Names, Loftiness

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

The Rodwell Index.

---

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).

...

Remarks:

03/10/2011 --

Modified: 03/10/2011

Ascendant to Transcendent

Month, Day: 166, Dominion, Dominion (Justice)

Couldn't pass up having a post on this square day. We're heading to the last month of 166 (and the renewal of energies). With the three Ascendant months and the four Transcendent months, we have almost a third of the year devoted to things than cannot be reduced.

Isn't that great?

Then, we have the reducible, to an extent, and usable, with the other three groups: Teleological, Operational, and Motivational.

So, the theme will continue, as how can we apply knowledge of the Key? How long will this take? Well, I'm not racing against the anyone's clock (though, it's to be within PTIME, I hope).

---

Reminder, about Revelation, Aqdas (#37): Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from God, ere the expiration of a full thousand years, such a man is assuredly a lying impostor.

Easy enough.

Too, somehow, the abstracted has led us astray. How to reclaim the fact that human intuition, and natural bases, are more grounded? That is, Creation-based science.

Remarks:

03/11/2020 -- Still doing Groups (patterns).

03/21/2011 -- Year 165, Year 166, Year 167, Year 168

04/21/2010 -- We need to upgrade to a Transcendent Topology.

Modified: 03/11/2020

Free will

Month, Day: 166, Honour, Knowledge (Perfection)

Since we're in the last of the Motivational group and considering the phenomenon of the Manifestation, free will needs to come up, albeit briefly.

SAQ #70: Some things are subject to the free will of man, such as justice, equity, tyranny and injustice, in other words, good and evil actions; it is evident and clear that these actions are, for the most part, left to the will of man. ... though the choice of good and evil belongs to man, under all circumstances he is dependent upon the sustaining help of life, which comes from the Omnipotent.

Last time, we looked at how things are, by design, underdetermined. Pascal's argument was brought up which implies some type of choice is possible. Of course, we need to use our will to make a choice.

It's funny how patterns seem to recur within human affairs that may indicate some type of non-choice. Habitual actions, for example. Yet, not necessarily of habit, as a pattern might just exemplify some best choice. There is a lot to consider.

For example, given all the troubles of human affairs, can we expect that we could handle things on our own? Or just let the elapse of long time frames and random workings attempt some rectification?

No, we get direct involvement in ways that are not understood. Perhaps, if we tried - and this is audacity, we could grasp some things, such as Knowledge of God.

Remarks:

05/17/2011 -- Stephen gets press.

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

02/24/2010 -- Ascendant to Transcendent.

Modified: 05/17/2011

Underdetermination

Month, Day: 166, Honour, Names (Independence)

Of course, the question here is: can we move away from having the underdetermined abound around us?

SAQ #83: Therefore, there is no standard in the hands of people upon which we can rely.
Hubris is one reason for not accepting an extension of the Incompleteness Theorem. Pure operational confidence is another. Yet, many flounder. That is, even of the brights, we would probably find a substantial number who would accept that the best stance is what Pascal described so aptly, not the more in-your-face stance that has been so vehemently offered, of late.

The Key will continued to be explored both in attribute and utility.

Aside: Of late, there has been interest in planets nearly like the earth. There was a point in time when such comments would have been verboten. But, science and the related views do change as facts firm up.

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).

05/17/2011 -- Stephen gets press.

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

04/21/2010 -- We need to upgrade to a Transcendent Topology.

03/10/2010 -- A duty, know the Transcendent.

Modified: 01/25/2012

Ascendant Speech

Month, Day: 166, Speech, Sovereignty (Justice)

Yes, we all would like to hear elevating words.

During the year, we ought to, perhaps, celebrate the square'd days, like we had a couple of days ago.

Here are those days, by Group.

Transcendent
..... 03/21 Splendour, Splendour
.......... 04/10 Glory, Glory
............... 04/30 Beauty, Beauty
.................... 05/20 Grandeur, Grandeur

Teleological

..... 06/09 Light, Light
.......... 06/29 Mercy, Mercy
................ 07/19 Words, Words
.................... 08/08 Perfection, Perfection

Operational

..... 08/28 Names, Names
.......... 09/17 Might, Might
............... 10/07 Will, Will
................... 10/27 Knowledge, Knowledge

Motivational

..... 11/16 Power, Power
.......... 12/6 Speech, Speech
............... 12/26 Questions, Questions
.................... 01/15 Honour, Honour

Ascendant

..... 02/04 Sovereignty, Sovereignty
.......... 02/24 Dominion, Dominion
............... ... Intercalary Days ...
.................... 03/20 Loftiness, Loftiness

Remarks:

04/09/2016 -- We had a triple day, earlier, due to the new definitions.

