A rapid stream is full of ripples,
vortexes, bumps and pits, as if they are cut in stone. One could suspect that
twists of the stream and twigs and stones in it determine all this, but it is
difficult to guess, what it is.
One takes the stream as it is seen and
describes its ripples, vortexes, etc. as independent interacting features. It
could be described in terms of a finite construction of finite set of elements,
grouped into classes of similar features.
One understands that there is an invisible underlying
structure, which shapes the stream but describes an Observable Superstructure.
Relationship
between this underlying structure (the cause) and the Observable Superstructure
(the consequence) is difficult to discern.
More
importantly, describing the underlying structure being armed only with the Observable
Superstructure is impossible. For example, the stream bed could be smooth, but
the stream could carry vortexes caused by passing boat or a taking off duck.
Even
small life experience shows that what we know about reality is only an
Observable Superstructure – ripples and vortexes. The underlying cause stays
hidden.
Some schools of thought conclude that there
is nothing to look for in the Observable Superstructure, if there is no way to
get to understanding of underlying structure. They conclude that the Observable
Superstructure is a “world of illusion” and one should not be preoccupied with
it.
The alternative approach would be
acceptance of inevitability of being entangled with the “world of illusion” and
making the best of it. This leads to consistent analysis of the Observable
Superstructure with perpetual reminding that it is not a thing in itself, but
merely a consequence of something else.
This approach should work well in analysis
of concepts, ideas, words, and so on – in analysis of a World of Ideas.
The World of Ideas is an Observable
Superstructure as ripples and vortexes are an Observable Superstructure on the
stream. It is impossible to dig-in from the World of Ideas to its underlying
cause - reality, it is impossible to reach knowledge of underlying reality
using ideas.
Nevertheless, the World of Ideas is an
interesting subject of study, at least because it affects our decision-making
and well-being. In addition, it is possible to reach some understanding of
reality doing so, even when knowing of it is unreachable this way.
There is an obvious interplay between an
Individual World of Ideas – something that belongs to an individual mind, and a
Communal World of Ideas – something that belongs to a Community. The Community
could be a small one – a group, or a larger one – a culture, or the Humanity as
a whole.
The Communal World of Ideas is not a
collection of Individual Worlds of Ideas. It is a “thing” on its own.
Individual Worlds of Ideas absorb ideas from the Communal Worlds of Ideas (in a
slightly controlled manner) and bombard Communal Worlds of Ideas with the
stream of new ideas, some of which take hold in them.
There
is a perpetual (asymmetric) stream of ideas exchange between various Worlds of
Ideas (Individual and Communal). Some ideas appear and disappear quickly, and
others are stable.
Stable
ideas are often interpreted as right ideas. However, the fact that they are
stable does not mean that they are right, and this is obvious – it happened so
often that stable individual ideas or stable ideas shared by some social group
were dead wrong.
Some
factors, which made ideas stable are hidden, as factors defining where a vortex
emerges in a stream, others are observable.
Controlling
observable factors one could affect speed of ideas generation and dissipation
and which ideas acquire stability.
For
example, it is possible to control, which ideas become stable, simply by
creation of barriers for ideas exchange and by repeated injection of particular
ideas. It is possible to turn stable ideas into transient ones through
consistent destruction of them as soon as they appear.
One
who sees ideas as the crowning achievement of Humanity would see the use of
such methods of artificial manipulations as immoral.
Definitely,
it should be remembered that autocrats, cult leaders, etc. use these methods of
manipulation to deprive us all of something very important, which we call
freedom. Definitely, every attempt of such manipulation should be closely
scrutinized and often fought against.
In
the same time, these methods should be used to protect an individual mind or a
society from insane ideas. When insane ideas become stable, they cause insane
actions, often dangerous actions.
Thee
differentiation between acceptable and unacceptable application of methods of
control of the World of Ideas is rooted in understanding of underlying reality.
