Theological Science and Sense Certainty, I
In yesterday’s blog, Nicholas of Cusa tells us that we will always remain ignorant ab
out some things in this world. This is true because our sensual data and reasoning are limited by the symbolic languages we develop and use. For instance, as temperatures increase, we develop and use symbols such as cold, cool, warm, hot, ... etc. or symbols such as -10 degrees, 32 degrees, 212 degrees, ... etc. But, but we are not able to complete a set of all symbols.
In a similar manner, Plato said that we can go from ideas to higher ideas but cannot know the highest idea. Cusa’s thoughts expanded rapidly after the Eastern Christians gave a copy of Plato’s writings to him. Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Cantor, and many other thinkers knew about the incompleteness of symbols.
However, people in the field of physical science do not seem to understand the philosophy of symbolism. They also do not seem to be aware of the discovery of many linguists in the 1920s. These independent discoveries say that ‘sense data are primarily symbolic.’ (See "Philosophy in a New Key" by Susanne Langer)
On ‘sense certainty’, I refer to A. V. Miller’s translation of ‘Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit" at pages 58-67. Hegel says that the sense certainty of a ‘sensuous This’ cannot be reached by language (p. 66), which belongs to consciousness. He also says that sense certainty does not govern universal truths. Hegel says that sense certainly only wants to apprehend ‘the This.’ Apprehending ‘any This’ will require other kind of thoughts, beyond the sensual, by the mind.
The field of physics has developed perceptions about 'This'" and 'That' by finding symbols that represent the dimensions of the things they have perceived. They also found that these symbols relate to each other lawfully. However, these physical symbols cannot be completed. Thus, one can ask, "Why are physical scientists and logicians rejecting metaphysics and believe that the universe comes to an end?" Further, no such physical symbols and no such physical laws have ever been found in any life science. Thus, one can ask, "Why are life scientists following the physical scientists?
out some things in this world. This is true because our sensual data and reasoning are limited by the symbolic languages we develop and use. For instance, as temperatures increase, we develop and use symbols such as cold, cool, warm, hot, ... etc. or symbols such as -10 degrees, 32 degrees, 212 degrees, ... etc. But, but we are not able to complete a set of all symbols.In a similar manner, Plato said that we can go from ideas to higher ideas but cannot know the highest idea. Cusa’s thoughts expanded rapidly after the Eastern Christians gave a copy of Plato’s writings to him. Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Cantor, and many other thinkers knew about the incompleteness of symbols.
However, people in the field of physical science do not seem to understand the philosophy of symbolism. They also do not seem to be aware of the discovery of many linguists in the 1920s. These independent discoveries say that ‘sense data are primarily symbolic.’ (See "Philosophy in a New Key" by Susanne Langer)
On ‘sense certainty’, I refer to A. V. Miller’s translation of ‘Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit" at pages 58-67. Hegel says that the sense certainty of a ‘sensuous This’ cannot be reached by language (p. 66), which belongs to consciousness. He also says that sense certainty does not govern universal truths. Hegel says that sense certainly only wants to apprehend ‘the This.’ Apprehending ‘any This’ will require other kind of thoughts, beyond the sensual, by the mind.
The field of physics has developed perceptions about 'This'" and 'That' by finding symbols that represent the dimensions of the things they have perceived. They also found that these symbols relate to each other lawfully. However, these physical symbols cannot be completed. Thus, one can ask, "Why are physical scientists and logicians rejecting metaphysics and believe that the universe comes to an end?" Further, no such physical symbols and no such physical laws have ever been found in any life science. Thus, one can ask, "Why are life scientists following the physical scientists?
posted by George Shollenberger @ 5:14 PM
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