysticism, Psychiatry and the First Amendment
34. Modified Socratic Method and Law Teaching
35. Intuition
36. Christianity, Karma, and Christ
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Chapter 1
Aquinas, Lonergan, and the Fourfold Path
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
In Bernard Lonergan’s work there is the Four Fold Path of
Experience, Understanding, Reflection/Judgment, and Love. In Aristotle
there is the Three Fold Path of Experience, Knowledge, and Wisdom. I
would ague that there is a similar path found in the work of Thomas
Aquinas, as quoted by Theologian, Matthew Fox:
Now, order is related to reason in a four fold way. There is one
order that reason does not establish, but only beholds, such is theorder of things in nature.
There is a second order that reason establishes in its own act of consideration, for example, when it arranges its conceptsamong themselves, and meaning of the concepts.
There is a third order that reason establishes in the operations of the will.
There is a fourth order of reason in planning establishes in theexternal things that it causes, such as a chest and a house.
(Fox, Matthew, Sheer Joy 6 (1992) (illiterations omitted).
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Now, it is apparent that Aquinas parallels Lonergan and Aristotle in
discussing a three fold or four fold path. Aquinas, like Evelyn Underhill,
uses Will as the cognative operation associated with level three, rather than
Wisdom. Wisdom parallels the idea of Intellect in my work, and that of
Reflection and Judgment in the work of Bernard Lonergan. Wisdom is
level three for Aristotle.
Obviously, level two is similar with the Conceptual level in
Aquinas, Understanding in Lonergan, and Knowledge in Aristotle.
Similarly, the operation of Beholding is analogous to the level of
Experience in Lonergan and Aristotle.
Like Ken Wilber, I would argue that there is a perennial philosophy of
sorts. Also, this perennial philosophy parallels the levels stated here.
This of course also parallels the idea of modern science which starts with
level one data of experience of experiment, level two, idea or theory
generation and classification, and level three, confirmation or refutation of
the theory as valid or invalid.
Finally, I would argue that level four is a Love-Being level which can
move a person either to further abstraction or to action.
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Bibliography
Aquinas, Thomas Ethics
Aristotle, Metaphysics
Fox, Matthew Sheer Joy
Lonergan, Bernard Cognitional Structure in Collection
Lonergan, Bernard Insight
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Chapter 2
Aristotle, Evolution, and Rupert Sheldrake’s Morphogenetic Fields
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
In his scientific work, Rupert Sheldrake discusses a concept which
scientists call “morphogenetic fields.” Morphogenetic Fields are
“invisible fields of influence” which help to structure biological growth. A
morphogenetic field can also be called a “morphogenetic form.” A
morphogenetic form seems to be very similar to the Aristotelian material
forms and substantial forms which I have previously discussed in my work.
Sheldrake has two explanations for morphogenetic forms, the first
involving Plato. Arguably, the morphogenetic forms are the Immutable
Platonic forms found in the “mathematical world of perfection” also known
as the World of the Forms. These forms exist outside. of time. I would
argue, however, that these forms can be “added to, but not subtracted from,
rearranged but not changed.” In this sense the forms can be added to
outside of time.
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The idea that the forms could be added to is consistent with
Sheldrake’s other hypothesis involving formative causation. Under the
formative causation theory, nature itself can produce forms utilizing
evolutionary creativity. I would argue that both theories operate
simultaneously, and that both are true. I would argue that a more ethereal
subststantial form developes from the original “material form” or
morphogenetic form in some instances. At the same time, many substantial
forms manifest as material forms or morphogenetic forms. Thus evolution
involves a top down-bottom up dialectic of the forms.
Lastly, I would argue that the Immutable Platonic Forms and the
Aristotelian Forms are not the same. The Immutable Platonic Forms exist
in the World of Perfection, the World of the Forms, outside of time. I would
argue that the Aristotelian forms exist inside of time and inhere in reality
here and now.
Bibliography
Fejfar, Anthony Jurisprudence for a New Age
Sheldrake, Rupert, The Greening of the Rebirth of Nature
Science and God
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Chapter 3
Being
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
What is Being? Jesuit Philosopher, Bernard Lonergan defined
Being, as an “unrestricted act of understanding.” When we wish to
understand, more than anything else, we intend Being. Is Being, then,
simply an idea or concept? I would answer no. Being is a metaphysical
quiddity. A quiddity is an “operative” concept which has existence
independent of a mundane knower.
Being also seems to have a spiritual quality. It seems to have
Energy. A Mystic can feel Being. Being, in some, sense, also involves
Love. Being is a positive concept. Is Being God? Some would say so.
However, if the God of Being Exists, that God is not human. That God is
much more objective. Others would say that Being is not God, but rather
Godhead. Being represents the internal relationship or relationships of
God.
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Being, along with Substance, is a concept which is associated with the
Real. Being, then, is an ultimate reality principle. Some might object that
Being is an “infantile projection.” If Being is a projection it is not
infantile, it is adolescent. Adolescents intend ideas or ideals, not parental
figures. The argument that Being really Exists, is that
phenomenologically we have and can reflect and see that many of us have a
drive to understand (Lonergan). If we have a drive to understand, the
argument, inductively, is that there must be an end to that drive. That End
is Being, or an unrestricted pure act of understanding.
Bibliography
Lonergan, Bernard Insight.
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Chapter 4
Classical Liberalism
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
I would like to argue that Classical Liberalism exists and that it is
grounded in Classical Metaphysics. Left Liberalism, on the other hand is
grounded in relativist theory. Classical Liberalism argues that for every
Individual Right there exists a Substantial Form, and an Immutable
Platonic Form. The two types of Form are close to being the same, but are
not exactly the same. The Immutable Platonic Forms exist outside of time,
while the Substantial Forms exist in reality within time. Thus Classical
Liberalism argues that there will always be two sides to every legal
argument, potentially.
Because there are potentially two sides to every argument, it makes
sense that we have an adversarial system of justice. It also makes sense that
we have electoral democracy. It is just and right to use either the
Immutable Platonic Forms or the Sustantial Forms. Thus, Classical
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Liberalism argues for an epistemology of moderate relativism. Moderate
relativism argues that while reality is too some degree relative, there are
also some aspects of reality which are not relative, but are absolutes. I
would argue that in a linear universe, for example, two plus two will always
equal four. I would also argue that logical reasoning involves an absolute.
Given linearity A is not B and B is not A. If a defendant is found to be at
the grocery store at 2:00 p.m., he cannot at the same time be at the bank.
Logic operates independently of any knower and is ultimately grounded in
Metaphysics.
Classical Liberalism also argues for First Amendment Freedoms:
Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Association, and
finally, Freedom of Religion. Most importantly, Classical Liberalism
argues for Freedom of Thought. I should be able to be Free to think any
ideas that I want to without interference from the State or any other
institution.
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Chapter 5
Deconstructing Deconstruction:
Deconstructing Derrida
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
I have heard that Derrida has deconstructed Derrida, but I haven’t
found the book, so I thought I would give it a try. Derrida believes in
deconstruction. His followers have tried to deconstruct “law” for example,
arguing that it is simply “white male, misogynist, racist, and homophobic
crap.” I would like to argue that Derrida’s deconstruction itself is “white
male, misogynist, racist, and homophobic.”
Derrida is a white male who consistently takes a fascist pig analytic
approach to reality which rejects body, spirit, relationality, freedom,
autonomy, and other wonderful values. Who could possibly be bigoted
enough to think that reality is simply a matter of analytic ideas. This is
totally opposed to the ancient, medieval. indigenous world views.
Derrida’s deconstruction is also racist and misogynist. In Derrida’s
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postmodern deconstructionist view Intuition and Compassion don’t really
exist.
Finally, Derrida’s work is anti-gay. Gay men are supposed to be
artistic, intellectual, cultural, and relational- all positive attributes. But
Derrida’s deconstruction would tell us that there is no art, there is no
intellect, only crap. Perhaps Gay men aren’t even homosexual. Perhaps
these are different categories.
Finally, it should be pointed out that some might disagree with my
interpretations of “white male, misogynist, racist and homophobic.”
Perhaps one should deconstruct the categories of “white male”
“misogynist” “racist” and “homophobic.” Perhaps these categories too,
are culturally relative crap, or perhaps even non-existant. Deconstruction is
only negative, and by it’s very terms cannot support any positive
statements.
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Chapter 6
Deconstructing Psychiatry
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Many law professors have tried to decontruct “Law,” as an
institution and a profession, but I thought it would be more interesting to
deconstruct psychiatry as an institution and a profession. After all, fair is
fair.
Psychiatry is an interesting profession because of two concurrent
trends. First, many people now treat psychiatry as essentially replacing
religion and the priesthood. If you have a personal problem, no longer do
you go to see your parish priest or minister, instead you go to your
psychiatrist, particularly if you are a devout atheist. This makes psychiatry
a very important, powerful institution. Additionally, psychiatrists have the
power to use the coercive power of the state to involuntarily commit persons
to a psychiatric ward for a long period of time. The psychiatrist often
functions as judge, jury, and prosecutor.