This understanding could be presented using concepts only partially and
vaguely, if at all.
The
usefulness of the World of Ideas in decision-making comes from perpetual participation
of ideas in decision-making. Concepts describing and limiting actions and
criteria of the quality of outcomes of actions are tried perpetually by
individuals and communities. Stable concepts drive decision-making.
As
long this process is affected by deep understanding of reality, this subset of
stable concepts helps making of quick decisions in concert with understanding
of reality.
However,
the moment an individual or a society goes insane – looses understanding of
reality, detaches from reality, the World of Ideas becomes a trap. For an
insane individual or an insane society insane decisions look perfectly
justified.
Concepts and ideas are tools of
Consciousness, but there are not conscious tools of mentality: Mental Images
and Thoughts. They are not conscious stable “ripples and vortexes” in the perpetually
changing “sea” of thoughts. It is an Observable Superstructure on the stream of
information in the human body.
In
turn, Mental Images and Thoughts are a foundation for the World of Ideas.
Animal
trainers and hypnotists bring us a glimpse in this obscure world. The other
insight comes from the Mysticism.
For many years, the Mysticism studied the
Observable Superstructure of Mental Images and Thoughts associated with
mechanisms of thinking. Unfortunately, the results were presented as
description of reality and not as description of the working of the mind.
It
is difficult to differentiate consistently concepts related to workings of the
mind from concepts related to some more generic patterns. Usually there is no
need in such differentiation. However, sometimes mixing them together is highly
dangerous.
An
individual mind is perpetually testing ideas against own experiences. Ideas
related to the mechanics of mind’s working always pass these tests. Gradually,
a strong illusion emerges, that these ideas reflect the essence of reality.
It
takes a strong and experienced mind to stand against this illusion.
A
weak or inexperienced mind, which learns ideas of the Mysticism, quickly detaches
from reality – falls into insanity. Individuals and entire community went
insane through premature learning of the Mysticism.
Fortunately,
ideas of Mysticism are rarely made broadly known. The wealth of knowledge
accumulated by the Mysticism has to be shared in a highly controlled manner.
A human mind in its ordinary state cannot
escape the Observable Superstructure of thoughts, Mental Images, ideas and
concepts. It does not need to escape. It is its playground.
The
problem arises, when it asserts that there is nothing beyond this playground,
that this is a direct and accurate presentation of reality. In this case, the
mind becomes caged.
Not much is needed to keep mind free – only
perpetual recognition of the nature of Observable Superstructure and perpetual
quest for understanding of reality.
Unfortunately, the Mind (an Individual Mind
or a Communal Mind) often abandons attempts to experience such “external” view
– beyond the Observable Superstructure.
Fortunately,
the Humanity invented ways to challenge the Mind and remind it the need to make
such attempts perpetually.
Some
forms of religion provide a logically complete world-view, where a particularly
organized Observable Superstructure is declared as true and immutable. They
provide a “detailed description” of the cause of everything and embed this “description”
into the World of Ideas and into everyday life.
This
is a cage for the Mind. Societies dominated by such religion are stable, but
they quickly run into conflict with reality and perish.
Unfortunately,
any religion could be spoiled in such way. In difficult times, people look for
some logical explanation and demand that their religion provides such.
Religions providing social stability or intertwined with governance readily sacrifice
features requiring perpetual efforts of understanding reality for deceptive
clarity of explanation of everything through a few assumptions supported by
fear, perpetual repetition and ostracism of everyone challenging them.
These
Religion-Cages are examples of how consistent manipulation of the World of
Ideas, especially one, which goes through generations, creates a stable
Observable Superstructure substantially detached from reality.
Healthy forms of religion challenge the
Mind of an individual and a social group, demanding the quest for better
understanding of reality. These are Religions-Liberators. Monotheistic forms of
religion do just that; forms of religion, which do not do that cannot be called
monotheistic.
[ Alexander Liss
2006-03-18 ]