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I sometimes feel that we all are watching a 3D movie without glasses. We can only see the 2D effect of it and those glasses can only be attained by some form of extraordinary mental level.
True. This reminded me of Kant. In his Critique of Pure Reason, he questions and disputes the credibility of these "glasses" themselves, and that whether the observations aided via the apparatus (the glasses, in this case) are really absolute and unquestionable. For instance, a colourblind's perception of the world will be at odds with that of a normal person's, but that doesn't make his own personal observations any less veracious, for both accounts are equally truthful. The fault here, thus, lies in the apparatus (his eyes, the "glasses") itself. But here enters another paradox. Whose account is more true - the colorblind's or the normal person's? The answer to this begs the search for a true frame of reference, in other words, an absolute truth, for which we have to look beyond all the empirical experience that the glasses offer . Kant says that our knowledge about space and time arises 'with' experience and not 'from' experience, that we cannot know reality "in itself" (the 'noumenal' world), but only what we perceive through the glasses (the 'phenomenal' world). We can never take off our glasses to see whether space and time are actually existent. This very realisation proves that 'knowledge' need not confirm to 'reality' and destroys the very foundation of world of science, mathematics, logic and experience the first step if each of these is 'observation' and they constitute the 'phenomenal' world, a world that we see through our glasses.
This way, observation is, in itself, an integration of common senses and should be generalised so.It is sometimes juxtaposed with some abstract, which itself later becomes abstract reference when we confront a similar reality.
Exactly, Sir. Infact, this very observation forms the basis of the Phenomenology of Husserl and Heidegger that states that reality, as we, humans, perceive it to be, can never actually transcend the tethers of human consciousness (consciousness, here, implies that same integration of human senses as you stated above). This vital observation formed the starting point of Albert Camus's arguments as to the "limits of reason" where he states - "I said that the world is absurd, but I was too hasty. This world in itself is not reasonable, that is all that can be said", and that there is a “hiatus between what we fancy we know and what we really know” (Myth of Sisyphus), and that the world is unknowable and life is without any meaning. He concluded that any attempts to understand the irrational world through the weapons of reason are bound to be futile. This relationship between humans and their world - the "absurdity" of human life - as he calls it, frustrates him, and because Camus sees "hope" as nothing but a trickery of the senses, he presents us with the philosophical contemplation of suicide. But, as we all know, he rejects both, in defiance, and chooses to live without escape and with integrity, without any consolations, whatsoever. To this he says, "I rebel, therefore, I exist."
Being more precise the term is 'philosophical suicide'.
Fundamental questions behind Camus or any philosopher are: 1. Who we are ? (it appears normal,but deeper you dive, dizzier it gets) 2. Where we are? 3. Why we are here?
These three questions have always formed core of any philosophical discourse or tends to go there.A brilliant work 'World of Sophie' which traces history of philosophy which starts with discussion on question 'Who am I'.
CHALLENGE IN FINDING ANSWER Richard Feynman through his lectures in physics has always tried to convey limitations of human when it comes to understand his physical world in entirety. He claims world that we perceive is infinitesimally small in comparison to what exist. Let's understand our world. Any one who has slight understanding of physics,knows this world is nothing but interplay of energy and matter at a fundamental level. As per latest understanding in physics with advent of string theory and enhanced understanding of matter, it can be safely assumed that everything around us is energy or vibration or some sort of electromagnetic disturbance in space. String theory which gets it credibility in mathematics talks of everything at fundamental level being vibrating strings(sting not in matter but shape).It is different frequencies of vibrations that create the diverse world that we see around.how Now, how these vibrations transforms itself into the world we see. We have senses. They act like transducers.When certain band of frequency(limited) falls on our eye as light we are able to see.When certain fixed band of frequencies of sound wave fall on our ear drums we hear sounds. Touch is in way sensing vibrations. When you touch table,or chair, it is large numbers of electrons and sub-atomic particles that is hitting your hand or body is what you sense.Things feel hotter,because of increased energy ,they are transferring more momentum or in layman term hitting you harder. Thus, these senses convert a fixed amount of frequencies into sound, vision,touch,taste,etc. Our cognitive mechanism, deceptively create a illusion called world which we are conditioned to accept real and everything. Feynman goes ahead and suggests that the frequencies that our senses transform into our world are infinitesimally small than what exist.Thus, we will never understand this world in it's entirety. Thus, with our limitations we wll never understand these fundamental questions of existence. If you have doubt ,you can read 'Elegant Universe ' by Brian Greene.You will understand how much less we are able to perceive and lots of things exist which defy our senses.
