Posts

Archetype Definition Part 2

 As we have discovered, an Archetype is defined as an invisible, immaterial, Platonic mental concept that exists independently and autonomously.   Archetypes, therefore, are real, living entities. Because Archetypes are Unconscious (which is defined as those thoughts that we are not aware of), they are, by their very nature, unknowable.  But they are known when they are manifested to the Conscious Mind in the form of Symbols (dreams, active imagination, myths, legends, religion, art, poetry and more). Jung teaches that our empirical, rational Western mindset tends to neglect or suppress Archetypes.  In fact, many even deny that such Archetypes exist at all.  This neglect, suppression or denial (according to Jung) of Archetypes leads to an imbalanced psyche.   This imbalance is due to the fact that the Conscious Mind and the Unconscious Mind are not synchronized (that is, out of harmony with each other).  Eventually, according to Jung, the sup...
Post a Comment
Read more

Archetype Definition Part 1

 An   Archetype is defined as a mental concept, an invisible mental blueprint, an intangible mental idea that exists independently and autonomously.   Archetypes were first described by Plato as mental templates, mental architectural blueprints that he called "Forms" and "Ideas."   How is it that I can relate to you the concept of Truth (or Justice or the Good or Beauty)?  Clearly, this is an idea, a concept, an invisible, intangible mental form.  This concept (that is, this formless architectural blueprint) is immaterial (and, yes, invisible and intangible).  -And yet this concept is real.  How can this be?  Plato called this concept a FORM.  -Actually, it is a formless form that can only be seen by the enlightened philosopher (according to Plato). Carl Jung discovered that these Archetypes are real, living entities existing independently and autonomously.  These Archetypes are Collective in nature because they enter the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Truth and Falsity Part 2

We will concentrate mainly on Aristotle's concept of truth and falsity, namely, the Syllogism (as outlined in his Prior Analytics).  A Syllogism is defined as a three-part line of deductive reasoning that leads, logically, to a conclusion .  It is a line of reasoning that progresses from the known to the unknown according to specific laws of reasoning.  Aristotle's Syllogistic Logic is endlessly fascinating because it describes, in detail, the Basic Building Blocks of Valid Human Reasoning.     The whole of Western Rational Thought, including modern science, is based on Aristotle's brilliant discovery and description of the syllogism .   I will list the three most useful Syllogisms. Basic Categorical Syllogism All men are human.  (All A is B.) Socrates is a man.  (C is A.) Therefore, Socrates is human.  (Therefore, C is B.) Either/Or Syllogism Either Socrates is alive, or he is dead.  (Either A or B.) Socrates is not alive.  (N...
Post a Comment
Read more

Truth and Falsity Part 1

Truth is defined as a statement or idea that corresponds with reality. Falsity is defined as a statement or idea that does not correspond with reality. There are two worldviews regarding truth and falsity: Aristotle's Logic and Dialetheism. According to Aristotle: To say that something is true when it is, is true.  To say that something is true when it isn't is false.  To say that something is false when it is, is true.  To say that something is false when it isn't, is false.  According to Aristotle, all Logic must be based on two concepts: Truth and Falsity.  Either something is true or it is false.  A thing (that is, a concept, idea or event) cannot be both true and false at the same time and in the same place.  His whole science of Syllogisms is based on these two concepts. According to Dialetheism truth and falsity involve four concepts (as opposed to Aristotle's two concepts of truth and falsity):  1) True  2) False  3) Neither true...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aristotelian Reality Part 4

  Aristotelian Reality Part 4 As we have discovered in a previous blog (Aristotelian Reality Part 3) the whole, balanced person is one who lives in Balance between the Unconscious and Conscious Mind.   This individual is open to the Unconscious Language of Symbols (as revealed through dreams, myth, religion, legend, art, music, poetry and more) and integrated it into one’s Conscious Thinking.     In other words, one has learned to integrate Unconscious Reality (Plato) and Conscious Reality (Aristotle) into a Balanced, Holistic Reality. Faith (Platonic Reality) and Reason (Aristotelian Reality) are held together in Balance .   Religion (Unconscious Platonic Reality) and Science (Conscious, Aristotelian Reality) are held together in Stable Equilibrium in the human psyche.   Faith , therefore, is primarily based on Unconscious Reality, which is Platonic Reality and Mystical Reality.   Reason is primarily based on Conscious Reality, which is...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aristotelian Reality Part 3

  Aristotelian Reality Part 3 As we discovered in another blog (Aristotelian Reality Part 1) Aristotle, a disciple of Plato, departed from his philosophical master’s teachings.   Plato believed that true reality consists of invisible thought-forms (which he called Forms) experienced by the enlightened philosopher.   Aristotle believed that true reality is visible and concrete and experienced through the experience of the five senses.   Plato’s reality is invisible.   Aristotle’s reality is visible. Plato’s logic is mystical.   Aristotle’s logic is practical and tangible. Plato’s logic is unconscious.   Aristotle’s logic is conscious.   Somehow, both Realities are true, despite their antithetical qualities.   How can these two Realities be reconciled?   In the history of Christian thought Augustine (354-430 A.D) focused on Plato.   His theology reigned for approximately 800 years until Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) came along a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aristotelian Reality Part 2

  Aristotelian Reality Part 2 Aristotle’s tangible, visible, concrete reality, as we discovered in another blog (Aristotelian Reality Part 1), is discovered by the five senses of sight, sound, hearing, tasting and smelling.    The philosophy of Aristotle, then, is the historical beginnings of science.   The scientist uses the five senses, along with reason and mathematics, to discover reality.   Inquiry, hypothesis, experiment, collection of data and conclusions are all experienced through the five senses and through Aristotle’s concrete reality.   Aristotle wrote a number of treatises on Physics ( Physics, On The Heavens, Meteorology ), Psychology ( On The Soul, Logic) , Biology ( History of Animals, On the Parts of Animals, On the Motion of Animals, On the Gait of Animals, On the Generation of Animals), Metaphysics (that is, Ontology, which is the study of Being and Nonbeing), Ethics ( Nicomachean Ethics ) and Politics ( The Athenian Constitution, Polit...
Post a Comment
Read more