Metaphysics

Though the term is defined here, metaphysics began with the chapter on being. We introduce possibility and discuss the ultimate before taking up the concept of metaphysics.

The system of metaphysics

Levels of metaphysical knowledge

Two levels may be identified (the sub-levels are tentative)

The ultimate universe (in abstraction, known perfectly on traditional criteria).
Object—being (fact, pattern).
Law—sound argument.

Form—eternal symmetry (its algebra) and asymmetry.

Formation—saltation.

Worlds or (known imperfectly on traditional criteria but perfectly on axiological criteria.
Object—beings.
Law—general argument.

Formation—incremental trajectories through near stable, near symmetric states.

Form—laws of nature (as-if matter – life – mind) and social structure.

The perfect and ultimate which frames the imperfect and the pragmatic and, which, conceptually distinguishes only existence vs nonexistence, which, objectively, was found to be a non-distinction. This level does not distinguish the lettered sub-levels.

Form – eternal symmetry and its logic vs transient asymmetry.

Formation – in increasing probability, from saltation to incremental trajectories through near stable, near symmetric states.

Though worlds with high level awareness may be less probable, they constitute (i) the numerical bulk and (ii) effectively all of worlds that are both known and knowing.

The imperfect and pragmatic and within the pragmatic—knowledge of a cosmos

Origins of the cosmos.

Nature (matter, life, mind) and society – fact and pattern (law) and their relative nature.

Value

Axiology and the concept of value

Ethics

Aesthetics

Dimensions and paradigms of being

An approximation – in other documents elements are dimensions and means are paradigms.

The concepts of dimension and paradigm

Dimensions are related to the concept of metaphysical categories. The received conception of a system of metaphysical categories is that of a complete list of the highest kinds (genera), at the level of being itself and just below (sometimes omitting the highest), of (i) beginning with Aristotle, the real or, (ii) due to doubts that the real-itself is knowable, since, Kant conceptions of the real, which, with Kant, was about phenomena and, so, about the best knowledge of the real.

Temporary section for issues to be addressed

How to make systematic

More than just classification – explanation and prediction as well (a) generally and (b) for use in realization

Transcend subject-object (if and as far as possible)

Hence the preliminary study of experience – (i) its joint ontology with being (ii) its classification and, especially function,

Get paradigms and means right, so as to get pathways right

Incorporate paradigms and means from enlightened pathways, so as to have (i) consistency (ii) readiness for use

Incorporate the levels of metaphysical knowledge, above

The kinds

Fact vs pattern—noting that fact vs pattern is, at least in abstraction, both experienced and real, ask about what is real, i.e., is the real (i) the object (ii) the subject or (iii) the experiential universe populated by experiential beings.

Object vs value

Difference and sameness > identity, change, displacement (¿a property is something whose change is not one of identity?)

Modal cause (necessary, possible, numerical) vs ontological cause

Having implemented all this, make it simple.

Dimension

Related to categories, the dimensions, here so-called because they may be multi-dimensional over and above mere classification, are multi-level (i) perfectly known – being itself and just below being (iii) pragmatically known the level of worlds. The dimensions may include finer ‘sublevels’.

Though explanation and prediction may be a purpose to and implicit in the categories, a second reason for the difference in terminology is that dimensions are explicitly intended as explanatory and predictive of behavior.

Paradigm

Paradigms of behavior are explanatory and or predictive schemes or systems associated with a dimension or dimensions.

Means

When the aim is reasoned action, the ‘means’ will be used in place of or in supplement to ‘paradigm’.

Levels of dimension and paradigm

The levels correspond to the levels of metaphysical knowledge and are thus classed as pure vs pragmatic.

Experience

We have mentioned that experience is essential to being but its treatment was deferred so as to make the narrative development efficient.

Experience is introduced here because it is crucial to a complete classification of dimensions and paradigms.

Experience and being

Experience is awareness in all kinds and levels. Without it there is effectively no being. From limitlessness, experience extends to the root of being and the term effectively is superfluous.

Why experience

We are experiential beings

The universe is a field of experience

The main structure of experience

The structure of experience is the subjective (experience of’) related (in experience) to the objective (the experienced’, which is neutral to objectivity in the sense of being devoid of subjectivity). Though being is neutral to substance, this structure is as-if mind bound to as-if mind as-being-itself.

Elementary distinctions

State

Process

The structure of experience in detail

Relation—experience itself

See essence of the way.docm

Experience of experience and memory

Subject

Object

High-level structure of the universe (world)

Introduction

Beyond experience?

Extension, duration, and relation

Introduction

The most basic experience

Derivation of extension, duration, and cause

Consequences for dimensions and paradigms

The following dimensions and paradigms (means) of being (with process or becoming) have partial basis in the structure of experience.

