OUTLINE FOR JOURNEY IN BEING
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OUTLINE
Introduction… 1
Foundation… 6
Journey in
Being… 10
The
Fundamental Problems… 11
Lexicon… 11
Sources and
Influences… 11
Index… 11
The Author… 11
This work is directed at a number of audiences.
One audience is that of the general reader who may have an
interest in the deep nature of the universe and, perhaps, in traveling in those
depths – in exploration of the far reaches of being. The primary parts to the
‘journey’ are understanding or knowledge, and actual exploration including transformation
of the individual being. The essay provides an account of the phase of
understanding which I regard to be reasonably complete with respect to the
objectives. The understanding provides a foundation for the exploration which
remains in-process. The essay describes what has been done so far and outlines
design for what remains. The travels in the depths and the far reaches are not
to the exclusion of the immediate present. A number of immediate concerns are
taken up, for example, individual possibility and choice (meaning and morals,)
group choice or politics, living in the natural world as a source of
inspiration and truth. I have shown that the relation between the universal and
the immediate is real, i.e., the connection is an actual one and goes beyond
the ‘mere’ fact of the meaning that the universal gives to day to day life. In
the introduction, I have tried to give a more accessible –less technical-
account for the general reader. The chapters that follow the introduction are
more technical but, although there are specialized parts, the body of the
essay, taken as a whole is not specialized. I have been asked by readers of
preliminary editions why I have included so much detail –so many concepts– in
such a short space. The necessary response is that the contents are necessary
to the goal of understanding all being. It is necessary to that goal, in its
achievement and as one measure of its success, to subsume the traditional ideas
regarding being and its varieties. Although I find it necessary to direct my
thoughts at others – to share my ideas, it is also necessary to be true. It is
therefore natural that the subsumption of the traditional ideas must be
reasonably complete and critical; additionally, the ideas as well as my
‘system’ of thought should be subject to creative mutual adjustment as part of
the process of subsumption. The general reader is likely to experience the
central chapters, ‘Foundation’ and ‘Journey,’ as difficult but the reader who
persists may enter a ‘Journey in Being’ as participant rather than spectator. It
may appear to some readers that my perspective is scientific and to others that
it has a religious aspect. It is clear that I have learnt much from science and
have received some inspiration from traditional religion. There is a difficulty
in defining a perspective as –even partly– scientific or religious because
science and religion are, in their entirety, complex activities whose
perspectives have multiple dimensions. An ambition, toward which I have made efforts,
is to acquire, as far as possible, direct knowledge of being – informed by but,
finally, independent of particular perspectives. Of course, I would like my
perspective to be scientific as far as that means that my thought is fluid and
subject to modification in light of new information and new reflection; and I
would like my thought to be religious as far as that implies awareness of and
openness to what is true. I have not written specifically for audiences who
define their interest in terms of limited viewpoints; however I hope that those
who are open to the thought that their viewpoint may be tentative will find
interest in this essay. In view of what I have just said, how is it possible for
me to persuade others of the validity of my thought? I hope that readers will
base their answer to that question on an evaluation my thought. For may part, I
may say that my present thought is the result of analysis, synthesis and
experiment with of a wide range of ideas combined the experience of a lifetime
over roughly half a century. It is human to be passionate about –to have belief
in– one’s vision of the world but, perhaps, inhuman to be attached to the
vision at all costs… Another audience is the reader who is philosophically
inclined. The essay traverses the terrain of a number of
traditions of philosophy. The professional philosopher will find much of
interest, especially the illumination (solution) of a number of classic
problems and areas of philosophy such as the theory of being or metaphysics,
the nature of ethics and of group choice (political philosophy,) the mind-body
problem, the nature of mind and matter, the problem of substance (the result is
that there are no fundamental substances; instead the foundation of being is in
the void or, equivalently, in complete indeterminism which, however,
necessitates the origin of form and structure and of a kind of local causation
and local determinism,) the nature of space and time – relational or absolute, what
has been called the fundamental problem of metaphysics, i.e., ‘Why is there
something rather than nothing?’ and the related question, ‘Why does the
universe contain sentience?’, problems of the theory of knowledge, the nature
of the noumenon or thing-in-itself, and questions as to the nature of
philosophy and, especially metaphysics and logic. The variety of reflections is
tied together by a unity of perspective that stems, in part, from the theory of
being that has been developed. My method includes but is not restricted to
analysis; I have considered it important that philosophy should endeavor to
illuminate the nature of the real – of being. Although there are intimations,
in the history of ideas, of the fundamental results in metaphysics, I believe
that the clarity of statement and the necessity of the arguments are without
precedent. An objective in all these endeavors, as well as in those that
follow, has been, first, to contribute to understanding and, second, to
occasionally summarize pertinent aspects of the state of knowledge in the
field. The developments that follow will have interest for more specialized
audiences but not to the exclusion of the general or the philosophically
inclined reader. One purpose to these specialized topics is to show how the
general theory of being and the specialized topics have implications for one
another. Taken together, the general and specialized interests – especially
those whose focus is concerned with mind, its nature, structure and function –
will form a foundation for a design of a complete and minimal system of
experiments for the exploration and transformation of being. The degree to
which the developments are complete and elaborate is not uniform (some of the
developments are detailed in other essays.) Individuals with an interest in theoretical
physics will find a tentative and as yet qualitative
foundation for some of the basic theories and fundamental concepts of physics -
quantum theory; the relativistic theory of space-time-matter and force. For biologists,
there are reflections on the nature of life and the necessity of the variation
and selection ‘mechanism’ of evolution and a generalization of that mechanism
to all creation, to all origins of form and structure. Persons active in the
sciences of mind and behavior (psychologists) will be interested
in the account of the nature and structure of mind. Regarding the possibility
of two concepts of mind, the phenomenal and the psychological, that has
dominated much thought since the middle of the nineteenth century, I find that
necessity requires the conclusion that the distinction is false and is based in
a limited (premature) understanding of both ‘concepts.’ Regarding the structure
of mind, my focus has been at two levels – the possibility of mind as a source
of adaptation (creativity) and the dimensions of human mentality. I have formulated
a set of parameters or dimensions that permits a uniform treatment of mind and
person in specific contexts and over a lifetime. This includes uniform
formulations of the functions (cognition, emotion and drive or instinct) and a formulation
of personality that transcends and is relatively neutral toward the
culture-centered attempts of the past. The latter is made possible, in part, by
connecting the human context, concepts and dimensions of mind, and the theory
of being of this essay. It is shown that a complete account of the working of
mind must be a basis for a complete account of the being and meaning of the
individual: the account of human mind is a basis for the design of the
experiments in transformation. Workers in the recently activated (roughly, the
final quarter of the twentieth century) and
multi-disciplinary field of consciousness studies will find a
simple resolution of the ‘problem of consciousness’ that is, essentially, a
special case of the resolution of the mind-body problem mentioned earlier. The
limit of the treatment is not arrived at when I say that the cognitive
scientist will find reflections and conclusions regarding
the structure of thought and the possibility of the interpretation of mind as
machine. The essay contains reflections on the nature of symbolic systems
that include the nature of the symbol and the object, the nature of language
and of mathematics. These reflections are based, in part, on the
concept of the ‘free symbol’ that is based in the metaphysics; this concept is
also the basis of an elucidation of aspects of social theory
such as the nature and aspects of individual and group choice, i.e., of ethics
and of politics. I have attempted to craft the essay as art – have attempted to
occasionally suffuse the prose with a poetic sense.
