Freedom is an idea and a practice so that if a person believes they have it, then they actually have it.
The scientific determinists contend that freedom is but an illusion because science has discovered that every person's decisions and actions have been predetermined by evironmental and genetic factors. The psychoanalysts back up these claims by their uncanny abilities accurately to predict most of the decisions that their patients will make once the psychoanalyst has learned enough about a particular patient's personality.
In free countries like America, most people feel that they are free to go where they want, say what they want and do what they want as long as they obey laws which are quite permissive. As a result of this feeling of freedom, creative potentialities have been released which have resulted in the greatest prosperity and power that the world has ever known. One wonders how a mere illusion could have produced such creative success, especially in light of the fact that illusions rarely work to produce anything. Illusions are almost always failures. If an illusion ever succeeds, it is solely by accident.
Freedom is a strange thing. Even though a scientific determinist might accurately predict every decision that a particular person may make, that would not mean that that person has no freedom. This curious condition can be shown in the fact that should a psychoanalyst inform a patient as to what decision he will make in a particular matter, that patient could deliberately make another decision just to prove that he has the freedom to do so. If scientific determinism really worked, the patient would still make the decision predicted by the psychoanalyst. These facts provide evidence that if a person believes he has freedom, then he actually has it. This means that freedom, as an idea and in practice, really has nothing to do with science. Freedom is solely a spiritual matter.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Commentary on Fiction
Is Sherlock Holmes real? Of all the fictional characters in the history of literature, Sherlock Holmes would probably be most likely to have been considered to be a real person. This is probably true because Arthur Conan Doyle so ingeniously provided such exact detail to his description of the character of Sherlock Holmes.
We know family and friends better than any writer could describe them because we observe every detail of their characters. Real persons have real characteristics and fictional persons comprise these same kinds of real characteristics even though the fictional persons are not real. Therefore, what is real and not real about Sherlock Holmes?
When Arthur Conan Doyle created the character of Sherlock Holmes, he used only real mental representations of real characteristics of a person who could have been real. In other words, Doyle used a combination of real ideas to create the unreal person of Sherlock Holmes.
So what is real and not real about Sherlock Holmes? Sherlock Holmes is real in the fact that he was created by a writer to accomplish a useful purpose. Doyle created this character and his stories for the useful purpose of entertaining anyone who reads them. In only this sense is Sherlock Holmes real, as a real combination of real ideas for the useful purpose of entertaining people.
In order to consider the unreality of Sherlock Holmes, one must subtract from his character everything that is real. The entire set of real ideas that compose the character of Sherlock Holmes must be thus subtracted. Then what is left? The obvious answer is nothing. The unreality of Sherlock Holmes equals nothing. Sherlock Holmes is a real name applied to a real combination of real ideas created by a writer upon the background canvas of a real nothingness.
But if even the nothingness upon which Sherlock Holmes was created is real, then where is the unreality of Sherlock Holmes? The obvious answer can only be that he exists nowhere and at no time. The fiction of Sherlock Holmes consists in the fact that he has never existed as a real person at no place and at no time. The real idea of nothing hides the unreality of Sherlock Holmes.
All of this means that the mind can never be directly conscious of unreality because it does not exist. The mind can be conscious of the real idea of nothingness that hides unreality, but never directly aware of unreality itself. This can only mean that every basic idea and impression that occurs to the mind, whether abstract or concrete, must be real. In fact, the very purpose of the mind is to cause reality to exist. The only unreality lies behind the idea of nothing inherent in all false combinations. Even though Sherlock Holmes is a real combination of real ideas for the real and useful purpose of entertaining people, in a sense he is also a false combination of real ideas because he has never existed as a real person at any place or at any time. In other words, as a real person, Sherlock Holmes nonexists as an absolute nothingness.
We know family and friends better than any writer could describe them because we observe every detail of their characters. Real persons have real characteristics and fictional persons comprise these same kinds of real characteristics even though the fictional persons are not real. Therefore, what is real and not real about Sherlock Holmes?
When Arthur Conan Doyle created the character of Sherlock Holmes, he used only real mental representations of real characteristics of a person who could have been real. In other words, Doyle used a combination of real ideas to create the unreal person of Sherlock Holmes.
