[MD] Philosophy and Philosophology

[Joseph Maurer]

On 8/8/09 3:26 PM, "Ham Priday" <hampday1 at verizon.net> wrote:

Where is the "despair" in my description of the "world of appearances"?
(That term is Hegel's, not mine, by the way.) Is it the fact that
experience is constantly changing?  Or is it that we can't have access to
absolute truth?
 
I know it's possible to divide existence into any number of levels, but how
does this enhance our understanding? Existence is neither "ignorant" nor
"informed", whether we conceptualize it as a hierarchy or a unity.
Crediting existence with "discrimination" eludes my comprehension.  Man is
the discriminating agent of the universe. It is man who distinguishes the
good from the bad, the beautiful from the ugly, the magnificent from the
common, and all the values in between.
 
If you are not "at peace" with your value-sensibility as it is, perhaps a
little nurturing of that sensibility will change your values and bring you
more contentment.
 
Cheers,
Ham
 
Hi Ham and all,

A level that exists differently is a different level.   Existence is not
arbitrary!   I am unsure what you mean by ³absolute truth² ?   I feel
comfortable is stating that I am absolutely finite today.

The despair and sadness come from your identifying space/time as only
appearance.  They are the foundations of my knowledge, and it seems in your
view that along with all who accept the reality of space and time that I am
unstable.

I will try to still my fears

It gives me joy to read you stating that the existence of space and time can
be divided into any number of levels.   I do not know how you become so
profligate!  The pendulum swing from space/time not being real to space/time
can be divided into any number of levels makes me think you have your tongue
in your cheek.

Of course, I am not ³at peace² with my value sensibility.  I am old, I have
lost much!  There is still much I will never experience, and I am not sure
my value sensibility is truly mine or if I inherited it or learned from
another.  As for ³more contentment² I can only hope.

Joe

> Where is the "despair" in my description of the "world of appearances"?
> (That term is Hegel's, not mine, by the way.)  Is it the fact that
> experience is constantly changing?  Or is it that we can't have access to
> absolute truth?
> 
> I know it's possible to divide existence into any number of levels, but how
> does this enhance our understanding?  Existence is neither "ignorant" nor
> "informed", whether we conceptualize it as a hierarchy or a unity.
> Crediting existence with "discrimination" eludes my comprehension.  Man is
> the discriminating agent of the universe.  It is man who distinguishes the
> good from the bad, the beautiful from the ugly, the magnificent from the
> common, and all the values in between.
> 
> If you are not "at peace" with your value-sensibility as it is, perhaps a
> little nurturing of that sensibility will change your values and bring you
> more contentment.
> 
> Cheers,
> Ham