The dimensions and paradigms

Introduction

As noted above two main levels of metaphysical knowledge, pure and pragmatic are recognized; some attention will be given to sub-levels. The distinction between the pure and the pragmatic is graded rather than sharp (see general argument or general logic) and so, the sub-levels are not emphasized.

The term ‘means’ is related to ‘paradigm’ when used toward action, particularly realization.

Pure

Dimension

Being itself, with experiential being (subject-experience-object) considered as a co-dimension of being

Experiential being itself (subject and object); experience may be considered a co-dimension of being.

Argument or general logic as paradigm

Means (paradigms)

Understanding, becoming, and being the real (yoga).

The real metaphysics (strictly, under ‘pure’ we would consider only the side of metaphysics that is establishment of necessary fact and necessary inference) and abstract sciences

Pragmatic

Subject aspects of experience (as-if mind)

Dimensions—elements of experience—feeling, emotion, perception, thought, intention, will, and action (which are all bound together in process and memory).

Means (paradigms)—metaphysics and meditation.

Object aspects of experience (as-if matter)

The term, ‘as-if object’ is better than ‘as-if matter’ because the mind (as-if) may be experienced.

Nature

Dimensions—as-if matter (with extension, duration, cause, complexity, life) and mind.

Means (paradigms)—natural sciences and technology and general paradigms derived from the sciences.

Society

Dimensions—individuals and groups – community and society.

Means (paradigms), emphasizing individuals—(i) ground – safety, security (finance, home – place and environs, community and relationships, social commitments, e.g., work roles; networking) (ii) living and deploying all (other) elements (dimensions and paradigms) of being.

Means (paradigms), emphasizing groups—sciences and institutions of groups, economics, politics, knowledge, exploration, art, and religion (religion with spirituality is understood as the entire being of individuals and groups employed in the realization of all and peak being); and paradigms derived from these sciences.

Synthesis—toward universal being

Dimensions—all above, especially of pure being (in universality, the object rises to the level of being as subject-object).

Means (paradigms)—all above, especially of pure being and exploration of being, via science and technology, in and beyond our cosmos.

Enlightened pathways

The detail in this section is in essence of the way.docm.

This chapter has useful redundancy.

Enlightenment

Background

Realization of the ultimate is given and desirable.

Path desiderata (path and program design)

Paths should be intelligent and effective. Issues may be addressed comprehensively via the elements of being (called ‘dimensions and paradigms of being’ in some accounts on the way of being site) and include—

Preliminary—on the desiderata

The following are incorporated to pathways, below.

Pathway elements – personal and universal (includes social etc); the path should reflect upon itself—iterative design of paths is part of the path;

Program design – the elements are selected so as to include design and planning.

The pure

The pure – experiential being itself, and its yoking (yoga) to universal being.

Physical action toward unity, yoga, immersion in nature and community,

Mental action toward unity – meditation, metaphysics (knowledge, generally).

The immediate (this world) and the ultimate (placed first to emphasize that being on a path is not to minimize the immediate).

Balance among the elements of individual experience

Balance shall mean synthesis into a harmonious whole via reflection and practice where ‘harmony’ is not bliss or even quieting of the negative but a synthesis of ideal harmony with working through reason, pleasure, and pain in and for the world on the way to the ultimate.

For an ideal conception of ‘balance’ see Baruch Spinoza (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy); his conception is primitive to mine and is dependent on world as this world, determinism, and substance theory.

The elements of individual experience—reason, emotion, value, intention, will, and action—or, in greater detail reason (perception, thought—imaginative and critical), emotion (with feeling, and enjoyment, especially pleasure and pain), value (e.g., ethics and aesthetics, which results from reason, emotion, and selection), intention (and from perception and thought via intention to fact and inference), will, and from will action (the integration of the subject aspect is in structure and process of organisms in interaction with their environment), in balance in healthy living—

The balance especially emphasizes emotion, thought, and action; the balance is a synthesis from limited freedom of the will for beings while in limited form—if there were no freedom of will, the aim would be ‘classical’ – to control our assessment of external objects of desire and so their hold on our positive and negative passions (Spinoza); but this is a limited view, for we do have some freedom and so we accept some appropriate pain in aiming at the ultimate here and beyond and a place where, in some manifestation, ‘we’ will have absolute freedom. From this, we consider—

Address of pleasure and pain—emphasizing pleasure in shared negotiation of the way; and address of pain by sharing – the able helping the less able, therapy, and particularly in not seeking to avoid all pain but in being on a path through rather than in avoidance of pain (which is counter to some views of enlightenment, e.g., as nirvana)

Received ways (and ‘leaders’) may contribute to the path but are neither authoritative nor final—paths and path paradigms are always under shared negotiation and discovery (of necessity and since every being and community finds an essence in discovery even if it is rediscovery). Particularly, enlightened pathways emphasize right attitude, speech, and action for and toward all being.

