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RE: The Art Of Debate - Why it's okay to have a different opinion
All our petty tribalisms section us off from the political community. Each tribe is relegated to its own division but must force conformity there just to maintain the whisper of solidarity forestalling further breakdown into smaller and smaller sub-tribes. This is all because we do not know how to act in the public sphere, for which reason too we do not know to belong to a political community. And why do we not know how to act in the public sphere? Because we don't know why! And what is that why? Because we are human! What does that mean? Now we are entering the realm of metaphysics and should begin a discussion.
A question I ask myself most days, what does it mean to be human? I believe we've all forgotten what unites us. Instead focusing on that which pulls us apart. Perhaps this is not by accident, as it feels like this type of behaviour is encouraged within society. What do you think it means to be human?
I haven't worked this out yet. I know to be human is in one part environment and one part essence. But where the environment begins and a person ends is not a rigid boundary. Is it at the surface of your skin? Do we inhabit bodies as consciousness? It is unclear. But clearly, when we talk about what it means to be human we are talking about the human condition and human nature, because we implicitly accept that human beings are conditioned creatures and simultaneously capable of consciously shaping their conditioning. The will to create or initiate conditioning, essentially 'choice', is godlike, for what is a god but a creator of meaning, one who wills things into existence. The foundational philosophy of Western Civilization says as much: that men are made in the image of God. Yet human beings are mortal and must in their material existence obey the rule of Nature. So they are not supranatural as modern men like to think. If anything they are supernatural because they are more like union of the finite and infinite quality of the kosmos than even Nature or God. Why this matters, I don't fully understand. But it must somehow. This dualism has to be at the heart of what makes us human. How do you understand humanity?
I apologise for my delay in responding. Unfortunately Steemit does not afford us with the luxury of notifications yet! I believe you have articulated that rather wonderfully. Honing in upon your conditioning point, I agree. We certainly have the ability to consciously condition (create) ourselves. Be that through education, habit-building or life experience. However I would suggest that the majority of society today is conditioned unconsciously. We are shaped and moulded during our most malleable years by those who often do not have our own interests at heart. Be that at school, work, by parents or friends. I see people talk of 'waking up' or 'escaping the matrix'. I believe these are just analogies for finally becoming conscious and seeing how our perceptions have been shaped. I believe, once we become aware of this, we put ourselves in a position to pro-actively 'create' ourselves. This duality you speak of. It seems to be a fundamental teaching of some religions. Whether that be the two pillars of the Kabbalah, As Above So Below in Hermetics or the 'divine male and female'. I know these descriptions tend to fall within the realm of 'pseudo-science' or 'new age'. But I do believe there is perhaps something fundamental we can discover within esoteric teachings...... if approached with a critical mind. I studied one teaching that proposed the duality as the left and right brain hemisphere. Whether that holds any substance I'm not sure, but neuroscience is certainly opening doors to a deeper understanding. I'm also aware that in Alchemy, the Alchemists were not only practicing Science, but focusing on a development of consciousness. "Aurum nostrum non est Aurum Vulgi" - Translates as "Our gold is not a common gold". Suggesting it was not the physical lead into gold the alchemists desired. Instead within the mental/consciousness plane is where they sought their 'gold'. I don't believe Science and 'Religion' have to be opposites. Instead if approached correctly could form a symbiotic relationship revealing a deeper understanding of the human condition. Unfortunately Religion has such a terrible past and Science has become dogmatic, in many aspects similar to a Religion. What are your thoughts on this, do you believe Esoteric Teachings hold substance to them ?