This attempt is consistent with the reflection, found in the discussion of the
nature of symbols, that poetry and logic (reason) are not necessarily distinct
and that their forms may be combined in positive ways that compromise neither
poetry nor reason
Here are some preliminary comments whose purpose
is to give a quick introduction to some central ideas of this essay. Some goals
are given and some results are stated with at most minimal justification.
Justification (demonstration or proof) is a part of the journey and is
developed in rest of the introduction and the body of this essay
The central goal and ambition
of the journey described here (in this essay) is understanding and realization
of all possibilities of being This requires clarification; the
clarification below that begins the introduction is an outline. Note that this
introductory set of comments is new (its content is not new)
Here is a brief explanation of the meaning of
‘being.’ A being is an entity that exists and the quality of being is the
quality of existence, i.e., something has being if it exists. Being is used in
a general sense that includes becoming or coming into existence. The concept of
being may appear to be trivial but it enables depths of understanding that
might otherwise be unrealized. Reasons for the use of ‘being’ and further
clarification of its use or meaning in this essay are given later. Because of
its traditional uses, being may appear to be a specialized and esoteric
concept. However, it is not specialized – it is, perhaps, the most general of
concepts (all things are suffused with being, the theory of being is at the
foundation of all disciplines of knowledge) and it is the generality that may
make it appear to be remote. Being is sometimes used with religious
connotations, e.g., as a substitute for ‘God’ or ‘soul.’ Here, being is not
used in such senses. The primary importance of the use of being is that it
encourages reflection on and analysis of what it is –and what it means– to
exist and, so, to deep conclusions about the nature of the universe as a whole.
Naturally, analysis of being may have implications for the possible natures of
God and soul but the main interest here is that there are implications for the
natures of mind, of matter and of the universe. The ubiquity of being and the
generality of the concept require an effort to grasp the idea and its magnitude
but, if what I have been saying is true, there is a great reward to the effort.
I might have used an alternate word to ‘being.’ I chose to use ‘being’ rather
than some other word, not only because I like its sound, but also because there
is a deep, though sometimes misleading and confusing, tradition to its use in
the history of ideas. Choice of ‘being’ has encouraged use of and connection
with that tradition
Who or what is to understand and to realize all
possibilities? The response is any entity, e.g., (1) An individual, and (2) All
being. (The uses of ‘Being’ in this essay are clarified later; here, being may
be thought of as similar to ‘entity.’) The realization by ‘all being’ is
identical to the universe (taken to be all being, outside of which there is
nothing) in its evolution or history. Thus the understanding and realization in
question must include the valid parts of all traditions of knowledge and
transformation… The idea that an individual
may achieve what is accessible to all being appears to be paradoxical; this is
addressed in what follows
It is shown in this essay that all possibilities
are accessible to any individual and, so, there is no need to
include the phrase, ‘as far as possible’ after ‘understanding and realization’
It is shown is that only what is
logically impossible is actually impossible. All other states of
being are achievable by any individual and will, necessarily, be attained by
some individual being
Here are some examples of possible transformations (realization)
of interest. (1) The natural processes of the world or universe that appear to
occur without external intervention. (2) Individual
achievement. (3) Traditional life; living in the present. (4) Negotiating or
stepping outside (transcending) limits of or implied by individual
identity, by regularities expressed in common sense and the sciences, e.g. the
physical and economic sciences – except when to negotiate such limits would
violate necessary or logical limits
The idea that what is not logically impossible
is possible appears to contradict science and common sense. Many logical
possibilities appear violate the known laws of physics. An example is the idea
that ‘something may come from nothing.’ In fact, it is not clear that this is a
violation of physical law. It is easy to show that ‘a universe from nothing’
does not violate the principle of conservation of energy – the negative energy
of the gravitational field may balance the energy associated with matter;
additionally, in the quantum world view, spontaneous creation is not absurd in
the way that it is in the pre-quantum, Newtonian world view. However, the
theory of being provides a deeper argument whose precise version and details
are given later. In outline the argument is as follows. The idea of the void is
that of nothingness – of complete absence. The void is not merely the absence
of things; it is also the absence of pattern, form and law. The void ‘exists’
for it is what is left when the universe is subtracted from itself. That
nothing ever came from the void would be a law; therefore, it is necessary that
something will come from the void. More precisely, for any actual or possible
state of being, that it never arises out of the void is a law; therefore, all
such states of being, including the entire universe or all being, must arise
from the void. I.e., the void is equivalent to any being, to all being, to the
universe; and to the annihilators of all these entities. Here is a preview of
some additional results of the theory of being; the complete account and
arguments are given later. (1) If a creator is separate from what is created,
then the universe (all being) cannot have a creator. However, parts of the
universe may be created. This has implications for the nature of both physical
law and God… If what is possible (what is not a logical contradiction) is
necessary the following are true. (2) Every ‘particle’ of the universe is
capable of ‘self-annihilation’ as is the universe itself (the later arguments
show this to be ‘colossally’ improbable.) (3) Every actuality and every
possibility must repeat infinitely in extension and duration i.e. in space and
time; this constitutes a form of karma which is given meaning by the next
conclusion. (4) There is a being that spans the recurrences of discrete being. (5)
The seemingly paradoxical conclusion, ‘Jesus Christ is risen from the dead’
must obtain in countless cosmological systems. I said earlier, that the intent
in this essay is not specifically religious. However, it is shown that truth
and religion have some intersection. It is important to ask what is the
significance to the articles of faith such as the ones regarding karma and
resurrection whose occurrence is one of infinite repetition. Since the
establishment of the theory of transfinite numbers in the late nineteenth
century, it is known that there are orders of infinity. The infinity of all
occurrences may, and undoubtedly does, unimaginably exceed the infinities of
karmic recurrence and of resurrection. So, the Theory of Being developed in
detail later in this essay requires both karma and resurrection and lends
credence to possibility but not at all to the actuality or necessity of local
karma or of the resurrection on this earth or in the local cosmological system
These considerations do not imply that achieving
any given state or all states is feasible or desirable
Here are some examples of infeasibility. In our world or
corner of the universe, violation of the laws of physics is not impossible,
i.e. not logically impossible, but is, normally, staggeringly infeasible. Even
while satisfying these laws, some goals may be economically infeasible
What is the meaning of desirability? It includes what is
good, what is ethical but the meaning of desirability and of the ethical must
be left open. Finding those meanings is part of the Journey. Feasibility and
desirability are not independent. Something
that at first seems desirable may turn to be not desired if it is highly
infeasible. A goal whose achievement seems unlikely may be a worth investing
some effort if the outcome has great value or desirability
If all goals that are not logically impossible
are achievable, what is to be made of the value of effort, of respecting
traditional wisdom regarding unlikely
goals, of what is usually considered to be possible and what are usually
considered to be limits on possibility?
