Feedback From One of My Readers on My Latest Kant Essay
So, Kant and his work, obviously provided a lot of
> inspiration for other philosophers.
> The apparent conflict in the study of knowledge... In a
> way, this is where the dialectic would/could have begun?
> You give very good examples. Glass half full/empty
> perspective, gymnasts, steroids etc.
>
> There is a lot to think about even just in this brief intro
> to Kant's philosophy's - it's huge.
> One thought/approach can easily undo the opposite
> thought/approach, but it can also compliment it - funny.
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My Reply:
Thanks for the feedback,
You are mainly right on several of your comments.
Firstly, Kant did indeed seem to open up the 'dialectical doors' for Hegel to later push through, and elaborate on, with a gusto...
And yes, secondly, Kant inspired a lot of later philosophers -- Fichte, Hegel, and Schopenhauer to name just a few...
Thirdly, your 'One thought/approach can easily undo the opposite
thought/approach, but it can also compliment it - funny' is part of the essence of dialectic philosophy -- as well as life, love, lust, nature, biology, physics, medicine, psychology, philosophy, economics, politics, law, art, religion, science, etc...It can lead to the 'love/hate' phenomenon of falling in love, then falling out of love. It is often what we initially 'most love' about a person that we later come to 'most resent and/or hate'.
But there is still more to dialectic philosophy than all of this...and a part that I will proceed to develop in the next few papers about 'idols'...
Specifically, there is self-contradiction and the seeds of both self-discontent and self-destruction inherent in even one idea, one theory, one attitude, one characteristic, one line of behavior -- standing all by itself. Indeed, it is this self-contradiction that sets up the 'necessity' of the opposing idea, perspective, theory, philosophy, attitude, characteristic, behavior, polarity, etc. as a 'part of the homeostatic balancing process of life'.
Thus, we are all guilty of 'idol worshipping' to one extent or another, and to one domain, and/or another. We can also call these 'fixations', 'obssessive-compulsions', 'extreme polarity swings' and/or 'addictions'. Thus, the beginning of my essays on the relationship between...Gods, Archetypes, Myths, Self-Energy-Centres, Idols...and The Hegelian Philosophy of Self-Contradiction.
For example, building on a perspective started by Sir Francis Bacon called 'The Four Idols' and both updated and extended by me...We have now 'The 16 Idols of DGB Philosophy:
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The Sixteen Idols of DGB Philosophy
1. Idols of The Tribe or The Crowd: Don't get caught up and lost in the ideas and behaviors of the crowd or the 'herd' as Nietcsche would put it;
2. Idols of The Cave: Don't get caught up and lost within yourself. If or when you do, come back out of yourself, and reach out to a person and/or people;
3. Idols of The Sky (The Greek God, Uranus): Come back to earth young man or woman, come back to earth and re-gound yourself;
4. Idols of The Earth (in Greek mythology, the godesses Gaea): Take a risk young man or woman, take a risk! Fly high into the sky and see how high you can soar;
5. Idols of The Theatre, The Magician, or The Sophist: Don't be fooled by others using sophistry, illusion, smoke and mirrors; and similarily, don't fool others using sophistry, illusion, smoke and mirrors. Be congruent, be honest, be yourself;
6. Idols of Zeus (Authority, Power, Title): Don't be fooled by, or fool others, using a mantle of exploitive authority, power, and/or title;
7. Idols of The Word: Don't be fooled or fool others using a web of words that don't mean what they claim to mean, or you claim them to mean;
8. Idols of Apollo: Don't spend your whole life following the God of Righteousness -- i.e., Apollo -- because it will create for you a one-sided life;
9. Idols of Dionysus: Don't get lost in the pursuit of hedonism, narcissism, pleasure, sex, alcohol, drugs, gambling, partying, the fast life;
10. Idols of Aphrodite: Don't get lost in -- or consumed by -- love. It will throw everything else in your life out of balance and leave you weak and vulnerable to loss, betrayal, abandonment, rejection -- except perhaps to only the person or people you most trust, and even this is dangerous, because things can change, people can change;
11. Idols of War (The Greek God, Aries): Don't get caught up in -- and consumed by war;
12. Idols of Hades (God of The Underworld): Don't get caught up and lost in illicit and/or illegal activities. It will bring on your self-destruction;
13. Idols of Speed (The Greek God, Hermes): Don't get caught up in, and consumed by speed. Live in the fast lane, die in the fast lane.
14. Idols of Athena (Goddess of Patriotism): Patriotism can be a dangerous thing if you get too caught up, and consumed by it;
15. Idols of Hera (Goddess and Protector of Marriage): Marriage can be a beautiful thing but it can also be a strifeful thing. Don't completely lose yourself -- and die -- in marriage.
16. Idols of Narcissus (God of Self-Idolation): Don't become so absorbed in yourself that you can't see the people around you and their own trials and tribulations. In the myth of Narcissus, Narcissus looked into a pool of water, saw his reflection, and fell in love with himself. Be sensitive to the needs, want, feelings, thoughts, and problems of others.
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dave