12/30/2014 -- Added the Audacity label. Also, need to look at Questions each month.

06/25/2011 -- There are also days where the week day and the month day coincide. Like today, Glory, Glory of Mercy. And, tomorrow, Beauty, Beauty of Mercy.

02/24/2010 -- Ascendant to Transcendent.

Modified: 04/09/2016

Knowledge, at last

Month, Day: 166, Knowledge, Splendour (Independence)

We've been waiting for this month since 3/21. It has taken its time getting here. We are now 3/4ths the way through the Operational.

Some of the themes to discuss will deal with things like mode and method. Too, the timeless aspects are be touched upon, though they are really beyond understanding.

But, for a brief recap first, let's look, again, at the twin duties: know and obey. SAQ (#84) discusses the need for the second: If, by the help of science and knowledge, we wished to introduce these morals and customs, truly it would take a thousand years, and then they would not be spread throughout the masses.

We ought to be thinking of the Motivational, too.

In a sense, science has a non-short history, however we all can see that there has been a massive acceleration the past century. In fact, the past few years have been mind-boggling in the things that unfolded.

Yet, science, in the proper view, has a long history and has been here since Abraham (Knowledge: “And thus did we show Abraham the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth, that He might be established in knowledge.”). For what end is the knowing of Creation?

Well, in the past, the Manifestations were here, left evidence, but then faded through time, except in the hearts of the believers. Let me say, apparently faded, as Those are Life if we only knew. The cardinality of that Set, meaning having had appearance here, is not small.

Now, like miracles, anything at a distance, whether in space or time, cannot be a strongly held as those local, and now. This is a common characteristic of man. Yet, even that is not entirely true, to wit, just look at problems of underdetermination and the related.

So, except, for those things based upon universals (physics, etc.) and the computational (will more fully explain this), most things have no support beyond those who are there to perceive them (ah, not Berkeley, again) and those who may observe remotely (think TV and other media of this type). One can argue that these two are different. The former rests heavily in the independent viewpoint that trusts perception; the latter is problematic from various angles but has been shown to be an effective means for information distribution.

But, there is another way. Just as we have the Writings, the Administration, and more, we'll be putting together a collective BASIS for certitude which will a growing framework to support both further science and other knowing. This suggests that science will continue to be two-fold, with that supposedly hard aspect continuing in its blind ways. The other side of science will admit the less hard, but strong.

Notice above, that there was mentioned physics and the computational. The computer will be the bridge and play a couple of roles. It will continue to be a fine instrument for mathematical, and related, types of processing. Additionally, it'll support that which is needed to more fully understand man's inherent being, or the potential thereof.

That last role's existence is only barely beginning to emerge. We'll be looking at it more closely as we go along here.

Remarks:

10/18/2009 -- Thomas continued the scientific attitude. There are challenges that audacity must overcome.

Modified: 10/18/2009

Ah, Knowledge

Month, Day: 166, Will, Sovereignty (Grace)

Will operates within the twin duty framework with one of the duties being to know. That presupposes all sorts of things, as what does it mean to know?

Well, some claim internalization of a master's lessons is one way to know. Yes, that does seem to work in some cases, however note that the extreme mode of this is the zombie who is both a servant and an idiot. Is that the Will of the Creator?

Besides, with the Manifestation not being here, and there not being any representation of that Being on the planet, to whom is the subjection to point. Oh, don't say UHJ as are we expecting some embedded circuitry with which we'll all be controlled like mindless robots (apologies here, as some robotic functions are going to be fairly sophisticated -- yes, implying that the Turing test will be strongly met)?

You see, mostly that knowing type mentioned above is a superposition. Ah, thankfully, the generation gap, and the grave, prevents such from happening ad infinitum.

Well, we'll see that there are many ways to know, however we cannot just jump to that and avoid what the next couple of days will bring.

Technical spirit

Month, Day: 166, Names, Speech (Justice)

Earlier, we were a little secular. Now, let's be a little technical; how else to be operational?