These concerns are addressed by introducing the
idea or concept of the normal. The traditional limits, possibilities and
impossibilities are normal limits… Thus what is usually considered to be
impossible is normally infeasible. However, we have seen that what is
infeasible may be a worthwhile goal and, additionally, since feasibility is
relative to knowledge, new insight may transform formerly infeasible goals into
feasible ones
Do these considerations invalidate traditional
ways of life and typical goals? Is it being said that enjoyment of life as it
is –of the present– is not good? No; the experience of an intrinsic worth of
tradition and enjoyment of living is recognized as among what is desirable; the
worth of a variety of ways of life is recognized; and enjoyment and achievement
are not exclusive but are mutually supporting
Introduce what is
revolutionary, foundational and deep (deeper than the tradition including
science and philosophy) though not without prior intimation
The discussion in
this section provides an introduction to some of the ideas used in this essay.
The discussion here is intended to be non-technical. A more complete discussion
–with more careful definitions and arguments, elaborations and examples– is
given in the sections that follow. So as to keep the later sections
–relatively– complete, some material from this section is repeated. Not all
material is repeated – identify what material should be read (and by whom) and
what material may be omitted
The section
Introduction, from the Preface to Journey in Being - foundation
supplement Sept 04 II.html, has material that should go to diverse places. Place
appropriately
What
is the ‘Journey in Being?’
Introduction
What
is the ‘Journey in Being?’
Significance
of Journey
Why ‘Journey’? Is this not contained in the previous heading? In some ways.
However, it is also being asked why ‘journey’ is used and not ‘becoming?’ It is
not merely that ‘The Becoming of Being’ is awkward. ‘Journey’ signifies: that,
at outset, the paths and destinations are unknown – their creation or discovery
is part of the journey; that the story follows many threads of which some are
dead ends; that the journey is wonderful – enjoyed also for its own sake even
in its aspects of boredom and dread; and that the journey continues…
Introduction to the essay Note that this was the PREFACE
and that the section labeled ‘Introduction’ has been placed
elsewhere. Should this be a separate section? Where should the following be
placed if not here?
Outline and Structure This had been labeled,
simply, ‘Outline.’ What is needed, in addition to an outline, is an explanation
of the sequence and structure – how the narrative mirrors the journey.
Especially important is the presence of personal or individual
elements, of narrative and formal elements, the roles and relations of these
elements, their placement, and how to distinguish them. It is important to let
different readers, with different interests and levels of preparation, know
where to go for what
Purpose
… Or function the essay
Reading the Essay Comment on reading the document twice: the objective is to
see and absorb the core elements of the essay as a whole
Origins
and Paths (Trajectories) of the ‘Journey in
Being’
Significance of the
Individual Story Explains the significance of the
individual story or journey. Not biographical in nature i.e. does not emphasize
what is distinctive about the author’s life but what may be universal to
individual effort: contains information that displays the process as a journey,
that may inspire and concern others with similar ambitions, that shows the
relations between the individual and the
universal… and that may be useful, in later sections, in illuminating the
process of discovery and creation. When greatness is assigned to individual
effort it is often done in a way that depicts the individual as destined for
greatness. There is a view, according to the Theory of Being developed in this
essay, in which there is intrinsic significance to the efforts of the individual.
This significance does not lie in mere effort but in dedicated effort, effort
that is both synthetic –therefore sustained and holistic– and reflective or
critical and analytic. Thus while some works achieve recognition and
‘greatness’ these measures of accomplishment are not measures of the
significance of individual effort. The significance of these thoughts is not
that they constitute justification for effort but that they give effort meaning
that is independent of the outcome. At the same time, the same Theory of Being,
shows effort and hypothesis to be a form of contact with the real. The personal
elements of the story are segregated to this section
Origins
Two
Paths (Trajectories)
Journey:
Ideas and Transformation
Life Experience: work; relationships; therapeutic relationships; living in
nature; travel; learning and thought; seeking transformation
On
Being
The following questions are identical
What
is Being?
What
is the meaning of Being?
On Meaning: Although every meaning may change, the meaning of ‘Being’
–that which exists, the quality of existence– is too fundamental to change.