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Now, let us start with an interesting psychiatric symptom, the
delusion. It is commonly thought that delusional people are dangerous, so it
is possible that if one was diagnosed as having a significant delusion, and
therefore schizophrenic, then one might end up on a psychiatric ward for a
long time.
So, let us continue by defining, for the sake of argument, reincarnation,
as a philosophical, spiritual, and religious, belief which is controversial. In
the West, the Council of Nicea, acting without the Pope, found
reincarnation to be a heretical belief. In the East, a belief in reincarnation is
commonplace among those of the Hindu faith. Edgar Cayce, as a Protestant
seer in the early 1930’s spoke and wrote extensively about reincarnation.
His books are widely available. Additionally, psychologist Michael
Newton, in California, has written extensively about reincarnation, based
upon information gathered from his patients when they were in hypnotic
trance states. Finally, it would seem that from an objective point of view,
there is nothing more irrational about a belief in reincarnation than there is in
a belief in life after death in Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory.
Let us hypothetically imagine that I am 22 years old, male, and
Catholic. I have read Edgar Cayce and Michael Newton, and I have told my
parents and relatives that I believe in reincarnation. My psychiatrist knows
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that I am Catholic and that reincarnation is a heretical belief for Catholics
based upon Nicea. In part because I am Catholic, my psychiatrist diagnoses
me as delusional for believing in reincarnation, and and thus that I am
schizophrenic, and involuntarily commits me to in patient psychiatric care
on a psychiatric ward.
Once I am on the ward and figure out that I have been “run in” for a
religious belief, I protest to the psychiatric judge that I have freedom of
religion. The judge sees that I am Catholic and keeps me on the ward.
Sally, the patient, next to me is Hindu. She was also “run in” by a
psychiatrist for believing in reincarnation. Sally is allowed to go home by
the psychiatric judge because a belief in reincarnation is not heretical for
Hindus. After a month on the ward, I convert to Protestantism, say I am
not bound by the Council Nicea, and am allowed to go home.
What is true of reincarnation is also true of hearing Angels speak,
seeing religious visions of Angels or Demons, talking to my Guardian
Angel. As long as these beliefs are considered religiously normative by the
psychiatrist or judge then I get to come home. Otherwise I stay on the ward
as a political prisoner for my religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs.
Deconstructing psychiatry, shows, then, that psychiatry is the
Inquisition in this country. Psychiatry is not science. Psychiatry even
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seems to reject the science of Quantum Physics and its implications.
There are no objective standards for psychiatry, only religious and political
standards, and, the imposition of these standards upon a person violates the
First Amendment rights of free speech, freedom of association, freedom to
think ideas, and freedom of religion. Psychiatry must be reformed.
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Chapter 7
Deconstructing the White Male
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
In the postmodern world, white men are supposedly evil. After
feminism has done away with the Biblical account of Eve’s temptation and
Fall in the Garden of Eden, dualistic thinking required a new evil, the
White Male. Somehow there is a grand white male conspiracy designed to
oppress women and minorities. I would argue that the idea of the evil
White Male is a false myth. Using postmodern deconstruction, I would
argue that the White Male does not really even exist.
First of all let’s start with skin color. Many ethnic groups with dark
complexions are classified as white. There are Greeks, Italians, Sicilians,
even Bavarian Germans who have darker complexions than many “black”
people. These ethnic groups don’t really even look “white” like some Irish,
English, or German’s or Scandanavians. My point is that from a point of
view of “color” I am not sure that the “white” race even exists.
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Next, let us deconstruct the issue of male versus female. Now, if all
that is really important is what sexual equipment you happen to have, I
suppose that men have some equipment, as a general rule that women do
not, and vice versa. But, what may be even more important is psychology
or spirituality. Here the issue is much different. Developmental
psychologists have found that there are two different types of people who
engage in moral reasoning, relational feeling types, and analytic autonomy
types.
Two thirds of women are relational feeling, while, one third of
women are analytic autonomy types. Three quarters of men are analytic
autonomy types while one quarter of men are relational feeling types. As far
as I know these categories have nothing to do with sexual preference, by the
way, that is, whether certain persons are gay or lesbian. My point is this,
where moral reasoning comes into play, relational feeling white males are in
the minority of twenty five percent of white men overall. Arguably,
relational feeling white males are the most disadvantaged minority group in
this country. As far as I know there is no correlation between skin color of
a male and his type of moral reasoning.
The next thing to be noted in deconstructing the white male, is
religion. It can be persuasively argued that the religion of a male has much
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more to do with his values and politics than does his skin color. When I get
to know someone, I almost always find that person’s religious outlook to be
more important to me in figuring out where that person is “coming from”
than skin color. Whether someone is a practicing Jew, Moslem, Catholic,
Christian Protestant, usually tells me more about the persons than that
person’s skin color.
Finally, annual income tells me a lot about a person. Poor people
tend to have more simple lifestyles, often not even owning a car. Rich
people tend to do the same things as other rich people, and congregate at the
same places. Middle class people tend to do the same things to, e.g., to be
baseball or football fans.
So, in conclusion, I believe that the myth of the “white male” has
been overstated. It may mean something in the abstract to be a white male,
but I am not sure what. White males can, and are, discriminated against in
employment just as much as are other minorities.
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Chapter 8
Experience, Knowledge, and Wisdom
in Aristotle’s Metaphysics
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
In The Metaphysics, Aristotle discusses three different levels of
knowledge. The first level is the level of experience. On the level of
experience the knower obtains immediate sense knowledge but little else.
There is sense awareness at this level but not much more. This parallels
Bernard Lonergan’s notion that the first level of the cognitional structure is
experience of sense data alone.
The second level for Aristotle is the level of knowledge. On the
level of knowledge one can describe one’s sense experience using language.
So, on level one I can “see” a tree visually, but on level two I can tell a
friend, “I see a tree,” using communicative language and knowledge. The
amount of theoretical knowledge for a level two thinker, however, is usually
fairly rudimentary. While I may be able to categorize different types of
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trees at level two, deeper questions and answers about trees is usually not
present. Level two thinking in the epistemology of Bernard Lonergan is
called the level of “understanding.” It is on level two, according to
Lonergan that we ask the rudimentary questions of Who? What? How?
Level three thinking for Aristotle is the level of Wisdom. Level
three thinking is intellectual-intuitive-artistic. Level three thinkers ask
deeper more reflective questions. Why? is a level three question. Why
questions involve ends and causes. Why does the tree exist? Perhaps the
tree existed in potency or in the imagination and someone then created it,
whether Nature, or God, or a super-human being. Level three thinking also
involves purpose. Level three thinkers ask what the purpose of a law is,
while level two thinkers typically only categorize law, and level one
thinkers, typically only unreflectively apply law. A level three thinker
knows that the only way to validly interpret a law is to know it’s underlying
purpose. In Bernard Lonergan’s epistemology this third level of
knowledge is call the level of judgment and reflection.
Whether it is law or other areas of human activity, if one wishes to
hire a rote simpleton who can barely apply law, hire a level one thinker. If
one wishes to hire a journeyman thinker who can do some reflection and
categorization, hire a level two thinker. I one wishes to hire a Master
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thinker, who reflectively understanding law and it’s application, then hire a
level three thinker.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Aristotle, The Metaphysics
Lonergan, Bernard, Cogntional Structure in Second Collection
Lonergan, Bernard, Insight
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Chapter 9
Faculty Psychiatry
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Many think that Freud was the founder of psychiatry, but I don’t
think so. I think that Aristotle was the first psychiatrist, that is, a faculty
psychiatrist. Aristotle spoke of the levels of body-emotions, soul-mind,
and Spirit-intellect.
Thomas Aquinas was also a faculty psychiatrist. Aquinas spoke of
the imagination, the intellect and other cognative faculties which compose
the human mind. It is sad to note that some devoutly atheistic materialist
psychiatrists are so ignorant that they think that you can have a hallucination
in your imagination. For them, hallucination is found everywhere.
In the old days of psychiatry it was generally understood that a
hallucination could only take place “outside the body.” In other words you
had to see or hear something outside the body as if you were using your
ordinary sense of hearing or sight.
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Many psychiatrists today take the absurd position that you can have
an internal hallucination. If something takes place in the mind, and you
know it is in the mind, how can can this be a sensory hallucination? It
obviously isn’t. It may be something, but it sure isn’t a hallucination.
Because atheistic materialist psychiatry denies the existence of the soul and
the Spirit, the intellect and the imagination, many persons are
misdiagnosed as hallucinating and as having schizophrenia or schizo-
affective disorder.
