|
1.2 Existence Itself: MetaphysicsVersion 1.3 July 2016                                   (Previous Version) These are the questions we ask in the introduction (Section 0.1.6 – paragraph 2): What is real? Is it all a dream? Are we all a figment of God’s imagination? Are there separate physical and spiritual worlds? Is there a world of ideas or minds, separate from the natural world? Is there no ‘out there’ out there? If there is, can we ever know what it is really like? Do our perceptions have any link to reality? Do we impose these categories like time and space on reality or are they real? Is the world of mass/energy all that exists? Do words actually mean anything? Is a psychedelic experience more real than ‘ordinary’ experience? Can we have a direct experience of a divine reality? This chapter covers metaphysics (what is really real), and the philosophy of language (the links between words, their meaning and reality). Metaphysics is extremely complicated, there are no certainties, and the words used often obscure. But we discuss metaphysics in just enough detail so that we can work out reasonable global beliefs and value that affect our everyday life. There is a risk of overlap between this Chapter on Metaphysics, Chapter 1.3 on Theology and Chapter 1.4 on the Mind-Body problem.  This chapter focusses on what is really real and tries to leave the supernatural and mind-body problems to the following chapters. We look at how we know what we know under the following topic headings:
This is the current summary of our conclusions in this area: The universe could be all one, unchanging, or impermanent; but we classify it into events in time and space, separating our internal mental events from external reality, assigning links between events, and we use language to think and talk about them; but for some experiences words fail and we can revel in the mystery.  more                                                             Statement 2 We value a shared idea of a natural, public reality. Despite uncertainty, cultural differences, social constructs and subjectivity, it is the basis for our communications.  Our analysis leads us to extend the meaning of valuing diversity, because reasonable people can partition the world differently.
Members can tell us (publicly) what they think of this page. How can we improve it? Enter your comments.
* * * * * * *
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
English (English)
Español (Spanish)
Français (French)
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of Country, throughout all colonised lands, and their connections to land, waters and community. We pay respect by giving voice to truth, values and social justice, acknowledging our shared history, and valuing the cultures of first nations peoples.
Copyright © 2008 - 2026 Trevor J Rogers, care of the address shown on this page. All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the copyright owner. Any approved reproduction is permitted only with full attribution of the source, referring to this site and this copyright notice. The moral right of the author is asserted.
Top