‘What is Being?’ is answered, in principle but not in detail, by analyzing the
meaning of ‘Being.’ What remains to be given or discovered is the elaboration
of being – its analysis, significance and kinds or possibilities. Note that
‘meaning’ has more than one meaning of which two significant families are those
centered around the uses ‘the meaning or sense and reference of a word or term’
and ‘the meaning or significance of life.’ Which of these two families is being
used should be clear from the context
Comments on the word, ‘Being’ A case of one word, two symbols which is distinct from the
issue of ‘On Meaning,’ above. The use here is the existential use, ‘Water is H20’
or, simply, ‘Water is’ and not the use as a copula or linking word, ‘Water is
wet.’ ‘Water is H20’ may, with qualification, be
written, ‘Water = H2O’ but ‘Water is wet’
may not be correctly written ‘Water = wet,’ or, even, ‘Water = wetness’
Why
focus on Being? 1. Being is the most general of
‘things.’ Therefore, its understanding may (its successful understanding, as in
this essay, will) be the source and precondition of all understanding
2. Being is unknown and undetermined in its
possibilities and, therefore, as will be seen, powerful in its power for
understanding and, consequently for transformation.
E.g. analysis of being and non-being –the void– shows why there is being, what
are its possibilities, what are the possibilities and limits of individuals, resolves
many age-old issues in the nature of being –metaphysics– and has significance
for many of the most fundamental issues of being – human issues
3. An example is that of substance ontology: introduction of ‘substance’ is an
attempt to see what is most fundamental – a substance is thought to be
unchanging, that out of which all changing things and appearances come; the
positions of relationship and process are similar – they are alternatives to
substances that avoid some of its problems; however, the theory of being to be
developed shows that neither substance nor process nor relationship are
fundamental. Instead, nothingness is fundamental and, as will be seen, in
nothingness is the foundation of being and, in their domains, of substance etc.
and of causation…
4. It will seem that a number of fundamental conclusions are arrived at by
logic alone; however, the implicit assumption is that ‘there is being.’
5. Detailed conclusions will result when the concept of being is applied to
particular situations. Examples are the conclusions regarding logic, science,
myth and religion including questions of soul-spirit-God, morals or ethics, the
nature and significance of individual presence
Core Concepts, Arguments and Conclusions Note that this
section has been substantially incorporated in the earlier section ‘The Central
Goal and Ambition…’ Complete that incorporation; place all useful materials;
eliminate this section. Reckon that this section has overlap with other
sections; where is the section to be placed; where are subsections to be placed
Preliminary key
words – Words to explain essential concepts to the
relatively casual reader while a more detailed list is in later sections
&or the lexicon? Words: being, mind, normal… Categories: Of Being, Of Mind…
On ‘Whole Systems’ Why ‘Whole Systems’ and not the modern tendency to ‘Cool
Systems,’ to lazy complacency and mere icon smashing which can be done by any
raging bull or impotent cow with one or two neurons? In the end, it is the
whole that is cool… that provides the greater insight into a greater variety of
possibilities, that enables discovery, creation and transformation, that
provides the reader with the tools to engage in the journey as participant
rather than spectator. One source of ‘Whole Systems’ is recorded thought of the
traditions – past and present. These are not complete as may be recognized and
as is demonstrated by the Theory of Being developed here. However, the
traditions are a source towards completion – as far as it is possible – and
this is a reason, in addition to others including the practical ones, to
analyze all significant issues of Being including Human Being especially
including, as a test, Complete Systems of Problems of Metaphysics. Formally, a
Theory of Being, a World View, or a Metaphysics is an attempt at a whole
system. Because the elements of the world (universe) interact, so may the
concepts interact under the relational (theoretical) structure of the
metaphysics – this is why it is essential to consider a metaphysics as a whole rather
than piecemeal. However, how can the completeness of a metaphysical system be
known? Two ways arise: logical and empirical verification. The Theory of Being
of the present document contains both elements. In its most general features,
the theory follows from logical considerations and the only empirical elements
are given e.g. being i.e. existence (something exists) and, in the
understanding of the local phase-epoch of the universe, the existence of
experience. In the more detailed development, the present Theory of Being has
(necessarily) both logical-conceptual elements regarding the structure of the
subject matter and empirical elements concerning the ‘facts’ of the subject. This discussion may have parts placed here and (overlapping)
parts placed in the section, ‘foundation.’ The parts place here should be
relatively non-technical
Introduction / What is the Journey in Being
Being
/ becoming:
Why / What they are / Which is significant?
The Core Arguments
The Core
Conclusions ‘Ghost universes passing through
ours like ships in the night… not felt or seen as such but, perhaps, as a
shiver in the darkness, pondered briefly and then forgotten’
Purpose and Goals of the Journey
The Concept of Importance
Knowledge and Hypothesis Alternative
titles: ‘Symbol and Hypothesis,’ ‘Knowledge in Being and in Becoming…’ This is
a tentative improvement of the section, ‘Symbol and Error,’
of previous outlines. Where should the (content of the) topics Mind and Error; Mind,
Thought, and Language; The Hard Problem of Knowledge; of the previous version
(in the essay or supplement) of this section be placed? This topic is a
discussion of two frameworks for knowledge that correspond to similar
frameworks for being – that of becoming and that of all being… (1) Hypothesis
as the essence of knowledge. In the first framework, knowing or coming to
know is a process in which discovery (creation) is possible only when error is
possible. One way of saying this is that, in this framework, hypothesis is the
essence of knowledge – because, not only is hypothesis on the way to knowledge
but because being-in-process is fundamental rather than result or ‘end point.’
(2) The possibility of metaphysics and positive knowledge. In the second
framework, positive judgment is possible, i.e., final rather than tentative
knowledge is possible. (As is seen in various ways, there is a mode –are modes–
of final knowledge of all being.) Both frameworks are made possible by the free
symbol. Science to the present time (c.2005)
is an example of knowledge under the first framework. It is often assumed that
because the ‘series of scientific discovery’ is apparently incomplete, it can
not be completed in any way. This is shown by Omnes to be false. Omnes’ system
is one system, in outline, of completed science. The Theory of Being of this
essay, is another example, also in outline, of a completed theory… it is
important to note, however, that the present Theory of Being is demonstrated,
at its level of generality, to be a complete theory of being. Plan: The
various topics are discussed elsewhere. Place appropriately. Keep a simple form
of the discussion here – possibly absorbing it to other sections
Hypothesis
as the Essence of Knowing Acknowledges the significance of
the possibility of error –the necessity of openness to error– but finds an
alternate view in which hypothesis is the essence
of knowledge as knowledge-in-process as an aspect of becoming, i.e.,
being-in-process. There is a viewpoint or state in which being-in-process is
eternal life and similarly in which error is divested of its negative
connotation and living in hypothesis is living in knowledge
On Criticism Should this be placed here?
