Quote:
Originally Posted by Aedes  The very problem with metaphysics is, as you say, that it is self-proving, which means that its coherence entirely depends on the language used to portray it -- because it doesn't consist in anything else. And this is what the modern philosophers have argued -- that pure metaphysical arguments don't have any verifiable information content whatsoever, and from what I understand if you use symbolic logic instead of words you take the air out of metaphysics. Videcorspoon can elaborate on this, perhaps.
I don't think the example you've given is actually metaphysical at all. You've described two completely physical phenomena -- one is the orderliness of someone's room, and the other is the physical and biological process of his meditation. Say you demonstrate that this phenomenon is true in a huge study, thus making it an extremely scientifically sound association (as opposed to a single individual's experience). The only part about this that is available to metaphysical speculation is the explanation for this association -- but that's only because your study has not yet answered why and how (mechanistically) this meditation changes behavior. But that's certainly open to scientific inquiry as well -- for instance it might be easily proved that meditation is associated with a higher stress response to more trivial messes, and this might be measurable and quantifiable. |
Metaphysics is 'self proving'. It (metaphysics) provides an alternative method of connecting the dots.
Perhaps a question for a 'novice metaphysician' is: "If once you were God, then how in hell did you wind up on 'death row'?
Metaphysics is NOT about scientific inquiry, although it has a methodology of 'going within'. Metaphysics operates within a different cause and effect cosmology ('the hidden'). Science is about reproducable and universal results. Metaphysics is about manifesting 'personal results'. Science is about 'going without' (outside of the 'self') and metaphysics is all about 'going within' and, eventually, getting into 'the control room'..... the creative source.
Science studies the 'reflections' and metaphysics examines 'the mirror'.
Even Plato said that 'true causes' emanate from an altogether different level (plane) of 'reality'. (See, Plato's "The Allegory of the Cave").
>>>>> Science, in a way, is like having our two-dimensional screen-name trying to comprehend its 4 dimensional creator (us). <<<<<
The screen name simply cannot comprehend its 4 dimensional creator in any way other than 2 dimensionally. As such, the screen-name has an incomplete picture of its creator.
Metaphysics does not attempt to 'convince' or to prove anything for mass-consumption. It (Metaphysics) is based upon the belief that we have access to powers that seem (relative) 'supernatural'.
The 'problem' (for non-metaphysicians) with this is that in order to access the 'hidden powers' the metaphysician must 'deconstruct' the 'self' and the ego.... to 'free up' power.
Religions atempt to do this but offer no genuine and rational 'reason' for 'why'. Metaphysics, at least, provides some 'reasonable' explanation.
And most certainly I can agree that the metaphysical approach, initially, seems ridiculous. But it is our rational faculties that tell us about the 'ridiculousness'... the same rational faculties that 'diss' the miraculous.
The examples that I gave (earlier post) are, in fact, 'metaphysical'. Some minds require a rational explanation. Metaphysics is not concerned about 'how it works' but rather is concerned about 'how to work it'.
The key is thought combined with belief and personal experimentation.
Some additional comments:
Re: "verifiable information content is lacking for metaphysics".
comment..... Absence of 'proof' proves nothing.
Here is the fundamental premise of metaphysics:
Metaphysics believes that there is a major difference between 'container' (The human form/body) and 'consciousness' (the 'contents' of the human body).
Suspend (for just a moment) disbelief and imagine this (a metaphysical exercise) context. You have a big 'ah ha' and realize (gnosis) that your consciousness is not an 'emergent characteristic' of biology but is an entity unto itself (science cannot disprove this). In fact you realize that your consciousness is what 'religion' refers to as a 'soul'.
This (above) is what metaphysicians realize. This conclusion (consciousness as soul) can neither, as yet, be proven nor disproven.
The consciousness/soul has (unlike the physical body) an eternal shelf life. (See, Plato's 'mandate to return' in the "Allegory of the Cave").
Accepting this (above) as true, the metaphysician is interested in testing the powers of 'the soul'. In fact, the metaphysician ceases to identify with the body and identifies (ever increasingly) with the consciousness/soul (spirit?). Plato knew this, in fact, many of Plato's fundamental philosophies are included (although veiled) in the Christian New Testament.
Also, the metaphysician sees the physical body as an extension (a projection) of consciousness itself, but the extension does not stop at the fingertips. The extension of self can go into infinity.
The spiritual metaphor is the drop merging with the ocean of being. This is not a 'new age stuffage' but an ancient axiom.
Once the metaphysician recognizes that the outer 'reality' is a mirror of self (what is it that 'needs blood' [physical body] and cannot see its reflection in the 'mirror' of reality?) the metaphysicain then realizes that to change 'reality' he or she needs only to change their mind and the 'change' eventually 'shows up' in the 3D reality.
This metaphysical stuff makes no sense (or very little), whatsoever, to anyone whose consciousness is still 'welded' to the body and both consciousness and body are experienced as a unity.
Before metaphysics begins to make genuine sense, one must accept the idea that consciousness is NOT an emergent characteristic of biology and that 'consciousness' is temporarily contained in the body.
So, of course there is much metaphysical nonsense, so too in science and religion and all else. Nevertheless, any scathing criticism of metaphysics is doubtlessly created by 'the dead'. By 'the dead' it is meant those whose consciousness has been devoured by its animal form to the point that the consciousness succumbs (Lemmings marching to the sea) to what seems to be its certain and eventual death.
Metaphysics, some philosophy (i.e., Plato), and religions (generally) address the issue of correcting the conundrum of the captivated (crucified upon matter) consciousness.
This explanation covers only the basics. Metaphysicians do not proselytize (like religions do), in fact it is a metaphysical precept that 'silence accelerates one along the path to further gnosis'.
For additional information see (if possible), The Secret Teachings of Freemasonry, The higher teachings of Scientology, The Golden Dawn, Knights Templar, Esoteric Christianity, The mystical teachings of the Kabala or any 'secret society'.
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