Friday, September 02, 2022

Laser Beams and Floodlights

Laser beams and floodlights; or science and philosophy, respectively. 

But what is the source of the light? That's a question for theology -- or better, the mystic (i.e., experiential theologian), since it's not an abstraction, rather, an experience or vision. Pieper:

on the one hand, we are confronted with an unfathomable reality, yet the unfathomable reality of a world perfectly "lucid" in and by itself; on the other hand, there is universal knowability, yet the knowability of a world illuminated by an "inaccessible light."

This goes to one of the most consequential orthoparadoxes -- or intrinsic complementarities -- of being, which is to say, a cosmos that is in equal parts knowable and yet unfathomable; and these two "infinities" are a consequence of the same infinite, eternal, and nonlocal Light. 

Correct: mother nature is a two-faced... blanket. Or better, a rug -- a valued rug indeed, since it is the source of all values: quantity on one side, qualities on the other. 

Again, both sides are necessarily infinite, but infinitude by definition is one, so the single rug must truly tie the cosmos together. Therefore, do not think for a moment that some nihilist could come along and pee on one side without it soaking through to the other side.  

Pieper makes reference to the "daytime view" but also a "nighttime view," the former revealing "all things as accessible to an ever deeper cognition," the latter disclosing -- nondisclosing? --  the impossibility of ever attaining complete comprehension:

And yet, the notion that both spring from the same root, that both are -- in a certain sense -- even identical; that, more specifically, all things in themselves are entirely knowable because they originate in the infinite lucidity of the divine Logos, and that they are, nevertheless, inexhaustible for us because they originate, once again, in the infinite lucidity of the divine Logos -- this, of course, lies beyond all empirical demonstration.

This is not to say beyond metaphysical demonstration -- for example, Lao-tzu claims that Seeing into darkness is clarity, and counsels us to return to the source of light. / This is called practicing eternity

But it cannot be overemphasized that the Chinaman is not the issue. Rather, the preferred nomenclature is Logos, about which we can be abundantly clear and yet not necessarily precise. For there are rules, but only because there is a Ruler, and we are not Him.

For example, scientific statements can be made with ever-increasing precision, to such an extent that they reveal more and more about less and less. 

Conversely, philosophical statements clearly refer to everything, but in an imprecise way -- for example, if something is true, then it can't be false. Thanks for the tip, Cap'n Tautologous. You're out of your depth!

Disagree. Do you really think I'd roll out naked, metaphysically speaking? Again, an orthoparadox is not a tautology; or rather, it may appear so if viewed horizontally. It only reveals itself as meaningful from the vertical perspective. 

For example, the Thomistic tradition declares that "All that exists (or is real) is true." You may respond that this is trivial. 

Fair enough. Let's affirm the opposite: that there is no truth in things. Where does this leave us? Correct: in a nul-de-slack of nihilism and tenure -- or sitting on a one-sided rug, as if such a thing were possible or even conceivable. For no one can abide in the bright side of utter darkness.

Now, according to Thomas, 

The very reality of a thing is also its inner light.

A light we will continue to disclose in the next post. 

27 comments:

Dougman said...

‘This is not to say beyond metaphysical demonstration -- for example, Lao-tzu claims that Seeing into darkness is clarity, and counsels us to return to the source of light. / This is called practicing eternity.’

We can look into the darkness of the greedy and see no end to their hunger for more.
Cast our gaze to the emptiness that is the abyss of their soul.
We don’t have to turn away from the light to do this.
We can let the light pass through us as a prism disperses colors and with the love of truth open ears to the fullness of G_D.
This is redemption.

To bring a soul back from death to the truth will bring forgiveness of a multitude of sins.

julie said...

But it cannot be overemphasized that the Chinaman is not the issue.

Ha!

Pieper makes reference to the "daytime view" but also a "nighttime view," the former revealing "all things as accessible to an ever deeper cognition," the latter disclosing -- nondisclosing? -- the impossibility of ever attaining complete comprehension:

I can't help thinking again of the new photos being taken by the JW telescope. Each new image from a supposedly dark spot reveals galaxy upon galaxy, so many that to the untrained eye each one may as well be a grain of sand on a beach. We can comprehend that the universe is full of light, but understanding the totality of even one of those galaxies is completely beyond us.

julie said...