The Possibility of Knowledge
of Being or of Positive Judgment Need simple words.
Note that this is related to the possibility of metaphysics discussed below
Conservative and
Liberal Attitudes toward Knowledge Incorporate
this topic in the foregoing
Realization:
the Journey Continues…
FOUNDATION – THE THEORY OF BEING: OUTLINE OF THE
SECTION WHEN NO LONGER NECESSARY, ELIMINATE THIS OUTLINE AND THE
BOOKMARK ‘foundation’
FOUNDATION – THE THEORY OF BEING INTRODUCTORY COMMENT: THIS SECTION OR DIVISION, FOUNDATION
FOR THE JOURNEY IN BEING, IS IN ITS DEVELOPMENT ALSO PART OF THE JOURNEY
Key
terms These are key terms for the entire document and
may be classified according to division of metaphysics and this document. Words
include concept, theory, LOGIC
and logic…
Introduction: Objective
– foundation for the journey, i.e. of all knowing and transformation… Whether
this is possible depends on what is meant by ‘foundation’ and what count as
knowledge and being, i.e. what knowledge and transformation (being) are
considered to be real or essential. While it would be superfluous to include
all factual knowledge, the choices should not make ‘all knowledge’ and ‘all
being’ trivial. Approach – why is metaphysics chosen as foundation and
execution of all knowing; and extension of metaphysics to include action and
experiment in transformation… and why is being placed at the core of the
metaphysics? (Beyond the fact that the essential analysis of ‘metaphysics’ is
through ‘being.’) The theory of being that is developed is manifestly and
intrinsically an adequate foundation, i.e. it shows its own foundational
nature. May repeat some material from ‘Introduction to
the Journey in Being’
First
Principles
Sources
On
Being Alternative title: The Concept and Nature of
Being or, simply, Being… Collect all ideas and sections on being.
May repeat some material from ‘Introduction to the Journey in Being’
Comments
on the Word ‘Being’
The
Concept of Being
Becoming is discussed above in the ‘Introduction to the
Journey in Being;’ determine the parts of the discussion to be placed there,
parts here, and parts to be repeated… How
important to being is becoming? In the end, I think that being is found
to be fundamental – not because becoming is not fundamental to being in a
normal sense but because (1) fundamentally, in the Theory of Being, becoming,
relationship are implicit in being – as are many other apparently fundamental
concepts such as ‘form’ and ‘substance,’ and (2) Even in the normal or
practical sense, the form of being can be understood either through becoming –
evolution – or through adaptation i.e. symmetry of the elements. Note regarding
importing material from the compound section that includes ‘necessity of
becoming’ from foundation: the necessity is
that in the void – which is present even when there is being – there must be
becoming i.e. it follows from the meaning of void or non-being that being will
occur; it is not being said that the concept of becoming is necessary for or
prior to that of being. This discussion is relevant to the section, ‘Focus on Being’ and
overlapping parts may be placed there
The Elimination of Substance This section is new to the outline. There is discussion of
the point in this outline, the supplement and foundation. Is this the best
location for the discussion?
Outline
of The Theory of Being ‘Theory of Being’ is somewhat
interchangeable with ‘Metaphysics’ and so the alternative title: Outline of
The Metaphysics. An overview of the development without headings or details
– may have sections. Why and how the development of the theory is an
interactive unity whose elements may be identified as the traditional topics of
Metaphysics, Logic, Cosmology and the Theory of Knowledge (Note that
‘metaphysics’ has a restrictive sense as in the element of the unity and an
inclusive sense as that unity.)
Outline
of the Metaphysics and its Logic This is
just a repeat of the above title included to see if there is any material in
the supplement
The
Theory of Being Alternative title: The Metaphysics, General
Metaphysics, or, simply, Metaphysics. Development of the Theory of
Being with the Metaphysics, Logic, Cosmology and Theory of Knowledge: use the
multiple outlines below. In this Heading 2 section, it is necessary to rationalize the
heading levels
What
is Expected of a Theory of Being?
System for
Knowing and Realizing All Actual and Possible Being This
is implicit in the logic developed in this essay, especially this section. One
test for this is to see whether all significant issues of Being including Human
Being especially including Complete Systems of Problems of Metaphysics may be
included in the Theory of Being. This topic is currently placed in the section,
The Fundamental Problems but is manifest in the contents of the Theory of Being
/ Metaphysics developed below. If it is not, should the topic be explicitly
mentioned in the present section, Foundation?
Elements of a Theory of Being
Primitives
Methods or Approaches
Results
System of Understanding
System of Explanatory Principles
System of Actual and Possible Being
The
Theory of Being Reveals its Own Motivation
Some Issues and Problems that
any ‘Complete’ Theory of Being Must Address One issue
is that of completeness of the theory (of Metaphysics) which should here be
addressed in principle. An explicitly complete system (in outline) is in the
next main division, ‘Journey in Being’
Absolute
Completeness
Relative Completeness
Metaphysics,
Logic, Cosmology and Theory of Knowledge This
topic is pertinent to the section, ‘Outline of The Theory of Being.’ Include (enhance)
discussion of the inseparability of these topics in the best
development; note that inclusion of Theory of Knowledge is new to this
introduction and is practically necessary but not absolutely necessary as
indicated at the end of this paragraph. May raise this to level II heading. Preliminary
comments on the Theory of Knowledge. This
discussion on could be placed in the next section. Given
the Theory of Being developed here, certainty in knowledge cannot be the
ultimate ‘function’ of knowledge –even the possibility of certainty may be
questioned– although it may be a useful normal function. It may even be
questioned whether the function of knowledge is to know – this assignment of
function is based the natural and practical inclination of the ego or self and
emphasized by the acuity and immediacy of sense perception; rather the
underlying ‘function’ of knowing may be seen as connection, immersion or
adaptation. (In questioning whether the function of cognition is knowing, the
significance of presence –subjective presence, the locus of and a precondition
for meaning and, at root, meaning itself– in the universe is not questioned.)
