Friday, February 29, 2008

Existence or not

Month, Day: Intercalary, 4 of 5 (Independence)

One source for stumbling on the issues related to an improved framework for science and knowledge deals with the limits associated with one within a system trying to study the system; the fact is that we have no facility for removing ourselves from the system, even with our best tools obtained via advanced mathematics.

That Creation is, and there for us (in many ways), has somehow to be integrated into our working mindset.

So, to begin and to not go very far, let's look at the SAQ of `Abdu'l-Bahá. As a reminder, the main thrust will be that the Writings do provide a basis that can be operational in more than just a spiritual, or an administrative or a behavioral, sense.

We know God through the Manifestations and Attributes (SAQ #37); we ought to consider that the Attributes are one with the Essence (SAQ #59); finally, "The names and attributes of God require the existence of beings" (SAQ #80). God's creation is then what we know through experience and experiment which is, essentially, science.

Now, various means, through time, limited what was necessary for science, with Occam playing one of the key roles. One impetus for these limits has been insufficient grounds for introducing additional factors; the application of reason, and educated guessing, have emerged as a couple of, though not the only, practices (see SAQ #83).

But, what if there were a means to offer insights that are supported by a firmer method?

Of course, that someone could do this, make progress, and then reveal the method might just be the modus operandi. How many times have we heard about dreams offering some notion for solution to problems? We can point to comments about dreams, such as 7V4V, The Valley Of Wonderment, yet damper the enthusiasm with some needed caution (see SAQ #71).

Of course, there are other practices that can be discussed. These, and related ideas, will be explored during the coming months, hopefully, without hubris.

Remarks:

01/25/2012 -- Yes, still at it. Ready to be more audacious. What we're looking for has to do with mind; at some point, it will be allowed by science that we can observe effects (actually, predict, to boot - one step forward will be a more insightful mathematics).

10/11/2009 -- Will, an operational imperative for science.

Modified: 01/25/2012

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Changes and more

Month, Day: Intercalary, 3 of 5 (Majesty)

Given the time, we see lots of talk about change and hope. Well, one difference with a Baha'i view of evolution and the secular is how hope plays with the changes found through time.

`Abdu'l-Bahá covered this topic in several places, but let's take one from the SAQ. First we see that the universe has always been as a Creation of God. Now, for the earth in particular (and that would pertain to the solar system, galaxy, and more, one would suppose), there was a gradual development to what we see now as we look at ourselves and at what's outside the window.

The main theme is that God is (El es Dios). We know that man always was, despite what the status of the physical being might have been through time. That the Manifestations always were is a central idea. How the spiritual helped direct the physical is something to ponder. How far can we push this?

Well, we know that there are limits to what we can know; the quasi-empirical notions seem to point to a situation such that our means of knowing are constraints themselves, including that gift we call mathematics.

A columnist recently noted that one difference between science and religion is that the latter acknowledges the mystery (that those who ponder correctly will see as never ending); that is, what we know is within a bounded sphere within something much larger (no matter now far we push the boundary of the sphere, what is outside remains as large - the sphere does not subsume the whole, this is one error of the secular view).

There are topological ideas needed here. `Abdu'l-Bahá touched upon that, too, in the SAQ ("If the attributes are not identical with the Essence, there must also be a multiplicity of preexistences, and differences between the attributes and the Essence must also exist; and as Preexistence is necessary, therefore, the sequence of preexistences would become infinite. This is an evident error.").

These intercalary times, and the Fast, can help us consider those.

Remarks:

12/07/2009 -- Motivational musings, especially topology.

08/16/2009 -- Science, again.

Modified: 12/07/2009

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Preparation period

Month, Day: Intercalary, 1 of 5 (Grace)

Usually there are 4 days, but 2008 has 5; the Intercalary days are between the Months of Dominion and Loftiness.

These days are the residue in the
Badí calendar from the product of the month and days which number 19 (the Attributes).

In a sense, these are a buffer; any type of perturbation to the year could keep the
Badí calendar constant and vary the Intercalary period.

Modified: 08/20/2008

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Not to forget R

Month, Day: Dominion, Questions (Majesty)

We've touched upon the E-words that are central to discussion. Let's not forget the other letters, such as R.

As mentioned in the seeds post, a couple of words that bring up a lot of discussion are re-incarnation (see SAQ) and return.

The former is not considered as true in the Faith in the sense that to everything there is an uniqueness (will be looked at further; for now, see the first post).

Yet, one can understand the query and its motivations (spiritual awakenings, essentially, probably amenable to a true Science and its processes).

For now, let's just point to 'return' (SAQ 33) as a more appropriately based starting point for discussion that can continue. For instance, starting at the top, we know about the Principle of Progressive Revelation teaching that the Manifestations, though differing in appearance, are One.

We can see an equally intriguing similarity with things, both animate and not. Fortunately, the science progressions of late have allowed us to ponder what might we learn from cloning. We know that there is genetic equivalence, yet the clonee is not, in substance, the same as its clone.

