Foreknowledge

Month, Day: 168, Splendour, Will (Majesty)

That, in the title, is one attribute that is human and shared with the Manifestation. Too, the Manifestation has a much greater facility, beyond what we can comprehend. Yet, we can contemplate these facilities in an effort to improve ourselves and our work, such as science. How is that?

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Well, this blog started in 2008, in sort of a recoil. From what? Limitations being put up upon that which was on wiki related to science and faith (see Mission and Methods). Since then, there have been a few posts here that related to the subject page (faith and science, science and religion). But mostly, I've only browsed the page (and the arguments) from time to time.

How did I get back to the page today? Well, on the 5th read of the Koran (Rodwell this time, again), I've been going to the WWW (which has really matured the past five years) to look more thoroughly at topics (beyond the mere listening to experts - autodidactic'ally, okay?). The topic in question was 'djinn' and such. And, while looking at definitions, I ran across a page that mentioned the notions from an esteemed nuclear engineer (see below), who is of the Islamic faith.

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You can look it up, but here is the gist: we can probably develop power sources using concentrated attention by humans (for those who quibble, interpretation is core to the human experience [why else the emphasis on its control, for certain types?]).

Or, as an aside, we are immersed in an objective universe (SAQ #79), yet for each of us, the experience is subjective (ah, science CANNOT overcome this, folks -- teehee). Some think the guy is nuts; I think that he exhibits several things that we (those who are followers of the Glory) ought to be studying (as in, there is a glimmer of truth here that we ought to understand). Ah, how many barbs of quackery will be thrown on this (but then, George B took his licks, too)?

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So, back to the subject. The page, mentioned above, has evolved. It now has more than the three topics that were there five years ago (look it up). In fact, a couple may have been challenged (I haven't paid close attention).

But, the list has a bias toward the physical sciences being the prime view for any ontological study. Ah. Is that so? We have allowed materialistic views to, essentially, lead us down the perdition-laden paths to mineralization. Think of it!

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As mentioned last time, we need to bring in themes from human-based science, to boot. What might these be? Well, it'll be a long list.

For one, the notion of foreknowledge (Valley of Wonderment, for example) goes beyond just that in the sacred texts. Consider, please: some types of this could be characterized as a human reaction (albeit, imaginatively) to pondering some bit of this sacred text (example of Scripture influencing science via inspired behavior).

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As an aside, the oversight allowed via abstraction, and its support by mathematics, gives a view that can be thought of as foresight (how does that differ from foreknowledge?). Many examples exist, but some of the work of James Clerk Maxwell is used quite often, in this sense.

I think that many, like Lakatos, have not been given enough due (the whole quasi-empirical notion can be bolstered by using the Writings).

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Actually, the enumeration of human facilities would be endless (as is the Ocean of Words). Yet, there could be themes (categories, if you would) that are of substantial enough basis to be almost invariant.

Granted Wikipedia is NOR. But, what work has been done that could be used as source? Anyone even looking?

Let me put it this way. The assaults (potential or otherwise) of the brights ought not be a deterrent.

A new type of operational basis needs to be defined and exercised.

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And, the whole notion of the texts being inerrant, or not, in this context can be characterized as misguided, somewhat. The 7V and the 4V, clearly, denote the limitations on words, but not Words.

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).

06/02/2011 -- Construction II.

05/26/2011 -- A 'super' position can have merit.

05/17/2011 -- Stephen gets press.

05/09/2011 -- We need a constructive re-look.

04/04/2011 -- The autodidact's role is still to be defined.

Modified: 01/25/2012

New Year 168

Month, Day: 168, Splendour, Splendour (Perfection)

What better topic to continue to pursue than en-Light-enment? The focus will be toward something that is demonstrable, though it is unclear how far that we can proceed now beyond thought experiments (nod to Lakatos) given the times (paraphrasing the Guardian: we have seen only a glimmer).

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Too, what can we show from the reality of the 'yearly measure' related to this day?

• Year 165, Year 166, Year 167

The Rodwell Index.

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Now, on this page: Baha'i Faith and Science. Will start, when ready, discussion about topics not listed which would principally deal with human characteristics (ah yes, suggesting that Physics is not the basis for all science). The emerging 'cloud' (and future analogs) will allow methods to arise which will result in testable propositions.

Remarks:

03/21/2013 -- Add in Year 169 and Year 170.

03/21/2011 -- Ascendant to Transcendent.

Modified: 03/21/2013

A recurring theme

Month, Day: 167, Loftiness, Honour (Majesty)

Which is? Return.

Aside: Thoughts on the day of commemorating St. Patrick. From this, we can look more closely at the following. Yes, audacity (without arrogance) is important.

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The theme manifests itself several ways that ought to be of interest to science (that is, any reasonable mindset that is not thwarted by scientism).

The mental powers have motivations (yes, one of the Groups) that are spiritual. How does this work? Well, it is for us to work out and understand. The only limitation? We cannot ever reduce to the core, nor can we completely comprehend this; there are other characterizations that we'll get to, eventually.

Koran (The Believers): When death overtaketh one of the wicked, he saith, "Lord, send me back again, That I may do the good which I have left undone." "By no means." These are the very words which he shall speak: But behind them shall be a barrier, until the day when they shall be raised again.

Is not "send me back again" asking for a return? Of course. In this context, we ought to remember the argument proposed by Blaise, a few centuries later. Which argument, by the way, is still scoffed at by some of the brights.

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Now, there was an allusion to recurrence which can be observed, many places, in natural phenomena. Who said that 'return' had simple usages?

So, the subject of the Writings and Science will get more attention. That is, what types of support can found in what is provided by Revelation for our pursuits of knowledge? One might immediately go to rules and axioms. Yes, can these be listed, as a start? What other types might we consider?

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Another theme will be the system person, on the one hand, and the autodidact on the other. Now, there may be other ways to characterize this, as one person may have many different roles in this regard.

Remarks:

05/09/2011 -- We need a constructive re-look.

03/21/2011 -- On Blaise. Will we not see his wager shown to have strong applicability?

Modified: 05/09/2011

Names, Loftiness

Month, Day: 167, Loftiness, Names (Majesty)

The Rodwell Index.

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Before, we pointed to the Cave as being of essence to the theme. Now, consider the Night Journey: We have made the night and the day for two signs: the sign of the night do we obscure, but the sign of the day cause we to shine forth, that ye may seek plenty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number of the years and the reckoning of time; and we have made everything distinct by distinctiveness.

Even now, with Certitude, we have underdetermination (to wit, Contentment and 4th).

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Remarks:

03/10/2011 --

Modified: 03/10/2011

Enlightenment, again

Month, Day: 167, Loftiness, Mercy (Perfection)

This year, there was an Enlightenment theme (which will continue).

One topic? The Cave (Sufficiency, by necessity)

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).

03/10/2011 -- Names are to be understood.

Modified: 01/25/2012