What is the source of knowledge? “Although all individual knowledge begins with
experience it does not follow that it arises out of experience (alone.)” This
points out a limit on empiricism which is further limited because of its focus
on knowledge by acquaintance i.e. apprehension of the object. Empiricism does
not explain the difficulty that a robot with eyes and ears would have in
replicating the human form of knowing unless it also had the equivalent of the
human cognitive system that includes the brain. I.e. the categories of
intuition which are necessary for the forms of knowledge –of known objects– do
not arise out of experience which is clear but may also be seen from the
observation that a rock or a robot with sensory organs but not a human or
animal like brain do not and cannot have the normal categories of intuition
which make possible knowledge by description i.e. the symbolic representation
of the object. Thus, pure rationalism is limited because it omits the role of
experience. However, even a combination of rationalism and empiricism is
logically empty unless a concept of knowledge is adopted and this amounts to specifying
a function. While such a combination may provide foundation for the normal
function of knowledge as knowing it is inadequate for the universal and normal
function of connection, immersion or adaptation. As relationship, it is
logically absurd to expect representation of the object – even though there are
normal circumstances in which there is the privilege of a remarkable and
functional facsimile of representation. Just as being is essentially
‘tentative’ on the account of the Theory of Being, the essence of knowing is
hypothesis. Given this, there is no necessary limit to knowing – especially in
its symbolic manifestation; the limits, though significant, are normal and
practical but not universal or absolute. The Theory of Knowledge or
Cognition is important in the ‘normal world’ but is not a necessary
prerequisite or co-requisite to a general theory of being
Theory
of Knowledge …and belief. Nature of knowledge,
validity or correctness of knowledge: truth. Why the theory of knowledge is
preliminary and why, even though it is obviously important, it is not as
important as it is often thought to be… It is preliminary because, inasmuch as
it is (if it is) crucial it should be so; and if it is not crucial then, in
view of the importance of epistemology in modern thought, the ways in which it
lacks foundational character should be established at the outset
Truth
Keep the discussion below? If so, this is preliminary
Metaphysics …the core, where these four topics intersect has been given
in ‘Outline… .’ It may still be desirable to introduce some elements of theory
of knowledge, logic and cosmology here. In the following, identify or enter
the alternate logics leading to the equivalence of the void and of all being
and related conclusions, and identify, from among these, the fundamental
conclusion(s). Note, in at least one of the developments, that the fundamental
conclusions are equivalent to ‘essential indeterminism at the core of being.’
Note that some of the topics are redundant to this Heading 3 section (Metaphysics,)
some may go to the Heading 3 sections, ‘Logic’ and ‘Cosmology’ and others to
the Heading 2 section, ‘Consequences of The Theory of Being.’ This needs to be
done for the terms (Being, Mind…) below: get the essential
terms, put them in the proper order and section, ‘define’ and develop the terms
and their interrelations
Mind The idea or concept of mind and its elaborations is developed
in a number of sections. The objective here
is to show and illuminate (the concept of) mind and to analyze its place in
relation to (the substance-free theory of) being. It is shown that, in
consequence of this Theory of Being, neither mind nor matter is fundamental,
that the mind-body problem is the artifact of a premature and empty theory of
being (materialism) and that, with a suitable
(and fruitful) extension of the concept, mind and being are co-extensive
Mind, Symbol and Object It
is important to clearly define (1) the pertinent concept field, and (2) the
terms including ‘symbol,’ ‘object,’ ‘internal object,’ and ‘external object.’
The two sections, ‘Mind and Symbol’ and ‘Symbol, Ideal and External Object’ of
the existing version have been combined into this one. Is this good?
Ideal and External Object What are the relations among symbol, ideal and external
object? Is there the external object or what is the meaning of ‘external
object?’ If symbol and ideal object are not identical, what is their relation?
This is obviously Kantian territory and justice must be done to Kant and his
successors
Logic This may be the place to discuss the following topics from
the foundation:
paradox, necessity of reference and others. This may also be the place to
insert a discussion of Dynamics of Being which need not have a separate section
since it is included in logic – review this
Logic
and The Possibility of Metaphysics This topic is clearly related or perhaps logically identical
to the topic, The Possibility of Positive Judgment of the section, Introduction
to the Journey in Being. Although the topic of the possibility of metaphysics
and the relation of the possibility to logic is not new, they are combined in
this section that is new to this outline – what is its proper placement?
Modal
logic… Quantum Logics Non-Boolean Lattices and Rings,
special role of observation Note that there is
an argument that quantum logics are not necessary –that observation does not
have a special role, see founding equations of motion– and that
‘classical’ logic suffices (quantum mechanics may be discussed under ‘Physical
Cosmology’ or ‘Consequences of the Theory of Being’)
Logics
and Their Contexts
Logic
Logic is the Study of Necessary Form
Laws of Logic
Induction and the ‘Scientific Method’
Science and Reality
Law Approximately here
seems to be the formal and later development of the theory of ‘being from the
void’
The Fundamental Problem of Metaphysics
[Why is there Something Rather Than Nothing?]
Possibility, Necessity and Actuality
Logic: the Void This seems to be
the original development of ‘being from the void’ – the intuitive development,
the ‘original’ logic. The following are a preview of some topics that are /
were in cosmology and show (again) the intersections of the elements of Theory
of Being
The Void
The Void Exists
Identity of Possibility, Actuality and Necessity
Critique of the Development of the Logic
Criticisms…
Of (1) the development of logic, (2) its application to the
theory and origin of being… and to the fundamental problem of metaphysics
Cosmology With
introductory comment on and may include general, normal, local (and physical)
cosmologies; space-time-matter…
Ontology
as a Topic Why is this here?
Space,
Time and Space-Time
Cosmology and Logic The first three
topics are also in the section, ‘Logic.’ Are they needed here?
The Void The following question
is, at present, qualitative or metaphorical. Is the void a mere absence (zero)
of being or an unending process (negative infinity) in that ‘removal’ of all
being is never ending?
The Void Exists
Identity of Possibility, Actuality and Necessity
Determinism and Indeterminism.