Remarks:

10/04/2010 -- Friction can beget progress.

01/26/2010 -- Of note: Twin duties, Free will, Return, Operational time.

09/12/2009 -- Economics requires additional attention.

05/29/2009 -- The Transcendent baffles.

Modified: 10/04/2010

More E words

Month, Day: Dominion, Questions (Majesty)

The earlier post looked at things ontological in terms of related 'E' words. But, a major part of human affairs deals with economics and continuity (the advancing civilization, for one).

Well, the economy deals with our social blood (metaphor for the Fund, for instance) where concepts related to engagement, earnestness (urgency), efficiency, enterprise, and more come to play, such as eating.

As said before, we are not to think of gigantic accumulations of money as our wealth (the bird as the perfect example of this state, no wonder we love to fly). Yet, we ought to love money for its role.

For one, money allows efficient fulfillment of our needs, mainly through facilitating interchange. On the higher order of the Maslow scale, it allows support for continuing advancements.

But, economics brings to bear means for engagement (as we're counseled - work is worship) along with comes earnestness for the lucky ones who get beyond the drudgery that is associated with work for so many. Our needs drive the urgency; these needs go far beyond those attributed to Maslow as the spiritual aspect needs attention.

By the way, throughout the year, eating sustains our spiritual drive, except for the time of the Fast which is diametrically related to the usual.

From `Abdu'l-Bahá, we hear that the "root of the exaltation of man is the good attributes and virtues which are the adornments of his reality. These are the divine appearances, the heavenly bounties, the sublime emotions, the love and knowledge of God; universal wisdom, intellectual perception, scientific discoveries, justice, equity, truthfulness, benevolence, natural courage and innate fortitude; the respect for rights and the keeping of agreements and covenants; rectitude in all circumstances; serving the truth under all conditions; the sacrifice of one’s life for the good of all people; kindness and esteem for all nations; obedience to the teachings of God; service in the Divine Kingdom; the guidance of the people, and the education of the nations and races."

Remarks:

10/04/2010 -- Friction can beget progress.

09/12/2009 -- Economics requires additional attention.

08/16/2009 -- Science, again.

08/20/2008 -- Energy, and Light, need attention, too.

Modified: 10/04/2010

Monday, February 18, 2008

Those E words

Month, Day: Dominion, Knowledge (Perfection)

There are several words that cover topics of interest to true knowledge, yet they are problematic to the scientific view. Just looking at the ones beginning in 'e' is sufficient to motivate interminable discussion, such as eternal, existence, evolution, ether, ethics and much more.

Take 'existence'; `Abdu'l-Bahá described how "this endless " universe "has no beginning" so that existence is "eternal and perpetual" (these are hard concepts for science to handle). At the same time, we can take 'evolution' and it's propensity to foster arguments that descend into a quagmire of creationism (as if what we see was placed in full-up maturity) versus materialism (as if dust to dust, quantumly speaking, was the total picture).

Well, we have had evolution, meaning, of course, the human race (all Creation, to boot) and changes through time, respectively. In that same discussion, `Abdu'l-Bahá said that "man, in the beginning of his existence and in the womb of the earth, like the embryo in the womb of the mother, gradually grew and developed, and passed from one form to another, from one shape to another, until he appeared with this beauty and perfection, this force and this power" with no explanation as to dynamics or the amount of time involved. Though, we know that Manifestations have always been.

The mechanics may very well be amenable to an insightful scientific view, which implies that intuition necessarily gets back into the equation.

While declaring that man has evolved, there was discussion that man differs from the animal in several ways despite the fact that man has evolved. The discussion used "ether" as an example of things not seen yet deducible from observation of effect.

Of course, the modern view scoffs at a lot of this. Even, the application of the principle of the harmony of science and religion dances around the subject. But, one could argue that "ethics" would lead to a basis that supports the notion that the Master knew what He was talking about, allowing for issues of translation and cultural differences between His time and ours.

This will be looked at further. The underlying theme is that Creation and the Kingdom are intertwined. And, 'ether' is one of the concepts that can be used to characterize the properties of the interplaying scheme (yes, Light is one of the Attributes of God).

Further, a scientific view based upon the Faith would allow introduction and application of these, the 'e' beginning and other, concepts that would explain and found a more full knowledge than we have seen (been allowed to see) to date.

Remarks:

08/01/2012 --Ether, in a manner that is unavoidably true. Our task? Show how to handle the matter from a scientific (the wise interpretation, okay?) framework. And, audacity is not necessary.

01/25/2012 -- Yes, still at it. Ready to be more audacious. What we're looking for has to do with mind; at some point, it will be allowed by science that we can observe effects (actually, predict, to boot - one step forward will be a more insightful mathematics).

10/04/2010 -- Friction can beget progress.

09/12/2009 -- Economics requires additional attention.

08/16/2009 -- Science, again.

Modified: 08/01/2012