So what is real and not real about Sherlock Holmes? Sherlock Holmes is real in the fact that he was created by a writer to accomplish a useful purpose. Doyle created this character and his stories for the useful purpose of entertaining anyone who reads them. In only this sense is Sherlock Holmes real, as a real combination of real ideas for the useful purpose of entertaining people.
In order to consider the unreality of Sherlock Holmes, one must subtract from his character everything that is real. The entire set of real ideas that compose the character of Sherlock Holmes must be thus subtracted. Then what is left? The obvious answer is nothing. The unreality of Sherlock Holmes equals nothing. Sherlock Holmes is a real name applied to a real combination of real ideas created by a writer upon the background canvas of a real nothingness.
But if even the nothingness upon which Sherlock Holmes was created is real, then where is the unreality of Sherlock Holmes? The obvious answer can only be that he exists nowhere and at no time. The fiction of Sherlock Holmes consists in the fact that he has never existed as a real person at no place and at no time. The real idea of nothing hides the unreality of Sherlock Holmes.
All of this means that the mind can never be directly conscious of unreality because it does not exist. The mind can be conscious of the real idea of nothingness that hides unreality, but never directly aware of unreality itself. This can only mean that every basic idea and impression that occurs to the mind, whether abstract or concrete, must be real. In fact, the very purpose of the mind is to cause reality to exist. The only unreality lies behind the idea of nothing inherent in all false combinations. Even though Sherlock Holmes is a real combination of real ideas for the real and useful purpose of entertaining people, in a sense he is also a false combination of real ideas because he has never existed as a real person at any place or at any time. In other words, as a real person, Sherlock Holmes nonexists as an absolute nothingness.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Infinity and the Existence of God.
If the idea of infinity is real, then this idea can be advanced to a string of logical evidence for the existence of God. God's existence cannot be absolutely proved, not even by empirical evidence. Atheists have always accused the original saints, and anyone else who has seen the resurrected Christ, of either having a hallucination or of simply being a liar. God Himself desires no proof of His existence. God desires that humans freely choose to love and worship Him. A proof of His existence would force humans to honor Him, and God desires that the great value of His Love should be proven by an historical process in which humans are given a free choice to either love Him or not. God becomes pleased by faith in Him and especially by faith in the Deity and sacrifice of His Son. Read Hebrews 11:6. Hebrews 12:2 teaches that Jesus is "the author and finisher" of the believer's faith. Hebrews 11:1-3 even teaches that God used the power of His own faith to create the world. However, God has provided some evidence for His existence, such as historical evidence and fulfilled prophecy. Because of this, one can conclude that God allows some evidence for His existence, but God is not pleased with any claim of a proof of His existence. The following examination of the idea of infinity is offered as mere evidence for God's existence and not proof.
Is the idea of infinity real? If the idea of infinity were false, then infinity does not exist and would therefore be equal to the idea of nothing. Nonexistence and the unknown are always equal to the idea of nothing to the finite mind. For example, at one time a theory existed which proposed that a substance called aether filled all of space. But when experiments later proved that aether does not exist, then the idea of aether became equal to the idea of nothing. In addition, the unknown also equals the idea of nothing to the finite mind. For example, if a sub-atomic particle were to exist which could never have any effect on the finite mind whatsoever and so could never be discovered by the finite mind, then that particle would always equal nothing to the finite mind.
Following this line of reasoning, if the idea of infinity were not discoverable, then it would be unknown to the finite mind and equal to nothing. If the idea of infinity were a false idea which resulted from a false theory concocted by the finite mind, then it would also be known to equal the idea of nothing. However, the finite mind may not have yet discovered that the theory that produced the false idea of infinity is indeed false. In that case, the finite mind would hold the false idea of infinity to be true and real until such a time as it were shown to be false.
But is it possible for the finite mind to invent a theory comprising only finite ideas that effects the idea of infinity? One would think that a finite theory could only produce a finite result. The very limits of the finite mind would seem to indicate this conclusion. For these reasons, there can be no such thing as an infinite number. To add to a finite number can only produce a higher finite number no matter how large these numbers may be. This also means that there can be no infinity of anything measured by numbers, such as lines or space. There can also be no mental infinities such as an infinite idea since the supposed infinity would be limited to that one idea. Thus, the finite mind cannot add enough ideas to any combination of ideas that would produce the idea of infinity.