The ACM Communication editor-in-chief (Moshe Y. Vardi) reminds us (The Financial Meltdown and Computing) that the current state of affairs in the economy has been heavily influenced by computation. And, computation is a new phenomenon, that is, that which is the manipulation of Light. The prowess has accelerated tremendously over the years with more promised.

As well, we have 'intelligence' emerging from several places. Reports like AI and hive mentality are commonplace. Day to day, the flow, and fruiting, of ideas runs at a fast, and seemingly never-ending, pace.

So, one has to wonder what all this might mean for audacity and more (He is the most accurate Reckoner (6:62)). That is, as we saw with Babel, how far can we go?

Well, a particular bit of theoretics suggests the answer: Not very far, even with the whole universe as the computer.

The ACM Communication also looked at The Status of the P versus NP Problem (P not equal to NP), recently. Suffice it to say, we can check what we know in many cases (forgetting, for the moment, the issues of underdetermination). In fact, our modus operandi assumes that plus several principles, like ergodicity.

However, pushing back the horizon is always hard. If it becomes easy, then watch out. All of this type of reasoning is of interest to discussions about Faith and Science.

The challenge? Finding, within the Writings, the insights for things like how to help resolve issues, such as the P not equal to NP problem and more. After all, is that not what an operational framework would entail?

Too, science carries over to the Kingdom. It is how we know God.

Remarks:

03/25/2016 -- A change in the calendar will have these Twin Holidays, and other days, adjusting. As well, we have a principal vector upon which to contemplate.


04/03/2015 -- This is a popular post. See NDEers for a bit of audacity. I remember when I first wrote this; the streets of Teheran were buzzing with a spring-like spirit.
09/30/2013 -- More of a technical nature.

05/17/2011 -- Stephen gets press.

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

04/04/2011 -- We'll be looking at things like foreknowledge.

09/06/2009 -- Essentially, more is undecidable than we like to admit, basically due to our talent for success (ergodicity, essentially) keeps the hubris refreshed (generation by generation).

Modified: 03/23/2016

In the beginning

Month, Day: Words, Words (Glory)

This is a type of square-day that we see each month. In a table that would have the months as columns and the days as rows, we would have these days on the diagonal. They ought to give us pause on occasion, namely a change to ponder significance (Contentment) every month.

As the Title implies, this month deals with LOGOS and more. In terms of the former, SAQ #42 is a wonderful source: Without the irrefutable teachings of those sources of mysteries the human world would become the pasture of animal appetites and qualities, the existence of everything would be unreal, and there would be no true life. That is why it is said in the Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word,” meaning that it became the cause of all life.

Then, we see this further on: In like manner, when the Holy Manifestation of God, Who is the sun of the world of His creation, shines upon the worlds of spirits, of thoughts and of hearts, then the spiritual spring and new life appear, the power of the wonderful springtime becomes visible, and marvelous benefits are apparent.

There is then a suggestion that we could look at the "the signs and bounties of each of the Holy Manifestations" for insights. Now, considering that we were counseled to not look too much to the past and to act now and to look to the future (paraphrase), too much effort at this could be wasteful, in several senses.

Except for science which we were told was central to knowing God (paraphrase). Many of the dilemmas of the modern mind, as it tries to grasp with issues of underdetermination can be traced back to what might be missing. Consider, the SAQ (see #46, for example) talks about the long timeframe of man's progression.

The audacious view (not necessarily autodidactic) would provide the role to consider how Manifestations guided us throughout that long chain. Associated with this would be mapping progress of the past 200 years back to cognitive changes that seem to have an apparent point of appearance that is more than mere coincidence.

Now, one consequence from audacity will be to have a Creation-based science that marvels at nature (see WSJ 07/16/09 -Nature Was The Teacher). One change from the latest spiritual burst is obvious in abstract thinking's success in founding change and progress as witnessed in the modern age with engineering and science.

Though quasi-empiricism would ask why the 'unreasonable effectiveness' to which we can offer some thought about what is sufficient, the siren call of technology fosters hubris that thrusts our models forward as more complete than their creation counterpart leading to a topsy-turvy state that emphasizes what the elite can see as of more importance than it can be since all can know God.

Remarks:

12/21/2009 -- More on the diagonal or square'd days.

08/16/2009 -- The Operational group is approaching, and ontology is primal. One area of focus, as suggested by this post, will be mind-body studies. Somehow, insights from the Writings ought to have importance, teleological and operational.

