[MD] Through a glass darkly

[Ham Priday]

Hi Mark --


> My statement of "center of the universe" was rhetorical.  The universe
> is expanding in equal rates away from us in all directions.  This would
> put the edge of the universe at equal distances in all directions.  Thus,
> "technically" we are at the center of the universe. Now if you want to
> bring in more dimensions to state that this is not the case, be my guest,
> but if so you would just be guessing, or making things up.
>
> For the latest microwave map of the universe, please visit:
> http://wmap.gsfc.nasa.gov/

I reviewed the link you provided, but saw no evidence in Nasa's WMAP writeup 
to support your assertion that "we are at the center of the universe."  Not 
that it makes any difference but, so far as we know, the universe has no 
boundary.  If the universe is expanding at equal rates in all directions, 
then any point in the universe would qualify as "the center" by the geometry 
of an expanding field.

> I stick by my premise that we cannot create quality or value, only
> interpret it.  The brain is part of the universe and cannot be made
> distinct or the source of value.  What happens in our heads is exactly
> the same as what is happening in the universe at large.  Nothing
> special except that we inhabit it, sorry.

No need to apologize, Mark, as we are basically in agreement.  I have never 
claimed that we "create" Value, yet you continue to charge me with this 
assertion.  What I have said is that Value is the sensible realization of 
something greater than ourselves -- call it Being, Magnificence, 
Intelligence, Beauty, Excellence, Goodness, or Quality.  I believe our 
sensibility ultimately relates to the Absolute Source, which I call Essence.

You say "what happens in our heads is what is happening in the universe at 
large."  I see no need for this redundancy.  The "universe at large" IS the 
universe experienced, whether in our heads, our hands, or our sensory 
organs.  The world of appearances is our proprietary construct of 
value-sensibility.

What has you confused is my epistemology; namely, that we differentiate 
essential Value into degrees or units, ranging from the lowest or poorest to 
the highest or greatest, from which we experientially "construct" the 
properties and attributes of our reality.  Think of the prism's conversion 
of white light into the color spectrum.  I use the term "construct" 
advisedly, so as not to imply that we create Value.  What we do create 
("actualize") from differentiated value is the appearance of finite 
relational entities that we call the objects of our experience.  This 
"self-created appearance" is our being in a differentiated world that 
represents our individual values, both good and bad.

> But, you know my position on this.  For me it is a sense of freedom
> and unity more than anything.  That is what is special.
>
> For the most part, I am in agreement with your ontology.

I am with you on individual Freedom.  However, Freedom and Unity are 
non-compatible values.  Nature (the evolving universe) as a unity is locked 
into the teleology of its creator.  Essence is perfect unity in itself for 
which freedom is meaningless.  Only an individual agent is free to choose 
and pursue his own values.  Man is the choicemaker of the world.

And THAT is what is special!

Essentially yours,
Ham