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Chapter 10
Freewill and Determinism
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Determinism is the idea that everything is predetermined or
preordained to be a set, certain way. The idea is that we are but actors on a
stage, as Shakespeare would have it, playing our parts out in a deterministic
way. Two theories of morality flow from determinism, the first is
non-liability and the second is strict liability.
Where determinism is present, the idea is that we have no moral
responsibility whatsoever for our actions. Deterministic forces of science,
or reality, force us to play the roles that we do, without exception, so that it
is argued that we, the programmed, are not responsible, and should not be
punished in prison or otherwise, if we do something “wrong.”
The second theory of morality involving determinism, is, that if one
is predetermined or predestined to be evil or a wrongdoer, then too, one is
required to submit to the punishment of the damned. Reality, science, or
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perhaps God, might be the deterministic programmer, but such “higher”
forces are not to be blamed, instead the programmed person who is
determined must pay the price of wrongdoing.
I would argue that determinism is a false philosophical position, I
have four arguments against determinism, 1). freewill based on creativity,
2). effective freedom, 3). statistical indeterminancy, and 4). Quantum
Indeterminancy.
The moral theory underlying the idea of freewill, is that if freewill
exists, that is, if we have genuine choices which we make which are
undetermined or at least underdetermined, then we can be held responsible
for those choices, morally and legally. As a result, most crimes require that
scienter, or specific intent to commit the crime must be present, among other
elements of the crime, in order for guilt to be found. As stated above, it is
argued that if outside forces have provided the intent for the crime, then, the
individual actor who was “determined” or “predetermined” to commit the
crime, cannot be held responsible or guilty.
Freewill exists, more than anything else, because creativity exists.
Creativity exists ex nihilo in the mind of the person. Because of creativity I
can imagine and then implements different courses of action. I have
creativity in my mind whether I grow up impoverished in a slum or in a
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middle class or wealthy household. It may be more difficult for me to make
a good choice given the readily apparent options, but it is not impossible.
This brings us to the topic of effective freedom.
Jesuit philosopher Bernard Lonergan argues that effective freedom
exists for human persons. While we do not experience, and perhaps do not
have, absolute freedom to do anything we want to, we do have some
freedom. For example, let us consider economic determinism. Let us say
that I have ten dollars in my wallet, and I live in a urban suburb with a main
street with several restaurants. For six dollars I can have eggs and sausage
at Joe’s diner, and for seven dollars I can have an omelet at the Rusty Tack.
Additionally, at the local grocery store I could buy a box of pop tarts for
three dollars. Now, while it is certainly true that I do not have 50 dollars
to spend on breakfast at the Ritz Carlton, downtown, I do have several
choices. Because I have several choices, I have effective freedom.
Because I cannot choose the Ritz Carlton, I to not have absolute freedom.
Effective freedom also supports the idea of statistical indeterminacy.
If the very nature of reality itself is probabilistic, then it can be argued that
there can never be one single determined choice for me. I may be
determined probabilistically, but not absolutely. Once again, creativity
comes into play. Either because of creativity, as such, or pure statistical
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randomness, it is possible that what appeared to be foreordained for me, is
not. Statistical deviations from a hypothesized norm are possible.
Finally, Quantum Indeterminacy exists. As Heisenberg points out,
the observer of a Quantum event, affects that event to some degree, merely
by his or her observation. Thus, the meaning framework that I bring to any
situation, arguably will allow me to change that situation, at least at a
subatomic, quantum, level. Thus, Quantum Indeterminacy precludes the
idea that determinacy exists.
Bibliography
Heisenberg, Werner, Physics and Philosophy
Lonergan, Bernard, Insight
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Chapter 11
Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Karma and the Dao
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Some people think that because they believe in Karma, they can
dispense with the ideas of Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. In fact, the opposite
is true. As Jesus says, “As you sew, so you shall reap.” Additionally, the
Dao is a principle or quiddity which provides that if one pursues one
extreme, then sooner or later the opposite extreme will manifest.
Now, those of us who have led exemplary lives, often have the
opinion that they will be going to Heaven. While this may be true for a
time, in my judgment it is not true forever. If I am especially good, sooner
or later I will called upon to confront evil, either within myself, or outside
myself. If I am especially evil, sooner or later I will be confronted with the
good, either within myself or outside myself.
Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory are natural states of being, as well as
actually existing places or planes. In Heaven, one imagines that in a context
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of mutual love, all act to help one another, and to worship God. But the
drag of the Dao and Karma is still there. If I am in Heaven, can I really be
happy if there are those who are suffering on Earth? If I am a genuinely
loving person, perhaps I should help the suffering or those in need outside of
Heaven.
Then, there is Purgatory. In Purgatory we are expected to live
Spiritual existences and atone for our Sins or Bad Karma. We either stay in
a state of grace in Purgatory or can be called, in time, to Heaven. Purgatory
is not supposed to be a place of suffering, rather, it is supposed to be like a
long Spiritual Retreat. For those who enjoy a spiritual sojourn in Purgatory,
the stay is rather pleasant. For those who hate spirituality and retreats, I
suppose that Purgatory is close to being in Hell.
Finally, there is Hell. Hell is a place and state of being where God
is largely absent. In Hell, instrumental rationality reigns, and love is
difficult, even romantic love. The Base Emotions reign. Hate, jealousy,
envy, greed, avarice, lust, ambition, and arrogance are the chief vices. Lust,
for example, is sexuality without love. In Hell, then, a hierarchy forms
which is a dictatorship of sorts, and the strongest demon or Satan rules. In
Hell, everyone is expected to be at their worst. Surprisingly, some awfully
nice people end up in Hell, although you wouldn’t expect this. These
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people are heretics or false teachers or false prophets. Misguided, but
benevolent heretics are often released from Hell because they just don’t fit in
very well.
As I have argued before, everyone in Hell, upon a appropriate
prayer, can request an Angelic Lawyer and ask for a due process hearing as
to why that person is in Hell, and for a release from Hell. The difficulty of
course is the prayer. I would argue that God the Father and Jesus the Son of
God, are largely absent from Hell, although the Holy Spirit, especially as
Spirit, is not. Since some grace is possible in Hell, it is possible for a
person in Hell to pray for help. This is why the only really unforgivable sin
is the sin against the Holy Spirit. If one rejects the Holy Spirit then there is
no way that God can intervene on your behalf in Hell. The wise person
prays, and even says an oath, stating that it is impossible for that person to
commit the sin against the Holy Spirit. Hell is a mutual punishment society.
All of those in Hell torture each other whenever possible.
How do Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, then, involve Karma. Well, as
a result of the Dao one must face good and evil both and come to an
appropriate solution to the problem. Some try relativism, but extreme
relativism is an unsatisfying solution. It is not pleasant to be persecuted for
a belief in extreme relativism. As Karma has it, for every cause there is an
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effect. If one believes in reincarnation and actually reincarnates then it is
quite possible that one’s Karma in life will be a life of Heaven, Hell, or
Purgatory, on Earth.
Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, then, become “states of being” on
Earth. A person in Hell, on Earth, for example might be forced to take a
life with Leprosy. Remember, however, that some good, mature, souls take
on learning lives with extreme handicaps in order to better themselves. A
good mature soul, might in fact take on a life with manic depression or
schizophrenia, for example. One cannot assume, therefore, that a given
person with schizophrenia is either a “good” or “bad” person. Ironically, it
may be true that the spiritually mature person chooses a spiritually pleasant
existence in Purgatory, rather than risking self righteousness in Heaven and
ultimately Hell.
Bibliography
Newton, Michael Journey of Souls
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Chapter 12
Intellect and Analytic Understanding
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
It is possible to confused Intellect with Analytic Understanding,
but the two faculties are not the same. Analytic Understanding is a level
two function which operates purely in the abstract. If I add two plus two
and get four for an answer, in the abstract, this does nothing to me in terms
of my external relations to the world. The number four, in the abstract,
does not move me to do anything. As long as four stays in the abstract
part of my mind nothing happens.
The number four in the intellect, however, is different. The intellect
is the integration of intuition with abstract analytic understanding, and is a
level three function. The intellect can and does move the will to act, while
abstract analytic understanding does not. It I intuit the number four, I want
to do something with it. At the very least I want to judge that the number
four is real.
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To be an intellectual, then, is to be an intuitive thinker. Mere, dry
analytic abstraction is not enough. In some ways, even, such analytic
understanding is anti-intellectual. Intellection involves what Bergson
describes as “intellectual sympathy.” It is much more than mere analytic
rationality. As Evelyn Underhill might put it, intellection involves
conation while abstract analytic understanding involves mere cognition.
While analytic understanding, at its best, breaks down, and then categorizes
ideas, intellectual understaning, on the other hand creatively, and
holistically, synthesizes ideas. And, as intuitve judgment, can even take
analytic understanding, transcend it, and intuitively judge the real.