The usual theory for how the finite mind obtains the idea of infinity is this: "that which never ends." Each one of the ideas in this combination is finite: "that" which means something, "which" is an indicator of a particular something, "never" which means the negative in every case and "ends" which means finite. This means that the effect of this combination should be: "A particular something, the negative in every case, is finite." Literally, this combination should mean that nothingness is always finite. Yet, somehow we get the opposite idea from this combination, the idea of infinity.
Not only this, but this idea of infinity must be a real infinity and not any form of limited infinity because this idea of infinity cannot be about any particular thing, such as a number or an idea. In fact, this supposed idea of infinity cannot be an idea at all, but more like a feeling for the awesome and ineffable.
These conclusions can only mean that the finite mind has erroneously connected the feeling for infinity with the finite combination: "that which never ends." In fact, to obtain the feeling for infinity from this finite combination would require some sort of miraculous leap from the finite to infinity. This leap is simply not possible for the finite mind.
Despite all this, the finite mind does have a feeling for infinity. This can only mean that this feeling for infinity must have been obtained from infinity itself, and therefore, infinity must be real. This feeling cannot be defined because there are no words for it. The closest that the finite mind can come to a definition would be: "Absolute possibilities for everything that can exist, and absolute possibilities for every event that can happen."
This can only mean that since consciousness exists and infinity exists, then an Infinite Consciousness must exist.
Is the idea of infinity real? If the idea of infinity were false, then infinity does not exist and would therefore be equal to the idea of nothing. Nonexistence and the unknown are always equal to the idea of nothing to the finite mind. For example, at one time a theory existed which proposed that a substance called aether filled all of space. But when experiments later proved that aether does not exist, then the idea of aether became equal to the idea of nothing. In addition, the unknown also equals the idea of nothing to the finite mind. For example, if a sub-atomic particle were to exist which could never have any effect on the finite mind whatsoever and so could never be discovered by the finite mind, then that particle would always equal nothing to the finite mind.
Following this line of reasoning, if the idea of infinity were not discoverable, then it would be unknown to the finite mind and equal to nothing. If the idea of infinity were a false idea which resulted from a false theory concocted by the finite mind, then it would also be known to equal the idea of nothing. However, the finite mind may not have yet discovered that the theory that produced the false idea of infinity is indeed false. In that case, the finite mind would hold the false idea of infinity to be true and real until such a time as it were shown to be false.
But is it possible for the finite mind to invent a theory comprising only finite ideas that effects the idea of infinity? One would think that a finite theory could only produce a finite result. The very limits of the finite mind would seem to indicate this conclusion. For these reasons, there can be no such thing as an infinite number. To add to a finite number can only produce a higher finite number no matter how large these numbers may be. This also means that there can be no infinity of anything measured by numbers, such as lines or space. There can also be no mental infinities such as an infinite idea since the supposed infinity would be limited to that one idea. Thus, the finite mind cannot add enough ideas to any combination of ideas that would produce the idea of infinity.
The usual theory for how the finite mind obtains the idea of infinity is this: "that which never ends." Each one of the ideas in this combination is finite: "that" which means something, "which" is an indicator of a particular something, "never" which means the negative in every case and "ends" which means finite. This means that the effect of this combination should be: "A particular something, the negative in every case, is finite." Literally, this combination should mean that nothingness is always finite. Yet, somehow we get the opposite idea from this combination, the idea of infinity.
Not only this, but this idea of infinity must be a real infinity and not any form of limited infinity because this idea of infinity cannot be about any particular thing, such as a number or an idea. In fact, this supposed idea of infinity cannot be an idea at all, but more like a feeling for the awesome and ineffable.
These conclusions can only mean that the finite mind has erroneously connected the feeling for infinity with the finite combination: "that which never ends." In fact, to obtain the feeling for infinity from this finite combination would require some sort of miraculous leap from the finite to infinity. This leap is simply not possible for the finite mind.
Despite all this, the finite mind does have a feeling for infinity. This can only mean that this feeling for infinity must have been obtained from infinity itself, and therefore, infinity must be real. This feeling cannot be defined because there are no words for it. The closest that the finite mind can come to a definition would be: "Absolute possibilities for everything that can exist, and absolute possibilities for every event that can happen."
This can only mean that since consciousness exists and infinity exists, then an Infinite Consciousness must exist.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
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