Universal indeterminism and local determinism-like
or causal-like behavior are not inconsistent; the latter necessarily follows
from the former
Further Properties of the Void
Origins
of a Coherent Cosmological System An alternate to
‘coherent’ is ‘normal.’ The idea of the normal is that of a stable phase-epoch
in which entities have definiteness, limits and possibilities. The local
physical ‘universe’ is an example of a normal cosmological system
Origin
of the Free Symbolic Capability
Evolution
as a Mechanism
Further Cosmological Consequences
Cosmological System; or phase-epoch or coherent
domain of the universe
Normality and Necessity
Creation, recurrence, karma, annihilation Note
that this and the remaining topics are repeated below under ‘Religion’ with
additional details
…if the concept of a creator requires it to be distinct from the creation, the
universe cannot have a creator
Being that is the Span of All Being
The Concept of the Normal… Some possible characteristics of a normal
domain: near symmetry and stability, processes have a quasi-causal and
quasi-deterministic character, dominant quasi-unique space and time, existence
of a uniform description of the domain… but does not uniquely occupy its place
The Normal;
Normality and Necessity; Normal Cosmology; Evolution
as a Mechanism
Limits, Miracles, Magic
Some
Normal Categories and
Considerations
Mind and Causation
Action and Choice
Physical
Cosmology
Space and Time or Space-Time, and Causation
Space, Time, and Matter
Causation
Dynamics
Life… Life itself is not written on things
but is assigned by human beings and therefore to expect a static scheme of
assignment, whether intuitive or descriptive or theoretical, that remains
consistent in boundary cases is unrealistic even though there may be no problem
of differentiation at the core (and thus, the concept of life is not arbitrary,
is not a mere assignment.) ‘Life’ is an assigned concept, i.e., it is not
merely read and the assignment – intuitive or schematic – must be dynamic and
adjusting. The concept of ‘life’ is similar to that of ‘mind’ in being fluid
but the nature of the fluidity is different
Summary
of the Core of the Foundation
Human Being: Mind, Symbol and
Value Here is placed an outline of this
topic. The details are currently in the following section, ‘Consequences of the
Theory of Being.’ Is this arrangement optimal?
Consequences
(&or Development) of the Theory of Being Can
be considered to be –and, in some ways, is– a continuation of the development
of the Theory of Being… If distinct, what are the distinguishing
characteristics? Perhaps specialization of the topics or purpose of the topics.
Examples: Cosmology, Myth, Faith and Religion… as special topics. While the
concept and theory of mind would be in the section, ‘Theory of Being,’ a more
detailed development of Human Psychology might be here. While logic will be
discussed in the ‘Outline of The Theory of Being’ and have its own sub-section
in ‘The Theory of Being,’ detailed treatment of logics might be here or in the
next section(s.) Quantum Mechanics and related topics might be placed here
(quantum logic is addressed under ‘Logic’)
The
Nature of Mind
The Elements of Mind or Psychology. Some
dimensions What are the principles of organization of
this section? Some possibilities are:
Elements of
adaptation; elements of the adapted; and time – including development
The bound framework including the
categories of intuition and the axes of mental phenomena; the free framework
including free production and association including the icon and the symbol…
and language; integration; and time – including development
Dimensions
of Feeling
Afferent-Efferent
Bound-Free
and Internal-External
Perception, Concepts and Meaning
Wittgenstein’s Contribution
Including Use of the Analysis of Solipsism
Feeling-Motivation-Cognition: an
Integrated System
State-Disposition
Memory
Center-Periphery
Integration-Independence
Modularity-Integration (Holism;)
Layering
Normal
Psychology
The Normal
Aspects
of Mind. The Categories of Intuition; Axes for Mental Phenomena; Growth and
Development
The
Categories of Intuition In the present sense, intuition
is prior to the explicit knowing of the world. Intuition is a container or
framework for feeling-cognition as in apprehension of…
Axes for
Mental Phenomena Experience, attitude, action… Analyze
the axes (begun in the present essay and other source documents)
The Elements
of Intuition The categories developed as a matrix of
elements whose indexes are the categories
and the axes (above.) This new development is of extreme importance.
Existential: being,
humor… Review this; review all – review for perception
and thought
Physical: space, time,
causation, humor
Biological: life
forms Review this
Psychological:
communication, icon-symbol, emotion, humor… Review this
for knowledge-belief (inclusion of the symbol –the free-symbol– among the
categories subsumes cognition and therefore all mental phenomena, all of Kant’s
Critique of Pure Reason but, simultaneously,
frees philosophy up from intuition…
Growth – Development,
Learning, Accomplishment, Personality and Meaning; Meaning, Commitments and
Purpose
Development,
Learning, Accomplishment
Exceptional Achievement and
Disorder
Personality and Personality
Factors; an Approach to the Study (Psychology) of the Person as a Whole
The Whole Individual: a Rationalized Study of
Personality
Factors for the Psychology of the Person as a
Whole
Personality and Meaning
Ontological Psychology
Cognition
and Communication
Language,
Icon and Thought; Expression of Concepts
Uses
of Language
Concepts
Attitudes
Metaphor and Other Non-Literal
Uses
Comment
on Errors Encouraged By Language
Bewitchment of Intelligence
Bewitchment of Critical Thought
It is as if Language Creates a
Universe of its Own
Ethics
and Value
Law
and Legal Theory
Cosmology, Myth,
Faith and Religion Some common criticisms of religion
are (1) many religious accounts of reality are obviously untrue in their common
literal interpretation, (2) religion is merely a solace and is thus numbing
and, further, prepares believers for manipulation, (3) there are abuses in the
name of religion. It is obvious that these claims contain truth. A response to
these claims is possible as follows. (A) The claims do not apply to all aspects
of religion; therefore, it is necessary to be clear what is meant by
‘religion.’ Additionally, consider that religion and the role or function of
religion are distinct. Functions are assigned and there can be no unique
function. However, ultimate truth is one function and religion and myth adopt a
number of non-literal techniques to orient individuals to the ultimate truth
whose apprehension has been thought to be difficult or impossible in literal
e.g. scientific or metaphysical terms. In the present essay a literal approach
where logic and intuition meet has been discovered
and developed. Although I have found this approach to be useful in apprehending
the ultimate, it is not clear that it would be found useful by persons of all
inclinations. (B) There are good non-literal interpretations of religious
belief, and though these may be useful they are not necessary (as just noted.)