Bibliography
Bergson, Henri, Introduction to Metaphysics
Lonergan, Bernard, Insight
Underhill, Evelyn Mysticism
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Chapter 13
Intuition, Reason, and Derrida’s Postmodernism
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Derrida’s postmodernism involves linguistic deconstruction. The
underlying premise of this postmodernism is that reality is based upon
ideas. This type of idealism seems to suggest that all knowledge is
conditioned upon an act of interpretation of the knower. For the
postmodern, then, reality does not exist independently of the knower.
Critical Realism, or Critical Thomism, on the other hand argues that
reality, at least in part, exists independent of any knower. The idea is that
Substantial Form, structures all Reality, and provides a basis for knowing,
outside the mind of the interpreter. Aristotelians believe in Substantial
Form, and substantial forms, metaphysically, while, Platonist believe in the
World of the Immutable Platonic Forms, sometimes known as the World of
the Forms. Because an immutable platonic form exists for an actually
existing tree, and because a substantial form exists for an actual existing
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tree, the actual existing tree, as well as the idea of, “tree,” to some degree
exists independently of any knower.
I would argue that the forms, whether substantial, or platonic,
oscillate or vibrate. They are like columns of light-sound-feeling, which
manifest probabilistically. Thus, the forms must be intuited. Intuition is a
very important cognitive faculty. Intuition operates non-locally to provide a
connection of what Bergson describes as “intellectual sympathy” between
the object of knowing, and the knowing itself. Real knowing involves an
Intuition both of the forms, as well as an Intuition of the particular object
itself. I know the tree in my backyard to be a tree, precisely because, as
Zen would tell us, I have an immediate intuition of the tree, and going
beyond Zen, the form itself.
Remember, because the forms can be “added to, but not subtracted
from, rearranged, but not changed,” the world of the forms is only
moderately conservative, and in some sense could be considered,
progressive. Reason, then, is objective, or authentically subjective, in part
because we intuit both the forms and the object itself, immediately.
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Bibliography
Aristotle, The Metaphysics
Bergson, Henri, Introduction to Metaphysics
Plato, The Republic
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Chapter 14
Law Levels and Jesus Christ
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Aristotle and Plato argue that reality consists primarily of three
levels, Body, Mind, and Spirit. Thomas Aquinas argued that there are three
type of Law, Human Law, Natural Law, and Divine Law. I argue that
both are correct with some modification. I argue that the first level of Law,
the the Law of the Jungle. This is law based upon power, and the base
emotions, and simple reasoning. I would also argue, that Plato and
Aristotle can be supplemented so that a fourth level is possible, which is a
Love level. Thus, my interpretation of Law Levels and Reality is as
follows:
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4. The Law of Love or Divine Law Love
3. Natural Law Spirit-Intellect
2. Human Law Soul-Understanding
1. Jungle Law Body Base Emotions
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for following
merely Human, level two law, rather than Divine Law at Level Four. In
Mark, Chapter 7, some of the Pharisees were complaining to Jesus that
some of the disciples of Jesus were eating food without first washing their
hands. Quoting the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus said:
This people honors me with their lips but their hearts are far from
Me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines, human
precepts.
When referring to mere “human precepts” Jesus is referring to law
based on surivival and community instinct as later rationalized. The law was
based upon level one Law of the Jungle, as rationalized by level two
thinking. Level Three intellect And Level Four Love are left out of the
picture. Is it truly the Worthwhile to have a law which punishes people for
not washing their hands? I really can’t grab an apple off a tree and eat it
without violating the law. Natural Law tempers Human Law with intellect
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and Divine Law tempers Human Law with Love and rejects such a rigid
rule.
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Chapter 15
Music, Intuition, and Psychiatry
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Psychiatry purport to tell us that which is psychotic or unreal.
Philosophy does the same thing. Philosophy, particularly, metaphysics, has
traditionally been the academic discipline assigned the job of dealing with
“the real.” Let us take as a starting point in our discussion the idea of
persons who are tone deaf, on the one hand, or who have an ear for music,
on the other.
Let us imagine our typical psychiatrist who happens to be tone deaf.
This psychiatrist will undoubtedly conclude that tonal harmonics are an
example of psychosis. The idea that different musical tones can form a
harmony will be seen as a schizophrenic delusion.
Philosophy, on the other hand would probably start with
phenomenology. Phenomenology starts with lived experience. After
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talking to a couple of musicians who have an ear for music, a
phenomenologist would conclude that music and tonal harmonics exist. If a
phenomenologist would then come across a person who cannot hear tonal
harmonics, the phenomenologist would in all likelihood conclude that that
person is tone deaf, not normative.
In addition to music, there is intuition. Intuition is a cognative
faculty which feels relationships in reality. Let us assume that our
psychiatrist does not have intuition. Like the tone deaf musician, the
psychiatrist is intuition deaf. Intuition is what distinguishes mere analysis
from real intellect. Unfortunately the psychiatrist who is intuition deaf, will
consider this state of affairs normative, and thus conclude that intuition is
delusional or a hallucination. No, matter that Tony Bastick, in his book,
“Intuition,” has reported numerous scientific studies confirming the
existence and operation of intuition.
I also argue that intuition is the basis for insight. Insight is a
cognative faculty or operation which produces ideas from out of nowhere.
As Archimedes said, “Eureka,” I have found the answer. Insight is
commonplace among scientists, philosophers, and others, and is typically
how new ideas come into being. As stated previously, insight flows
naturally from intutition.
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I would argue that like an ear for music, intuition and insight are
normative and at the very least should not be considered delusional, a
hallucination, or psychotic by psychiatrists. Just because a psychiatrist
does not have a cognative faculty, does not mean that it does not exist.
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Chapter 16
Objectivity
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Objectivity. It used to be a compliment to say that a person was
objective. But now, with postmodernism it isn’t. Postmodernist tend to
think that objectivity does not exist. That objectivity is a made up idea that
white males came up with to oppress others. I would like to argue that
there are two basic types of objectivity, one which is based upon hate is
alienating, and one which is based upon Love, is empowering and authentic.
The kind of objectivity that I have, and argue in favor of, is based
upon Love. It is a sort of Mystical Objectivity that is very practical and
works. The first step in objectivity is Love. You must try to Love
everything unconditionally. Not a grasping Love, but a tender, touching
Love. This includes Loving yourself.
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The one real obstacle to objectivity is what Bernard Lonergan
describes as “individual bias.” Individual bias is a selfish point of view
where I egoistically privilege my own biased point of view. Love destroys
individual bias. Love opens the mind and heart to a new kind of openness
of the Spirit. When One is unconditionally in Love with The All, then
One can appreciate All that Is. So, if I want to be objective, I must in a
sense become Love. If I love trees, and flowers, and buildings, and cars,
then I am free to understand them objectively at their best. By objective, I
mean an intellectual attitude of “looking” at an object of Love, at a distance.
Unfortunately, many scientists start with hate. Hate feeds individual
bias and brings about false objectivity. Scientists who hate are easily
persuaded to try inhumanely and unjustly experiment on other human
beings. Hate brings about a desire for control, rather than “letting be”
(Matthew Fox). Hate brings about a desire to control and smother others.
Because hate does not just stop with the other, hate also encompasses the
self, the ego. Because the hate filled scientist hates himself, he then
unreflectively projects his hatred out on others, often his experimental
subjects.
So, the only real choice, the only rational choice, is to choose loving
objectivity. As Jesus said, You shall love the Lord Your God with all your
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Heart, all your Soul, and all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself. It
is only such Mystical Love that brings about true objectivity.
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Chapter 17
Phenomenology and Psychiatry
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Psychiatry is concerned with what is real, and what is unreal, the
latter being that which is psychotic. Philosophy also purports to be
concerned with that which is real and unreal. Typically I employ
philosophical metaphysics in discussing psychiatry, but in this Chapter I am
going to use phenomenology.
Phenomenology is a philosophical discipline first employed by
philosopher Edmund Husserl. Following in the wake of Immanuel Kant’s
idealism, Husserl argued that one could never really find the real, and of
course the unreal either, but instead one should go to philosophical
experience itself to describe what is going on. Husserl suggested that one
should envoke the philosophical device of the “epoche” in order to bracket
preconceptions and see the “thing in itself.”
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Psychiatry would do well to learn from phenomenology. Quantum
Science tells us there are two major aspects of reality which affect knowing,
and of course psychiatry. First of all, Quantum Science proves non-local
communication at a distance. In other words, Quantum Science suggests
the possibility of telepathy and channeling from mind to mind.
Additionally, Quantum Science proves that the nature of reality is
probabilistic. A corollary of this is parallel universe theory. Quantum
Science suggests the possibility that a person might be able to perceive that
which is going on in a parallel universe.