Philosophers like Camus are able to understand this reality through their reasoning and that's why they are genius.This is one of the reason I admire Camus. Camus call this absurdity of human existence where we are not able to understand these fundamental questions with limited senses and the reason based on it.Thus, it is a futile to try to understand the purpose of life or real reason why we exist. He says, we have two options with us: 1. Accept what religious text suggests.Have faith. This he terms as 'PHILOSOPHICAL SUICIDE'. 2. Give your meaning to life. Abandon faith and live an absolute life of reasons.According to him, reasons and rationality is enough to give a person enriched and dignified life.
Albert Camus is edifice of second way of life.His understanding and application of reason shows path to person choosing atheistic ways.
However, I believe there are loop hole in these philosophies by Camus or any other philosopher.These are accomplished philosophies of their genre yet a compromise to live an ignorant life.
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which place man..!!
Fundamental questions behind Camus or any philosopher are:
1. Who we are ? (it appears normal,but deeper you dive, dizzier it gets)
2. Where we are?
3. Why we are here?
These three questions have always formed core of any philosophical discourse or tends to go there.A brilliant work 'World of Sophie' which traces history of philosophy which starts with discussion on question 'Who am I'.
CHALLENGE IN FINDING ANSWER
Richard Feynman through his lectures in physics has always tried to convey limitations of human when it comes to understand his physical world in entirety. He claims world that we perceive is infinitesimally small in comparison to what exist.
Let's understand our world.
Any one who has slight understanding of physics,knows this world is nothing but interplay of energy and matter at a fundamental level. As per latest understanding in physics with advent of string theory and enhanced understanding of matter, it can be safely assumed that everything around us is energy or vibration or some sort of electromagnetic disturbance in space. String theory which gets it credibility in mathematics talks of everything at fundamental level being vibrating strings(sting not in matter but shape).It is different frequencies of vibrations that create the diverse world that we see around.how
Now, how these vibrations transforms itself into the world we see. We have senses. They act like transducers.When certain band of frequency(limited) falls on our eye as light we are able to see.When certain fixed band of frequencies of sound wave fall on our ear drums we hear sounds. Touch is in way sensing vibrations. When you touch table,or chair, it is large numbers of electrons and sub-atomic particles that is hitting your hand or body is what you sense.Things feel hotter,because of increased energy ,they are transferring more momentum or in layman term hitting you harder. Thus, these senses convert a fixed amount of frequencies into sound, vision,touch,taste,etc. Our cognitive mechanism, deceptively create a illusion called world which we are conditioned to accept real and everything.
Feynman goes ahead and suggests that the frequencies that our senses transform into our world are infinitesimally small than what exist.Thus, we will never understand this world in it's entirety. Thus, with our limitations we wll never understand these fundamental questions of existence. If you have doubt ,you can read 'Elegant Universe ' by Brian Greene.You will understand how much less we are able to perceive and lots of things exist which defy our senses.
Philosophers like Camus are able to understand this reality through their reasoning and that's why they are genius.This is one of the reason I admire Camus. Camus call this absurdity of human existence where we are not able to understand these fundamental questions with limited senses and the reason based on it.Thus, it is a futile to try to understand the purpose of life or real reason why we exist.
He says, we have two options with us:
1. Accept what religious text suggests.Have faith. This he terms as 'PHILOSOPHICAL SUICIDE'.
2. Give your meaning to life. Abandon faith and live an absolute life of reasons.According to him, reasons and rationality is enough to give a person enriched and dignified life.
Albert Camus is edifice of second way of life.His understanding and application of reason shows path to person choosing atheistic ways.
However, I believe there are loop hole in these philosophies by Camus or any other philosopher.These are accomplished philosophies of their genre yet a compromise to live an ignorant life.
Part -1 ....................ends................
Part-2 ...................follows............