(C) It appears likely that the elimination of religion is unlikely even in its
‘sub-optimal’ though not abusive forms, and, therefore, there is value to
improving the understanding of the nature and function of religious belief so that
its conflict with reason can be resolved. This, too, has been done in the
present essay, first by attaching significance to the literal interpretation –
even if not literally true they point to the incompleteness of common and
scientific understanding of ‘fundamental mysteries’ and point understanding in
right directions. Thus, clearly, the common understanding of death cannot be
said to be valid; the resurrection points to a better understanding without
specifying what it may be and, at least, shows the nature of death to be an
important mystery rather than the non-issue that the ‘practical minded’ often
find it to be. Secondly, the Theory of Being developed in this essay finds many
literal interpretations to be improbable rather than absurd
Literal
or Material Interpretations
Cosmological System; or phase-epoch or coherent
domain of the universe
Normality and Necessity
Creation, recurrence, karma, annihilation Note
that this and the remaining topics are repeated, here, from ‘Two Divides’ with
additional detail
…if the concept of a creator requires it to be distinct from the creation, the
universe cannot have a creator
Being that is the Span of All Being… or of some
inclusive range of being
Chain of Being: God, …, Individual Soul, Element
of Being
God
Concept: Higher Power… ‘higher’ does not imply remoteness. Replace
‘Higher Power,’ simply, by ‘Power’ or ‘The Power of Being?’ Does this negate
the connotations that give ‘God’ its significances? The response is, perhaps,
that the essential significances are retained and the ‘erroneous’ ones sieved
out. Names: YHWH, Brahman…
Attributes of power: defined by the elements of intuition – the axes and
categories, e.g. experience including reflection attitude
including perception, feeling and thought, action including creative and
destructive power and guidance… (when the elements are rationalized, the
attributes may be revised.) Degree of power: omnipotence vs. power,
omniscience vs. knowledge
Location in extension and duration: immanent vs. remote e.g. diffuse vs.
remote in space, remote vs. continuous creation. Extent – local vs.
universal; and implications in light of the location of local, coherent or
normal cosmologies in the one universe for the concept, attributes and degree
of power
Kinds of argument for the existence and nature of God. A priori
arguments, e.g., the ontological proof regarding the most perfect or real
being. Empirical arguments, e.g., the argument from design. Causal
arguments, e.g., argument from design. Criticisms. The present a priori and synthetic
argument from the Theory of Being; the fluidity and multiplicity of the
concept and nature of God and the arguments
Articles of Faith
Limits; Miracles; Magic
Non-Literal
Interpretations of Myth, Faith and Religion and the Articles of Faith
Classifications
or Typologies of Myth, Faith and Religion
What has been learned on The Nature of Being This section was ‘Being II: The Nature of Being’
The
Journey as a Whole… the Character Common to Every Being
Being as a Whole
Human or Animal Being… as Central to Our Journey… and as an
Example
Any Being
JOURNEY IN BEING
Introduction Or Introductory comments
Purpose of the Section
Intrinsic
Purposes
Illustration of Being as Becoming or Journey
Three Journeys; Narrative
…and Development of the Journey
The Understanding of All Being
An Essential Account of the Cumulative Understanding From
Human Culture and Animal Being with an Evaluation Based in the Theory of Being
–inclusive of metaphysics, logic, cosmology and theory of knowledge– and its
support in the disciplines and history of action
A Narrative of Transformation
Applied
Purposes
Mutual Review of the Foundation and the Traditions
Background:
History of Knowledge and Exploration
Background Given the previous section on background, is this section
necessary?
Unity
in Understanding:
Metaphysics and the Journey in Being
Metaphysics… Metaphysics as the
investigation whose only limits (subject and method or approach) are necessary
limits. Completeness of the metaphysics and system of problems of metaphysics;
analysis of completeness
Philosophy…
Rediscovery of philosophy i.e. recovery of philosophy
from the ailment of mere analysis and the shadows of science. Philosophy and
metaphysics are identical in their outer limits; the ‘local’ concerns of
philosophy
Metaphysics, Philosophy and the Journey in Being
Catalog of Fundamental
Problems Should this be here? Yes, at least to refer to
the Level I section, ‘The Fundamental Problems,’ below
Journey
to the Ultimate: Transformation of Being
Background Given
the earlier section on background, is this section necessary?
Realization
Dynamics of Transformation Based in dynamics of being which has been subsumed by logic
The
Journey Continues…
THE
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS CONTAINS ISSUES
OR PROBLEMS RESOLVED – OF BEING AND OF KNOWLEDGE INCLUDING METAPHYSICS OR
THEORY OF BEING – AND A PROGRAM OF STUDY
Problems
of Being and Knowledge Resolved or Illuminated
Problems of Being The intent is to address all significant issues of Being including
Human Being. Includes individual and
social –especially political– concerns
Problems of Knowledge The intent is to define and address all fundamental aspects
of learning (fundamental is defined relative to the interests of the Journey.)
Includes disciplines from sciences and humanities. Focus on philosophy –
metaphysics, cosmology, logic, theory of knowledge, and ethics – with a special
concern for the classical problems of metaphysics
Program
of Study, Conceptual and Experimental Investigation
Status
and Future of the Essay
LEXICON
OR GLOSSARY. WHILE THE INDEX
CONTAINS A DETAILED LIST OF TERMS, HERE ARE INCLUDED ONLY THE ESSENTIAL
CONCEPTS FOR THE JOURNEY IN BEING AND THEORY OF BEING. LOGICAL AND ALPHABETIC
ARRANGEMENTS ARE GIVEN BUT THE EXPLANATIONS OF THE CONCEPTS ARE PROVIDED WITH
THE ALPHABETIC ARRANGEMENT. THIS ORGANIZATION OPTIMALLY FACILITATES REFERENCE –
CASUAL AND IN DEPTH REFERENCE
SOURCES AND INFLUENCES SOURCES ARE THE DETAILED NARRATIVES OF WHICH THIS ESSAY IS
A SUMMARY WITH CONCEPTUAL REVISION AND SYNTHESIS. THE INFLUENCES INCLUDE
THINKERS AND THE CULTURAL MILIEU, A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE INFLUENCE
(RECONSTRUCTION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE DIFFUSE NATURE OF THE INFLUENCES,)
AND (THIS IS NEW TO THE PRESENT REVISION) SOME KEY TEXTS
INDEX