Why is Quantum Science important to psychiatry? Well, in the first
instance I would suggest that based on Quantum Science, the nature of
reality is probabilistic, and, that accordingly it is impossible to hear or see a
hallucination. A hallucination is that which purports to be unreal,
seemingly sensed as real. If all experience is probabilistic then there is no
“real world” against which to measure that which is unreal or psychotic.
Additionally, if parallel universe theory is true, as Quantum Science
postulates, then perhaps what people perceive when they seem to be
“hallucinating” is phenomenon from another world, that is a Quantum
Experience of a parallel frame or universe which not all people can see.
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Now, maybe it makes sense from a conventional point of view to say
that something which appears as sensorily real outside my body is a
hallucination if others cannot see it as well, but, as I have argued before, this
does not make sense relative to interior mental experience. Many people
have the ability to see things in “their mind’s eye” internally in their
respective minds. Just as common, many people have the ability to hear
things in “their mind’s ear” internally in their respective minds. Following
phenomenology, I would call such internal experience neither real nor
unreal, but rather phenomenon. If a person sees a vision in that person’s
“mind’s eye,” then that person has perceive a “vision phenomenon” not a
hallucination. It is absurd to say that one can hallucinate in the mind itself,
when the mind itself does not purport to be sensory experience in the first
place.
So, I suggest that Psychiatry training should include a course in
phenomenology and that the diagnostic criterion for mental “phenomenon”
be explored.
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Chapter 18
Psychiatry, Due Process, The First Amendment,
and Section 1983 in Tort
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Psychiatry is a very politically powerful institution, although it may
not seem that way. A psychiatrist has the power to involuntarily commit a
client to an inpatient psychiatric facility for a long period of time. Most
people find it unattractive to be confined, whether in prison, or on a
psychiatric ward.
I have three arguments to make in this Chapter: first, that an
involuntary commitment must meet the standards of substantive and
procedural Due Process under the Constitution, and, second, that the First
Amendment applies to protect the Free Speech of psychiatric clients, and,
third, that the practice of Psychiatry is “state action” for purposes of Tort
liability under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.
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I argue that an involuntary commitment to a inpatient psychiatric
ward has an analogous effect as that of confining the person to prison, in
either case the person’s liberty is curtailed. Just as a person cannot be
placed in prison without the protections of substantive and procedural Due
Process under the Constitution, so too, a person should not be placed in a
psychiatric ward through the use of an involuntary commitment without the
protections of substantive and procedural Due Process. I argue that justice
and the Constitution requires that a Judge issue a “confinement warrant”
prior to any involuntary commitment of a person on a psychiatric ward. I
also argue that there must be a review of the original warrant within 48
hours of the person’s confinement on a psychiatric ward.
Additionally, I argue that an involuntary commitment cannot be made
on the basis of curtailing Free Speech in violation of the First Amendment.
A person should be involuntarily committed only if that person is clearly an
immediate physical danger to that person or another. You cannot
involuntarily commit a person for exercising political speech or religious
speech, or philosophical speech, written or oral. This violates the First
Amendment of the Constitution. The notion that a person has “dangerous
ideas” for “society” must be given strict scruitiny. Political heroes, saints,
political dissidents, freedom fighters, were all at one time thought to have
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“dangerous ideas.” For the good of society, the ideas of such people must
be given protection, and the person should not be subject to persecution,
psychiatric, or otherwise.
Finally, since a psychiatrist must use a state statute to involuntarily
commit a person, I argue that an involuntary commitment, whether invalid
or valid, constitutes “state action” for purposes of 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.
A psychiatrist should have federal tort liability for a wrongful or invalid
involuntary commitment. If procedural and substantive Due Process is
followed, and the First Amendment respected, there should be no Section
1983 Tort liability for the Psychiatrist.
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Chapter 19
Body, Mind, Spirit, Mysticism and Psychology
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
In her famous book, “Mysticism,” Evelyn Underhill discusses the
three fold cognitional structure of Body, Mind, Spirit, which is found both
in Plato and Aristotle, as well as in the Christian Bible. As discussed
previously, Body, Mind, Spirit, parallels Experience, Knowledge and
Wisdom, in Aristotle’s Metaphysics, as well as Experience, Understanding,
and Judgment-Reflection, in Jesuit Philosopher, Bernard Lonergan’s
epistemology.
Interestingly, Underhill discusses a different parallel than Aristotle
or Lonergan with Body, Mind, Spirit. Underhill argues that Love,
Analytic Mind, and Will, parallel Body, Mind, and Spirit. I would argue
that Underhill has mistranslated the original Aristotle. While mundane
love, as a level one emotion could certainly replace sense experience, and
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analytic mind certainly parallels the idea of knowledge or understanding at
level two, I would argue that will is not the real parallel to level three
Wisdom. Instead, Judgment, Reflection, Wisdom, or Intuition should be
what is discussed as a cognitive capability or “faculty psychology” attribute
at level three. At level three intuition transforms analysis into intellect.
Intellect is a higher integration of analysis and intuition. There is no
intellect at level two, only level three. Intellect is a type of “spiritual”
knowledge.
Finally, it should be noted that Body, Mind, Spirit, also has a
metaphysically analogous structure which is Substance, Logos, Being.
The corresponding Trinitarian analog for God then is, Holy Spirit, Jesus
the Son, and God the Father.
3. Spirit Being God The Father
2. Mind Logos Jesus the Son of God
1. Body Substance The Holy Spirit
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Bibliography
Aristotle, The Metaphysics
Fejfar, Anthony Jurisprudence for a New Age
Lonergan, Bernard, Cognitional Structure in Collection
Underhill, Evelyn, Mysticism
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Chapter 20
Reason, Derrida, and Postmodern Deconstruction
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
The Postmodern thought of philosopher Jacques Derrida is most
often related to deconstruction. Linguistic deconstruction is interesting.
The idea is that we find some word that some find politically objectionable,
and then we engage in a process of linguistic deconstruction which reduces
the idea in question to the least common denominator.
For example, let us suppose that Derrida wishes to deconstruct
the word “reason.” First of all it should be noted that reason is a word that
is only used in a particular context. What does it mean? This is unclear.
Perhaps reason simply is a word which passes for the subjective preferences
of the author or thinker. Perhaps reason is simply a label which is
assigned to word to enforce political hegemony over those who are simpliste
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enough to grant it some power over them. Perhaps reason is simply white
male prejudice.
Throughout this whole deconstruction process it is evident that a
particular bias or prejudice is present. The particular bias involved is the
philosophy of idealism. Idealism suggests that all of reality is based upon
words or ideas. Everything, including God, can be reduced to an idea, and
then deconstructed. But what if reality is more complex than Idealism
suggests. What if critical realism is the appropriate philosophy. Critical
realism suggests that reality is more complex than just words. Process also
counts. Developmental Psychologist Erik Erikson, suggested in his work,
for example, that reason is based upon an integration of love and logic.
Is it possible to deconstruct love. I doubt it. Only a rationalist
idealist of the worst sort would suggest that love is simply an idea or word.
No, love is a feeling tone. Love has depth beyond words. Love is present
in the heart even when I am not thinking about the word “love.” Now, it is
true that love exists independent of language and linguistic analysis, then
perhaps too Being, exists as a metaphysical quiddity independent of
language and linguistic analysis. Perhaps Being is an Existant which can
be labeled with a word, but is not reducible to a word. Perhaps language is
full of ideas or concepts which represent “quiddities” which are not simply
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reducible to a mere word. This is, of course what realism, as a philosophy
has always asserted. Reality, or at least a lot of reality exists independent of
language. A grown, real, oak tree would still be a solid, grown, real, oak
tree, even if someone did not come along and give it the label of being a
“tree.” In fact this is precisely what phenomenology asserts. Through the
use of the epoche one can “intuitively” know reality in an immediate way
while dispensing with language. Do we want to do away with language or
meaning? No. But this does not mean that all of reality is reducible to
linguistic meaning. Additionally, perhaps it is the case that “Being” is
based upon the reality of Being, not simply linguistic cultural convention.
Referring once again to reason. If reason is a cognitive capability
or a faculty of faculty psychology, then it simply cannot be linguistically
deconstructed and reduced to a culturally relativist or arbitrary linguistic
category. Logic, at least includes the causal syllogism, “If A, then B, A ,
therefore, B.” There is no reason to assume that causality is false. If I will
myself to pick up a soft drink, and then drink it, this is an example of
rudimentary causality. Quantum Physics still leaves room for free will, and
some type of causality. Even the double slit experiment of Quantum
Physics still involves directional light of some sort.
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Chapter 21
Social Responsibility of Business, Business Ethics,
and The Ethical Matrix
By
Anthony J. Fejfar, Esq., Coif
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Social Responsibility of Business says that businesses should be
responsible in their decision making, particularly their strategic planning.
Business Ethics says that ethical decision making should be used in making
ordinary business decisions. It is my argument that both Social
Responsibility of Business and Business Ethics can be implemented by the
use of the Ethical Matrix as a business decision making tool.
Let us assume the following hypothetical: C Corporation has a slow
down in machinery sales in D Division of the company. Top management
wants something done. Immediately it is apparent that a number of
different avenues are open to being used. Marketing and sales could be
stepped up in an attempt to increase sales. Workers could be transferred to
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another department during the slow down. Workers could be laid off.
Workers could be fired. Workers in D Division, or all divisions, could
take an across the board salary decrease. How would one go about
analyzing these options?
Using the Ethical Matrix, one starts with the principle of
Reciprocity. Treat another as you would wish to be treated in similar
circumstances. But how to evaluate this? We must go to the second
principle of the Ethical Matrix, Utility. Utility means maximizing Value.
What are the values to be considered? Full employment for the company.
Production of a profit. The long term health of the Corporation. It is
apparent that firing workers might help the profit picture by cutting
expenses, but this would have to be done at the expense of full employment
and Corporation morale. Additionally, in terms of the long term growth of
the company, it would not seem healthy to cut back production in part or
completely in a Division without a structural cost. It costs money to shut an
assembly line down, and then start it back up again.
The third principle under the Ethical Matrix is Proportionality.
Under Proportionality one is to try to treat equals equally. Therefore it
might be argued that one should not disproportionately place the burden of a
slow down on just a few employees. Finally, the fourth principle under the
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Ethical Matrix is Equity. Equity favors those in need. Equity also makes
an equitable exception from a general rule based upon need. Equity would
seem to argue in favor of a solution which recognize the needs of the
workers. Thus, a firing or layoff seems wrong. Employing the Ethical
Matrix, the appropriate decision would seem to be to increase marketing and
sales activity before firing or laying off employees.
Bibliography
Fejfar, Anthony “Corporate Voluntarism, Panacea or Plague, A
Question of Horizon,” 17 Delaware Journal of
Corporate Law 859 (1992)
Fejfar, Anthony Jurisprudence for a New Age
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Chapter 22
Telepathy and the First Amendment
of the United States Constitution
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Telepathy is defined as “mind to mind” communication. The idea is
that one person can speak or communicate internally and another person can
hear what has been spoken or communicated internally, and vice versa.
Telepathy, if it exists, and I argue that it does, is not a hallucination. It is
real mind to mind communication.
Quantum Physics can be used to argue that there is a scientific basis
for telepathy. In Nick Herbert’s book, “Quantum Reality,” Herbert
discusses Bell’s Non-locality theorem. Based upon Bell’s Theorem, it is a
proved scientific fact that a subatomic particle in my brain in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, can alter or move a subatomic particle in the brain of a person
in San Francisco, California, non-locally at a distance. I argue that if a
subatomic particle in my mind can have an effect on a subatomic particle in
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another person’s brain, non-locally, at a distance, then it is possible that that
same subatomic particle or particles could have an effect upon both my and
another person’s brain, non-locally at a distance, through alteration of
atoms, molecules, cells, and neurons, through a subatomic effect. Telepathy
is science, not magic, and certainly not magical thinking, or schizophrenia.
My next point is this. Telepathic communicated speech is speech
and association with another, and both are unequivocally protected as Free
Speech and Freedom of Association under the First Amendment to the
United States Constitution. Religious bigots and other fascists should not
be allowed to enact laws limiting or prohibiting telepathic speech.
Telepathic speech should have the same or greater First Amendment
protection than ordinary speech using vocal chords, air, sound, and ears.
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Chapter 23
The Illiteration Doctrine and Classical Philosophy
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Classical philosophy has been criticized for postulating a static
universe, or even, a static God. The idea of classical philosophy is that
there are necessary, static, unchanging causes which structure reality or the
universe. The problem is that we often experience our reality as a reality
which is in “flow” or “on the move” or “in process.” Additionally, the
Christian Bible suggests that God is relational, a God who in some sense is
“moved” by our prayers. Finally, statistical probability suggests that only
statistical correlations or “patterns” exist, not classical, unchanging laws.
How do we reconcile these seemingly inconsistent positions?
One way of resolving the foregoing is to suggest that statistical
probability involves only the “accidental” aspects of existence. Perhaps our
statistical analyses are not sophisticated enough to discover classical,
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necessary laws. But then again, perhaps necessary classical laws do exist.
Perhaps in a world of perfect linearity, located someplace, 2+2=4 is always
classically and necessarily true. On earth, I have argued that “real math”
always involves statistical probability. How then do necessary, classical
causes interact with us?
I would argue that necessary, classical causes, such as The First
Cause, or the Unmoved Mover interact with us and everything or everyone
else through the Illiteration Doctrine. Illiteration literally means in
philosophical terms, a logical accident. It is argued that God who is a
classically necessary First Cause communicates with us and even acts in
relation to us using Illiteration or Logical Accident. Perhaps, in Christian
Doctrine, the Holy Spirit, which is both Immanent and Transcendent, has as
one aspect of Hae existence, Illiteration, or Logical Accident. In the more
mundane world, perhaps then statistical laws which coalesce into “classical
laws” are in fact examples of Illiteration. So, again, perhaps one aspect of
God is probabilistic and in some sense “accidental,” while another aspect of
God is necessary, static, and unchanging.
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Chapter 24
The Politics and Magic of the Number Zero
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
For many of us numbers mean mathematics and science, a very
rational endeavor indeed. For some of us, however, mathematics and
numbers have a sort of magic quality to them. For example, let us take the
number “infinity.” I can imagine infinity, but a lot of people can’t. In their
minds they substitute some relatively large finite number for infinity. The
idea that a series of numbers or a straight line could continue forever,
without end, is beyond them. If you can imagine infinity, it is not that
difficult to image that God Exists.
For me, Zero is a similar number. Zero is very spiritual and very
political. Many people start their mathematics and their politics with the
number “One.” For these people the ultimate number is 1, and 1
symbolizes unity. I argue that such people cannot really conceptualize
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Zero. Zero means “nothing,” if it has a positive meaning at all, perhaps it is
a sort of infinity or absolute. Similarly, the Spirit also means “no-
thingness” or “no-thing.” Freedom, as a concept also involves Zero.
Freedom means that you must give me my “space.” Empty space is a type
of nothingness or nothing.
I would argue that those who cannot tend to conceptualize Zero, tend
to be authoritarian fascists, both religiously and politically. It is my
understanding that both the Russian Cyrillic alphabet as well a the original
Chinese character alphabet cannot accommodate the concepts of Zero.
Neither, of course could Roman Numerals, which involved a kind of “stick”
counting, accommodate the number Zero. I suggest that those who do not
learn the number Zero in pre-school, at a relatively young age, tend toward
unitary, One based, authoritarian thinking, while Zero based thinkers tend
toward Spirituality and Freedom orientations.
I suspect that in Communist Russia and in Communist China, Zero
was not taught as a concept until children are out of gradeschool, maybe not
even taught about Zero until college or graduate school.
For an adult who is a One based thinker who would like to be a Zero
based thinker, I suggest the following “magic” trick. Draw a circle at least
one foot in diameter. Place a small pebble in the middle of the circle. Try
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to imagine that you are four years old or so, and watching a magic show.
Place a handkerchief over the pebble, say Abra ka Dabra, Hocus Pocus, and
then lift up the pebble into the handkerchief without revealing its hiding
place. While before we had the number One as symbolized by the pebble,
now with the aid of “magic” we have the “magic” number Zero, as
symbolized by the empty Circle that is left in front of you, or the person you
are doing the trick for. This is obviously a good teaching tool to teach the
number Zero to small children. It is my hypothesis that the more Zero based
thinkers we have, the more we will have a spiritual and Constitutionally
Democratic population valuing Freedom.
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Chapter 25
Transpersonal Psychiatry
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Ken Wilber is the author who is given the credit for developing the
discipline of “Transpersonal Psychology.” I would like to go one step
further and argue for the establishment of Transpersonal Psychiatry.
Psychiatry today is based largely upon premises involving atheistic
materialism. Psychiatry sees the mind as simply being an epiphenomenon
of brain biology or neurology. Medication which affects the neurons in the
brain is seen as the epitome of psychiatric practice.
I would argue, on the other hand, that psychiatry should be based
upon Aristotle’s model of Body-brain mind, Soul analytic mind, and Spirit
intellect. I would argue that for many people, their though processes take
place on the levels of the Soul or Spirit, not on the brain biological level.
The brain, then, operates more as an interface between body and soul.
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Ken Wilber argues in his work that the mind becomes
“transpersonal” at what developmental psychologists would call level 6 of
consciousness. Wilber argues that people on level 6 have psychic abilities
such as channeling and telephathy. Additionally, Out of Body Experiences,
and Astral Projection, as described by Robert Bruce, would also seem to be
level 6 phenomenon.