Balance between the pure and the pragmatic

Balance between the pure (universal) and pragmatic – lower level – dimensions of being, and among the pragmatic dimensions: natural, mental, communal, and spiritual aspects of being, and their integration in process (regarding ‘spirit’, an approach from being promotes the view that there is but one realm and what is called spirituality consists in seeing its entirety – spirituality is universality); note: though ‘lower’ these provide some paradigms for and ways to the universal,

The natural (i) attunement to nature at home (ii) seeking special natural places for immersion in the real and insight (‘Beyul’).

The mental is addressed above.

The communal includes (i) giving and receiving from community – relationships, work, and avocation (ii) social sciences developed and applied – sociology, politics, economics, knowledge development and transmission, history, engineering and technology for community and exploration (earth and space), philosophy of religion (as a source of the true nature of religion as going beyond the limits of culture).

The spiritual – universal – is addressed above (pervades all levels).

Pathways

The personal and the universal, below, merge; the distinctions are ones of emphasis.

The personal (beings)

Elements

Key elements from enlightenment, above.

Attitude – affirmation of the ultimate in the present; dedication to the way of being; discipline

Synthesis of emotion, thought, and action; balance of pleasure and pain on paths for, in, and from the immediate to the ultimate

Addressing blocks—

In the moment radar—Recognize (see), Accept and attend, Defuse (others’ intent is not relevant, Shamatha, exercise), Affirm (self and life), Return (to activity, especially the way)

Reflection—why we do not reach full potency and how to reach it (‘the roar of the tiger’)

Development (long term) march—Meditate on the issue, periodic Affirmation, Reduce Contact (persons, news), Health (diet, sleep, exercise, no alcohol)

Research (therapy and techniques, e.g., ‘anxiety’, ‘ptsd’; though there are many suggested ways to deal with blocks, it will take experience and time to find what works for any given person)

Planning and review (phases of the day, week, month, year – trips – journeys, life – death – and beyond)… and of the way—

Understanding and developing the way – reflection, study (reading), experience, writing, plans of action; sharing the way – in the moment and planned.

Living the way – realization – being – yoga, meditation (Shamatha or centering, Vipasana – seeing the real, e.g., as emptiness, analytic)

Community – giving and receiving – relationships, home, work, avocation, duty; networking.

Ground – regular and emerging – safety, security (health, finance), place (environment, community)

World and universal (above / below).

Routine

The above

Tasks – periodic and as needed

Meals

Exercise

Entertainment and pleasure

Sleep

Planning

Planning is implemented as in the program, below.

The universal (being)

Elements

Key elements are from enlightenment and the personal (beings), above.

Rationalize the following – should immersion not be placed with ‘mind’.

Mind – toward universal states of mind via meditation, immersion in nature and culture, intense activity.

Nature – extended travel in natural (‘wild’) environments as portal to the real (‘Beyul’), identity with plant and animal life.

The elements below are paste special from above.

Society

Social sciences developed and applied – sociology, politics, economics, knowledge development and transmission, history, engineering and technology for community and exploration (earth and space), philosophy of religion (as a source of the true nature of religion as going beyond the limits of culture).

Immersion in interaction with cultures.

An emphasis on technology for exploration of space (earth, universe) and mind (e.g., via artificial intelligence and its interaction with beings.

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Universe / universal – via the elements of mind, nature, society; understanding via real metaphysics; use of the received – see ‘Society’, just above; seeking transformation.

Planning

Planning is interactive between (i) the personal and (ii) the universal roughly in parallel. A sequence for the universal is—

Development of the way of being.

Executing the elements just above in rough parallel—

Mind

Nature and society

Universe / universal

Program

Defining the program

Planning (including review of planning above) is part of the program.

Execute the following according to a time or as needed schedule or both.

Here is a sample from the author’s daily routine.

Morning

Set attitude, affirmation of being, dedication to the way.

Plan and review planning.

Rise early, first things – meds, treatments, coffee in nature, open files and set alarms (home, with optional breakfast), chart the day (away).

The path

Developing the way.

Living the way – realization.

Community

World and universal.

Ground

Afternoon

Periodic and as needed tasks (day > life and death), early lunch.

Exercise – regular (two hours – walk or bike), excursion and exploration, photo essays.

Evening

Review plan for pm to life, chores, shower.

Activities – share, network, fluids and dinner.

Entertainment – at home or pm out.

Sleep early.

Resources

Link to template(s).

Summary

Does anything go here? If not, eliminate.