Hi Dougman!

Dougman said...

Hey Julie!
How are you doing today?

julie said...

Can't complain :) To the extent that my family ever has a normal day, it's pretty normal-ish.

julie said...

And you?

Dougman said...

Me too.
Arguing with the wife, lol

John Venlet said...

Rather, the preferred nomenclature is Logos, about which we can be abundantly clear and yet not necessarily precise. For there are rules, but only because there is a Ruler, and we are not Him.

We can know God truly, but not exhaustively.

Gagdad Bob said...

I hadn't checked out LGF for years, but it is as far up the Oozlum's path as it is possible to be: they think Brandon was too soft on us!

Gagdad Bob said...

It's like Dailykos without the sparkling wit.

Gagdad Bob said...

Or a less temperate Keith Olbermann.

julie said...

What do you even do with someone that far gone?

Sad.

Gagdad Bob said...

It's beyond our ability to comprehend it, which I think is the point: hell is where reason has no purchase.

Gagdad Bob said...

I mean, if they accuse of being racist and fascist, and you calmly explain that you're the polar opposite of those things, but they persist in believing it, then there truly is nothing you can do. You can't argue someone out of a delusion.

Anonymous said...

I'm starting to wonder if Nazis knew they were racist fascists. You know, the baddies.

Anonymous said...

Back in the days of neocon LGF, there was a progressive blogger I knew of who tolerated debate from “the other side”. One day she posted something critical of Charles Johnson and wound up getting doxed and inundated with death threats.

Strange how LGF isn’t like that anymore. Proof of the effemination of America?

Gagdad Bob said...

More proof that Charles sustained a serious head injury.

Anonymous said...

How about that speech by Brandon?
We can see that Soros is in charge now.
Nothing short of a declaration of war by our own government.
No more sitting on the fence for me.

Let’s Roll!

Anonymous said...

Sign me, Anonymous Patriot

Sam Harris said...

Biden's speech was just a window into Trump's soul.

Anonymous said...

Easy there fellow anonymii. Could it be that our senile old fake POTUS has made a deal with Satan to transform him into Dark Brandon, all super cunning and so very evil? If he has indeed become a hive of scum and villainy, then we must be cautious.

Petey said...

The speech was a glass-bottom boat ride over the sewer that is Brandon's wretched soul.

Anonymous said...

Well Petey, I for one believe he was doing puppet-speeching by his handlers. How do we know Brandon isn't a functional Catholic being helplessly puppeted about by master handlers who themselves, have wretched souls?

Let me explain. Back when Frank Sinatra was getting really old, he did this farewell tour. The Weekend at Bernie's movie hadn't come out yet, but I do believe they got the idea from this tour, where Sinatra was being force-crooned. I was in the front row and could see the wires. That would explain Biden's dark lighting and odd hand gestures.

Anonymous said...

Cautious?
Damn the torpedoes.
Full speed ahead!

John Paul Jones

Don’t try to take the spotlight off of the nazi.
Trump is the point of the spear that is at least 75 million people large.
Does anyone believe that the whole military is supportive of the insanity that has gripped the democrats?
Ha!
And don’t forget about the ex-military that will never go against their oath to the constitution.

Anonymous Patriot

Anonymous said...

Personally, I want God to be there too. The last time, I was leading the charge against the city of dark interlopers and shouted: "Now WITNESS THIS!" I pointed to the sky and awaited the bolts of lightning.

But nothing happened. So I shouted again. And nothing happened again. I must've said it wrong or did something out of sequence or something, I dunno. The laughter coming down from the interloper walls was deafening. We cannot make the same mistake again, methinks. I mean, lookit what happened to Sarah Palin!

Anonymous said...

My bad.
Not JP Jones but David Farragut

Anonymous said...

Speaking of the Vatican, are the Swiss Guard crossdressers or just larping?

Yes I know, those Greek guards are literally wearing dresses with pom poms on their shoes which from a distance, makes their footwear look a bit like oversized clown shoes. Plus those long hat tassels are incredibly gay looking. Far worse by comparison, you might say. But still, pantaloons?

I'm busy choosing outfits for our patriotic army and have happened upon some unsavory pictures from other, unamerican lands.

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