Psychiatry must recognize that it is normal and natural for those
people who have reached level 6, or it’s equivalent, to have such abilities as
channeling or telepathy. Treatment of such persons psychiatrically must
involve helping the person to manage or control his or her psychic abilities,
not suppress or destroy them as supposed hallucinations.
Finally, psychiatry must avoid the fallacy of reductionism. Ken Wilber
points out that positivists, that is, atheistic materialists, take a “flat land”
view which reduces everything to the least common denominator. Rather
than looking for higher, spiritual meaning, psychiatry now looks for the
most mundane, pessimistic, simpliste, explanation. Rather than considering
the possibility that an Archangel might be talking to a person in that
person’s “mind’s ear,” psychiatry just assumes that a schizophrenic
hallucination is taking place. As I have stated before, such an approach is
based upon Ockham’s Razor, and, Ockham’ Razor is fallacious, idiocy.
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Transpersonal Psychiatry is necessary and it must take into account
Metaphysics.
Bibliography
Bruce, Robert Astral Dynamics
Wilber, Ken The Atman Project
Wilber, Ken Up From Eden
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Chapter 26
Emergent Probability
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Some would argue that history is determined or predetermined.
Following Bernard Lonergan’s work, I would argue that history is based
upon emergent probability. Lonergan points out that history does not
proceed in a linear fashion. Instead what happens is that there are
“interlocking schemes of recurrence” which take place.
Let us take a practical example. Let us go back in history and
consider World War II. An interesting question was whether World War II
was inevitable or could something else have happened? I would argue that
freewill is present in the context of effective freedom so that World War II
was not causally necessary, as such.
I would argue that the cause of World War II, at least in Europe,
was the imposition of huge reparation damages by France against Germany
at the end of World War I. The German economy never really recovered
after World War I, leading to economic and political instability which made
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it more probable for a totalitarian party such as the Nazi party to come into
power.
President Woodrow Wilson left Europe and the post-World War I
peace conference table before the issue of reparations had been decided. I
Wilson had stayed for the entire conference and had argued against severe
reparations against Germany then it is probable that the German economy
and political society would have recovered.
Bibliography
Lonergan, Bernard Insight
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Chapter 27
The Bible, Magic, and The Law
By
Anthony J. Fejfar, Esq., Coif
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
I have argued elsewhere that a number of modern legal precepts have
their antecedents found in the Christian Bible. I have also written quite a
bit about Quantum Physics. I would argue that for the most part, Quantum
Physics has replaced Alchemy and Magic in our World, assuming that
Magic or Alchemy ever really existed. Nevertheless, Quantum Non-
Locality does seem to bear some resemblance to Magic. The idea of
telepathy, which is supported by Quantum Non-Locality, used to be
associated with Magic, as far as I can tell.
Now, the problem I would like to address is the Biblical prohibition
against Black Magic. In the Bible in several places it is stated that
Wizardry, Witchery, or Necromancery deserves the death penalty. My
argument is that this prohibition only extends to Black Magic, or evil magic,
not to white or gray magic. Now, I’m not saying Magic exists, but if it
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does, only the evil form of Black Magic should be prohibited by Christian
authorities, or the civil or criminal law.
As tradition would tell us, and of course most of this tradition is
found in works of Fantasy fiction dealing with Magic, Black Magic is the
only type of Magic that is inherently evil. White Magic and Gray Magic
support the Good, and are to be supported. Such fictional characters as
Gandalf the Gray Wizard and Merlin the Gray Wizard tell us that Gray
Magic is Good. Additionally, I would argue that the parting of the Red Sea
by Moses and the precognitive abilities of Prophets and Seers such as
Joseph, in the Old Testament, involve Gray Magic or Quantum Physics.
Science Fiction tells us that Quantum Physics is Good. White
Magic, on the other hand has always been associated with the Good of
Sainthood and Miracles. Brown Magic and Green Magic are often
associated with healing, and are thought to be neutral as between good and
evil.
I would like to argue that Metaphysics is not Magic. Although
there is the sense in which Metaphysics could be referred to as Rational
Gray Magic, I would instead argue that Metaphysics, like Quantum Physics
is analogous to Science, and thus cannot be considered Magic. Metaphysics
should be considered Philosophy or Theology.
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I would also argue that White Magic, Gray Magic, and Quantum
Physics and Metaphysics are Good, and are protected by the First
Amendment right of Freedom of Religion. Any civil or criminal
prohibitions against White or Gray Magic or Quantum Physics or
Metaphysics should be found unconstitutional and void under Divine Law,
Natural Law, Human Law, and the United States Constitution. Brown and
Green Magic can be regulated just like medicine. Once again, all the
foregoing assumes for the sake of argument that Magic exists or at least that
Magic can be asserted as existing.
Last but not least I would argue that if Black Magic is ever given a
criminal penalty, that penalty should not be death. Just as we no longer
stone adulterous women to death based on the Bible, so too, we should no
longer attempt to assert the death penalty in relation to Black Magic. As
stated earlier there can be no criminal penalty for White Magic or Gray
Magic, and Brown and Green Magic should be subject to regulation just
like medicine.
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Chapter 28
Self-Defense and Non-Violence
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
There are some people who take vows of Non-Violence. Often
the Non-Violence that they believe in is one where the person is not allowed
to defend himself or herself from the violent acts of others. Often,
Christians who believe in Non-Violence will quote the Bible for Jesus’
injunction that we should try to “turn the other cheek.”
The Bible also provides the Proportional Rule, in the Old
Testament of an “Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth.” If I am entitled
to a proportional response after the fact, then it certainly can be argued that I
am entitled to defend myself in the first place from violence.
In harmonizing the foregoing principles, I would argue that in the
first instance, one should not go out “looking for a fight.” Turning the
other Cheek means that I should avoid aggressive violence against others.
However, I would also argue, that a Non-Violent person has the right of
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Self Defense. In fact, I think that the failure to defend oneself can be seen
as a sign of “bad faith.” If a bully is persecuting me, if I don’t defend
myself, then that bully will go on and persecute someone else. I have a
duty, as a Non-Violent person to stop the bully from being violent to me,
and those under my protection.
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Chapter 29
Reciprocity Revisited
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
I have previously defined “reciprocity” for purposes of the Ethical
Matrix, as “Treat another as you would wish to be treated in similar
circumstances.” I would like to offer a correlative reciprocity principle
which is Kantian in tone, which is, “Treat yourself as you would wish all
others in similar circumstances to be treated.”
Let us say, for example, that Joe was arrested by police officer
without a warrant and without probable cause. Let us say that Joe then
argued verbally with the police officer, demanding a warrant, and was then
charged with resisting arrest. Joe should be acquitted and found innocent
of the criminal charges. As a matter of utility, Joe chooses as his highest
value, rational self interest. Joe wishes that all persons have the right not to
be falsely arrested without a warrant, and Joe wishes all persons to have the
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right to argue with the police officer. Therefore, based on reciprocity, Joe
must be found innocent since the rule he has chosen for himself and all
others is the rule which says that one has the right not \to be arrested without
a warrant, and one has the right to verbally argue with the police officer.
As far as the first prong of the Ethical Matrix is concerned relative to
reciprocity, Joe is obligated to treat the police officer as Joe would wish to
be treated. Joe treats the police officer as if he were a non-corrupt, law
abiding officer. The police officer is treated reciprocally if he is deemed to
want a just, legal outcome for Joe. A just legal outcome for Joe means that
the police officer must have a warrant. One must hypothesize that the
police officer himself, pursuing rational self interest, would not want to be
arrested without a warrant himself Thus, reciprocally the officer \should not
argue that he can lawfully arrest Joe without a warrant.
Bibliography
Fejfar, Anthony Jurisprudence for a New Age
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Chapter 30
Levels of Consciousness
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
In his work on transpersonal psychology, Ken Wilber has discussed at
length the idea that human consciousness involves stages or levels. I would
argue the same, however, with a significant caveat. It is my argument that
once a higher stage has been integrated, it is possible to “download” the
characteristics of consciousness from a higher level to a lower level. It is
my argument that the idea of Body, Mind, Spirit-Intellect, parallels
Bernard Lonergan’s notion of Experience, Understanding, Judgment-
Reflection, and that higher levels of consciousness are integrated and
“compacted” into the three lower levels as delineated by Plato and Aristotle.
My expanded stage description parallels Ken Wilber’s work to
some degree, and is as follows:
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11. Wisdom. Beyond Limit Consciousness.
10. Being. Form of Form An Unrestricted Act of Understanding.
9. Abba Level. Fatherly Love.
8. Logos. Higher Reason. Creative Form. Substantial Form.
7. Higher Love.
6. Intuition. Intuition Logic. Insight.
5. Creativity. Hermeneutics. Dialectical Consciousness.
4. Being-Love. Formal Operations.
3. Spirit-Intellect. Judgment-Reflection (compacted levels 7-11)
2. Mind. Soul. Political Consciousness. Understanding (compacted
levels 4-6).
