Maverick Philosopher

Nihil philosophicum a me alienum puto

To promote independent thought about ultimates. Philosophy, commentary on the passing scene, and whatever else turns my crank. Since 4 May 2004. By William F. Vallicella, Ph.D., Gold Canyon, Arizona, USA. Motto: "Study everything, join nothing." (Paul Brunton) Latin Motto: Omnia mea mecum porto. Turkish motto: Yol bilen kervana katilmaz. (He who knows the road does not join the caravan.) All material copyrighted.

Monday, April 25, 2005

The Metaphysical Mindset

Robert Reininger, Philosophie des Erlebens, ed. Nawratil, p. 137:

Der Gedanke, dass alles Zeitliche nur ein schwankendes und der letzten Geltung entbehrendes Bild der Ewigkeit ist, gibt dem, was man das metaphysische Bewusstsein nennen kann, erst seine Grundlage.

What one might call the metaphysical consciousness has its foundation in the thought that everything temporal is at best a shifting image of eternity, one devoid of ultimate validity.

Cf. Plato, