Fundamental Questions


(1.1) Any philosophical dialogue is undermined by the language used in its conduct. What one takes a word to mean is not necessarily what someone else takes the same word to mean. This is further complicated by the various languages for we can only suppose that a word in, say, the German language has an exact equivalent with the same meaning as a word in, say, the English language, and vice versa. As such, is impossible to fully communicate a personal philosophy to another. One can only hope for a partial success in attempting to do so.

(1.2) The root problem of philosophy is the definition of is, what is is, and conversely, what is isn't and what isn't is. We often use the word reality to mean what is is. But what does the word reality mean to each person who utters it or thinks it? Given the shortcomings of language in communicating meaning, how could we possibly know with certainty? Indeed, each person having had a uniquely personal journey through life most certainly has had a uniquely different experience with reality, whatever it might be. Is everyone's experience with reality the same?

(1.3) The big question of philosophy is what is might be. Is is universal or does is exists in more than one form or entity? And should multiples forms exist, what is the relationship, if any, between them? Indeed, philosophers have continuously argued, for example, over a mind-matter duality. Do spiritual gods and ghosts and souls exist as entities separate from our material body and mind?

(1.4) The question also arises of whether reality exists only in the mind of living things with a brains. If so, what is reality to a rock? Is a rock still an is even if it has none of the physicality of a brain with which to be conscious of its being an entity of is? Or, indeed, does the reality of the rock itself exist only in our living brain.

(1.5) Some theoretical physicists posit that reality does not exist at all. This philosophy will not argue that point and posits only that at least an illusion of reality as perceived by humans, whatever it may or may not be, does exist.

(1.6) The whole of reality is thereby held in this philosophy to be composed of the humanly knowable whether presently known or yet unknown, of the all aspects is that is humanly unknowable, and, in the case of humans, of false knowledge held in mind and memory as imagined knowable and unknowable. Indeed, these perceptions of reality as expressed in the mind in the form of consciousness is the only reality we can ever humanly know with absolute certainty.

Should different entities experience different realities then the reality experienced by humans is the only reality for we can hope to have knowledge. That is, the reality of this philosophy is a uniquely humanistic reality, held to the exclusion of all other possible forms of reality. We can know only what we can know and all else is outside the purview of human existence. We can only coexist with any realities we cannot know and can only know of any shadows they may cast on the cave wall of what we, as humans, can know. All else is folly.

Summation

(1) The whole of reality may be beyond human experience and cognition.


Fundamental Questions