08/05/2009 -- We'll look at SAQ #37 more in the context of how the Teleological influences.

Modified: 12/21/2009

Science and roles

Month, Day: Mercy, Light (Beauty)
Month, Day: Mercy, Mercy (Perfection)

Science has a role just as those who support science fill roles. What might this role be?

Well, science is a gift from God on how we can (are to) know, including knowing God ("Science is the first emanation from God toward man"). It's Mercy, so as to answer our Questions.

Given our limitations, Creation ought to be the focus of our study.

-- Now, a Creation-based science would look like what? No one has tried this audacious step yet, essentially, so we do not know. There seems to be little eruptions (the proverbial green-shoots) here and there. The necessary integrating scheme can only come from the Writings.

-- Oh, does not science now deal with Nature? Yes, in part. But, as we all know, those who do science as it is known now (scientism, in many cases) think that materialism is essential as the mark of the brightest. Ah, is that so? Nature is part of the gift of science (from God, of course).

-- What would possibly be different? One ramification would be a better balance between the abstracted foundations and the operational bases. That is, rather than fight the quasi-empirical necessity, foundations will be built upon matter (this is the invert of how humans have gone so far). The operational scheme will encompass both analog and digital components, as required due to the explicit reality that is both wave and particle (ah, yes, metaphorical, but, only in part - we just have to learn how to express the necessary explanation).

This theme will recur, regularly.

Remarks:

03/17/2011 -- Just as St. Patrick carried the message, so too ought we act to bring forth a proper viewpoint.

10/02/2009 -- World embracing, at its best.

09/06/2009 -- Essentially, more is undecidable than we like to admit, basically due to our talent for success (ergodicity, essentially) keeps the hubris refreshed (generation by generation).

08/05/2009 -- We'll look at SAQ #37 more in the context of how the Teleological influences.

07/19/2009 -- From the beginning.

07/07/2009 -- Ought we be thankful for the Brights?

06/30/2009 -- Issues related to duals abound which is an important part to the puzzles. One main theme would be the necessity of organic components as being integral to truth processing and to filling in the gaps resulting from underdetermination.

Modified: 03/17/2011

The secular

Month, Day: Light, Questions (Independence)

We're to be a-political, yet one has to wonder if any religious view can be sufficient for operational efficiencies that respect everyone. So, given recent events (and a must-see movie), a secular opinion or two seemed to be in order.

Yet, they will relate to Light. Look at this WSJ article ("Why the Eyes Have it", 09/19/2009) that raises questions (of course, Fridays seem to allow philosophical musings to come around the walls of control) about human capability. We process what we get from light via the eyes in a 1/10th of a second. Ah, such facility is one of several that we've received from our Creator.

In one of the working schemes, theorists propose and hope that someone can "design experiments that might render a decisive verdict" and that we can overcome our limits that result from underdetermination.

This latter we ought to know from the Writings. But, the questions remain in the context of audacity as to how theory can be influenced by the Writings. Let us count the ways.

Remarks:

12/19/2009 -- The Doctor Who Defied Tehran.

07/26/2009 -- Being secular creates dependencies that run counter to our goals, that is they try to thwart the sword.

Modified: 12/19/2009

Let there be Light

Month, Day: Light, Splendour (Independence)

Yes, from Genesis. But light is a primal attribute of science (which studies Creation), to boot. Our little dribblings in the ether, such as we see here with this post (and twitter-ville et al), are evidence of major advances in knowledge the past century and a half.

But, audacity will take light further. Why? It seems to be one property that has some claim to helping us know more about the Transcendent. There will be more on this.

For now, lets briefly look at underdetermination as it applies to our discussions and as it leads to quasi-empiricism by necessity. Some type of dialectic (pointer implies much based upon AE's recognition of imagination's use - implying, thereby, too, intuition's role) needs invention here which would balance the Writings and what we know via science.

Now, of course, the goal would be testable ideas. The key issue? Science has led us down the perdition-ripe paths of materialism, uber mathematics, and big experiments (money, politics, residues [of many sorts]). Consider, please, that what we see with the growing ubiquity of the computational (and its artificial being) is a platform for a type of science (apologies to Wolfram) that is truly non-elite.

Before I get tomatoes thrown in my direction, let me add, the elite part will still be there; it's part of Creation. Okay. But, the non-elite may actually have a larger sub-space (super-space, too).

