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a cache of usenet and other text files pertaining
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To: alt.magick.tyagi From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (mordred) Subject: Philosophy, Eastern and Western Date: 31 Jan 1995 22:41:18 -0800 As Nagarjuna showed and many other Eastern AND Western philosophers have supported, language is an inherently dual structure. Meaning comes of contrast and comparison. Unity cannot be expressed with dual-natured tools. Entire idea-systems about unity may be composed out of these terms, but the underlying duality of the basic building blocks remains. Even the term 'unity' falls short of what is meant here. Translations like 'nonduality' have improved the situation, but still we must settle for a dualistic term (as all terms are) to represent that which transcends dualism. The BEST goal for philosophy (not necessarily the one which all those who call themselves 'Philosophers' accept) is to contrast contradictory, mutually exclusive thought-systems - paradigms - so as to gain a full understanding of each and transcend them both in thought, leaving language behind as the ladder for such an enterprise. An example can be seen when explaining how light behaves like waves. Then we consider how light behaves like particles. Contemplating and contrasting these we understand, beyond the language, more about what light IS. Then we can go back to further experiment, hypothesis, analysis, synthesis, philosophy, etc., etc. The order of language is different than the order of reality. I assert that Religion and Science describe the subjective and objective perspectives of human experience fairly well. Science compares and contrasts a multitude of human perspectives on EXTERIOR sensation and forms a consensus. Religion compares and contrasts expressions of a multitude of human perspectives in INTERIOR experiences and establishes a ground from which to relate (i.e. religion is NOT concensus-based and thus 'organized religion' cannot serve an objective truth-revealing function). Philosophy is a process whereby these two perspectives can be compared and contrasted. The goal is to perfect ALL perspectives in contrast with ideals about each and to see not only where the boundaries of each lie, but how the experience-based areas intersect (in the case of Religion and Science these cross-over fields include psychology, mysticism and the occult). With regard to 'truths', Science establishes objective truths, which remain, for all intents and purposes, speculations on probability (to a high degree and therefore may be considered in the category of 'fact'). Religion exposes subjective truths which, like in Science, must be tested in case their conditions of veracity have changed (due to psycho-social evolution). Philosophy (as I've defined it) may NEVER establish truths on its own. This is because 'Philosophy ON ITS OWN' does not mean anything. It is like considering yoga without the people doing it. Philosophy is a process of bringing truths to fruit WITHIN THE PERSPECTIVES WHICH IT IS APPLIED. The first step is to evaluate a position for logic and clarity. The second step is to compare and contrast this position against its equally evaluated opposition. The third is to re-evaluate both based on this contrast. The fourth is to draw out truths that are contained within BOTH perspectives which seem consistent. The fifth step is to draw out individual truths (which are of lesser value) from each position after the comparison. The sixth step is to restructure both, taking into account parallels, patterns, and correlations between the opposed positions. The last step is to begin the process again once the two opposed perspectives have been reconstructed with the new information obtained. In short, armed with numerous battlefield perspectives we assume a superior position. Our comprehension increases and our advantage on the field is magnified by our vision. Philosophy is a process whereby we may come to know MANY perspectives (sometimes in apparent contradiction) and, given a careful reconciliation of these, we can come to know greater truths than may be expressed in mere words. tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com __________________________ "I went in to the body shop. I said to the guy, 'I want stereo FM installed in my teeth, and take this mole off my back, and put it on my cheek, and while I'm here, why don't you give me some of those high-heeled feet?' And he said 'Please! There's no guarantees. Nature's got rules and Nature's got laws, and if you cross Her look out for the monkey's paw!!... She's saying 'Give me five!', she's saying 'Bye bye!'" Laurie Anderson
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