1. Body. Emotional body mind. Experience. Ground Mysticism.
(compacted levels 1-3).
The interesting thing to note is that “flatland” consciousness of level
one, which Ken Wilber describes, and which typically manifests as logical
positivism, or naïve realism, is only possible because levels 1-3 can be
compacted to level 1.
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Similarly. Most realists only have their minds structured for three
stages, once again indicative of the compacting phenomenon.
Finally, I would like to note that the stages of consciousness discussed
here parallel the work of Dr. Deepak Choprah, to some degree.
Bibliography
Choprah, Deepak, How to Know God
Wilber, Ken The Atman Project
Wilber, Ken Up From Eden
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Chapter 31
Authority and Obedience
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
In Catholic religious life, in employment, in the military, and
elsewhere, a premium is often placed upon obedience to authority. On the
other hand, one often sees bumper stickers which state that one should rebel
against authority. I would like to argue that society should follow a middle
path regarding authority, which is found in the Model Rules of Professional
Responsibility which regulates lawyer conduct..
Before getting to the Model Rules, a little discussion of obedience
to authority is in order. I argue that good authority is good and bad
authority is bad. Some people take the position that all authority is good,
but this is clearly wrong. In the aftermath of World War II we were taught
that international human rights law, or natural law, was the basis for the trial
and conviction of Nazis for “crimes against humanity.” Some Nazi’s
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argued that they killed, raped, and tortured people following the authority of
a military or political superior. This “following orders” defense was
rejected as invalid by the Court at Neurenberg. This is bed rock law. We
are bound by this now as much as they were then.
After Neurenberg it is clear that there is such a thing as an illegal
order based upon human law or natural law. On the other hand, St. Paul
in his epistle argues that political authorities are instituted by God and are
to be followed. Similarly, Catholics in religious life take obedience vows
which require them to follow the orders of a religious superior. So, there
are some arguments which favor following authority, even bad authority.
I would like to argue that society in general should adopt the rule
found in the Model Rules of Professional Conduct relating to a subordinate
attorney following the directions of a supervising attorney. On this view, a
subordinate is required by law to refuse a clearly illegal order, and is
required to to follow orders which involve a “gray area” as to legitimacy,
and obviously a subordinate is to follow orders which are clearly legal. In
my judgment this is the rule that should be used in Catholic religious life, in
employment, the military, etc.
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Chapter 32
Eminent Domain, Natural Law, Psychiatry, and the Constitution
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
It is interesting to note that the power of Eminent Domain is one
which historically has been considered to be “an inherent power of the
state” “as a matter of Natural Law.” So, in substance says the leading
treatise on the subject, “Nichol’s on Eminent Domain.” Eminent Domain,
of course, is the power of the state to take your property away from you.
If you look for the express power of Eminent Domain in the United
States Constitution, you will not find it. It isn’t there. I suppose one could
argue that the Constitution implies a power of Eminent Domain by reason
of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution: “Nor shall any
property be taken without just compensation.” I suppose this implies the
right to take the property in the first place.
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I would argue, however, that all the Natural Rights found in the Bill
of Rights, and the 14 th Amendment to the United States Constitution are
based upon Natural Law, just as the power of Eminent Domain is based
upon Natural Law. Grotius even went so far as to say that all of
International Law is based upon Natural Law.
Interestingly, a guy I know who is involved in psychiatry once told me
that from his point of view, and that of psychiatry, Natural Law is a
psychotic delusion. I suppose someone might argue then, that anyone,
including Grotius, who believes in Natural Law is schizophrenic. This is a
shame of course since without Natural Law there is no basis for Natural
Rights such as Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Contract, etc., found in the
United States Constitution. Perhaps the psychiatrists have become the next
generation judges, lawyers, and law professors, without officially letting us
know.
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Chapter 33
God, Mysticism, Psychiatry and the First Amendment
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “I have a dream….” I, on the
other hand, say “I have a fear….” My fear for America is that very soon an
ordinary American will be diagnosed with schizophrenia by an atheistic
materialist psychiatrist for saying, “I believe in God.”
I hope that the foregoing fear is never realized. I hope that I am
overstating my case, but I don’t think so. Currently in psychiatry
Mysticism is seen as a form of mental illness, manic depression or possibly
schizophrenia. Jesus of Nazareth and most every Saint after Him, had the
ability to say, and did say, “I am one with God.” On many psychiatric
wards today if a patient were to say, “I am one with God,” that person
would be diagnosed as schizophrenic and delusional. This is wrong.
Genuine Mysticism exists and most psychiatrists will not diagnose
Mysticism as a psychiatric condition, instead it is considered a mental
illness.
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Now, in my judgment the current state of affairs is terrible.
Athiestic materialist psychiatry denies spirituality and mysticism as even
being possible.
What is equally horrible and wrong is that it is only the conventional
political power of the Christian Churches which prevent a psychotic
delusion or schizophrenia diagnosis from taking place in relation to a belief
in God. Without the threat of political protest if a patient said on a
psychiatric ward, “I believe in God,” that patient could be diagnosed as
delusional and schizophrenic by an atheistic materialist psychiatrist.
Certainly an expressed opinion that Jesus Christ literally “rose
from the dead,” could be diagnosed by a Moslem or atheistic materialist
psychiatrist as delusional and schizophrenic.
I argue that the practice of Psychiatry in all its manifestations must be
considered “State Action” for purposes of the United States Constitution,
and liability under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 in Tort. The First Amendment
must protect against religious discrimination and religious persecution in the
practice of psychiatry.
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Chapter 34
Modified Socratic Method and Law Teaching
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
I would like to argue that the lecture method of teaching that is used
by some law professors is dehumanizing. Paul Freire, the noted educational
theorist argues that lecture type teaching is “banking education” which is
dehumanizing to students.
Interestingly, some people argue that the Socratic Method of law
teaching is dehumanizing. In a pure Socratic class the professor never
answers a question, never introduces material, never sums up, but only asks
questions. I guess I would have to agree that pure Socratic teaching can be
dehumanizing to students because it causes a great deal of stress based upon
uncertainty. Since the teacher never tells you the correct answer and you
have to figure it out for yourself, this can cause a great deal of trauma for
most students.
I would like to argue in favor of Modified Socratic Method as the
ideal teaching methodology for law and other subjects. In Modified
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Socratic the professor provides a general introduction to the material, then
engages in Socratic dialogue involving the Facts, Issues, and Holding of the
case, then if appropriate engages in a policy discussion and/or takes
hypothetical examples as problems to be solved, and then, finally, the
professor sums up the Holding of the case, that is, what the law is.
Modified Socratic can be adapted and used in other subject matter
areas such as medicine, philosophy, science—even gradeschool.
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Chapter 35
Intuition
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
I am an Intuitive person. I love intuition. People often speak of
“women’s intuition,” but practical or philosophical intuition also exists.
Intuition is what provides the person with Insight. Insight is a cognitive,
novel solution to a problem that wasn’t there before. Intuition also guides
us toward truth. While intuition may only provide us with a “ball park”
idea, the argument is that intuition is never wrong.
I would like to argue that intuition functions probabilistically to give
me a probable idea of what is going on. Intuition never provides absolute
certainty and is not intended to. There is a great deal of scientific evidence
which support the idea that intuition actually exists and functions in certain
people. For those who do not have intuition, it is recommended that the
person meditate as a means of developing intuition.
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Chapter 36
Christianity, Karma, and Christ
By
Anthony J. Fejfar
© Copyright 2006 by Anthony J. Fejfar
As you may recall, Karma is based on the idea of “cause and
effect.” “As you sew, so shall you reap.” “As you do, so it will be done
unto you.” “As you judge, so you shall be judged.” Karma also carries
with it the idea that “as it has been done in relation to you, so it will be done
again.” Thus, some would argue that Jesus of Nazareth, were he to come
to Earth, would have as his Karma the requirement that he be crucified
again. Additionally, some might argue that every Christian following in the
place of Jesus will him or herself have to submit to crucifixion.
I, on the other hand argue that Jesus transcends Karma. I argue that
Jesus died once and for so that his followers would not have the Karma of
crucifixion. Jesus, as the Logos and as the Christ, transcends all Karma. If
we follow Christ we can follow the Karma of Christ which is to live simple
lives, serve others in their need, promote justice and social justice, and
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finally, to have lives which are spiritual and fulfilling. Thus, a rich
Christian is still required to live a simple life and is not to have a life
involving the conspicuous consumption of luxury goods. A rich Christian
knows that it is harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it
is for a rich Christian to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Rich
Christians have an obligation to responsibly use their money and wisely use
their money. Remember, a Christian who takes ten people and trains them
and gives them fulfilling well paying jobs does a better thing than the
Christian who simply gives money away as charity to the same ten people
who are poor.
THE END