Yes, indeed. If this were not so, what purpose is there for such a large set (put here link to statement that all can know God [Iqan] - no need of clergy or its equivalent, assuming the Teleological, of course)?

Remarks:

01/25/2011 -- What would be a comprehensive view of this attribute?

09/06/2009 -- Essentially, more is undecidable than we like to admit, basically due to our talent for success (ergodicity, essentially) keeps the hubris refreshed (generation by generation).

07/26/2009 -- The Operational times will be fun.

07/19/2009 -- From the beginning.

07/07/2009 -- Ought we be thankful for the Brights?

06/11/2009 -- Science and Religion.

Modified: 01/25/2011

Again

Month, Day: Honour, Honour (Majesty)

Each month has the diagonal day; these may have some interesting properties. But, we need to continue looking at what we can know and how we do so.

Seven Valleys: "How strange that while the Beloved is visible as the sun, yet the heedless still hunt after tinsel and base metal."

Remarks:

12/21/2009 -- More on the diagonal or square'd days.

Modified: 12/21/2009

Word Is

Month, Day: Words, Words (Glory)

A description of the three stations is sufficient.

Remarks:

02/24/2010 -- Ascendant to Transcendent.

12/21/2009 -- More on the diagonal or square'd days.

Modified: 02/24/2010

A few musings

Month, Day: Light, Light (Perfection)

As will be explained in the Mission and Method post (when it's updated), posts to this blog are not considered complete in one pass. No, it is a cyclic affair, from the first pass of notions noted thru subsequent passes of editing and linking to later passes of inter-post coordination. The goal is to have coherence not unlike one would expect for an on-line book.

Having said that, there is a lot that we don't know about Light (the Attribute and more) or about our success in manipulating its phenomenal aspects and the possible consequences thereof.

There is much to consider, including the dream (Valley of Wonderment) and ether (which some apologists seem to spend a lot of time trying to explain - none needed - any view that is axiomatic and scientism-ic cannot understand the whole picture).

Now, an earlier set of posts looked at how we know and what we can know. The Manifestation's intuitive grasp was/is infallible we are told. Too, we can expect some glimmer, actually need this.

So, along that line, one type of learning/knowing is axiomatic and bottom up as we've seen the focus of mathematics and science take. This is great as our engineering and technological prowesses have illustrated. Essentially, science is public, repeatable, and work.

Yet, there is another way to know, which is available to any of us. The trouble is that this way of knowing is more private than not (you see, we need to learn more about 'mirror' neurons and their role -- psychether [to be described further], for one). We get into trouble when those whose power base might be more than others (via Grace [Tuesday, every week] of God) seem to want to overlord others with their private notions.

Well, this is partly okay since we know that hierarchy is part of the plan - yet, our race will be mature when NOONE (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Notes #194) wants to be king - not even for a day.

All of this has Light as a large part of the BASIS.

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).

02/24/2010 -- Ascendant to Transcendent.

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

Modified: 01/25/2012

How we know

Month, Day: Glory, Questions (Justice)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in the SAQ #40, notes how we know a couple of different ways which need to be better understood as both are important to human affairs.

The first way is familiar to anyone who has taken a course in an educational institute (which will be predominately all humans, at some point) or who has worked mechanically or who has performed scientific experiments. It is a way of effort, not necessarily in the form of a cramming session.

The second way is intuitive and has fallen out of favor in modern times. This latter way is how the Manifestations know, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says.

The first method is "the outcome of effort and study," whereas the second method " is an existing thing; it is an absolute gift." Both are required for a balanced science. The prior post discussed how our study of Creation must be augmented by UHJ input. Essentially, this input would be of both types. It will be interesting to look at this further.

Since we know that another Manifestation will not be here for several 100s of years (with 1000 years being the most usual separation), the intuitive method will have limits for the individual and for groups, except that the UHJ limits will be lessor (think of infallibilities as being nested just like topologies).

Both types of methods can be used to resolve issues related to our 'quasi-empirical' limitations.

Remarks:

09/06/2009 -- Essentially, more is undecidable than we like to admit, basically due to our talent for success (ergodicity, essentially) keeps the hubris refreshed (generation by generation).

08/16/2009 -- The Operational group is approaching, and ontology is primal. One area of focus, as suggested by this post, will be mind-body studies. Somehow, insights from the Writings ought to have importance, teleological and operational.

05/29/2009 -- The Transcendent baffles.

Modified: 09/06/2009