Philosophical Speculations

WOW! What a wonderful reading of "Tyger" -- THX

Under idealism Consciousness is the ontological primitive. The activity of this fundamental, irreducible Consciousness, i.e. its 'mentation'/'ideation', is its ontological imperative ~ as inextricable as formlessness><form. I'd suggest that any reasoning is a function of it being meta-conscious Did...

Under idealism Consciousness is the ontological primitive. The activity of this fundamental, irreducible Consciousness, i.e. its 'mentation'/'ideation', is its ontological imperative ~ as inextricable as formlessness><form. I'd suggest that any reasoning is a function of it being meta-conscious. Pr...

Under idealism Consciousness is the ontological primitive. The activity of this fundamental, irreducible Consciousness, i.e. its 'mentation'/'ideation', is its ontological imperative ~ as inextricable as formlessness><form. I'd suggest that any reasoning is a function of it being meta-conscious Did...

MaartenV wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 7:59 pm advaita vedanta talks about pure awareness, without any thought. That's the real you.

I agree!

The question, however, is whether a 'Western Non-dualism' or 'rational spiritualism' is possible.

Nothing can be without consciousness, including ideas, which is the point of the idea of idealism. Can consciousness be without mentation? Can reason be without thinking? It is a metaphysical position expressed in language, in that sense no. But perhaps that was not what you were really asking? I d...

That's the question.

Yeah, Dana. It's a gift. VIVA!

Dana, Thank you for sharing your personal story. It's a gift. I've never had such a dramatic break as yours but I've come frighteningly close. Yet, by some Grace beyond my comprehension or seeming merit, the healing space arrived and I took the opportunity offered, sometimes via step-by-step, someti...

David,

With regard to your text, truly practical solutions are local, which is why I so admire the views of Wendell Berry who I often cite. And, sure, to ignore the precautionary principle at the scale of a predatory species and culture inevitably leads to an initiatory apocalypse or baptism by fire.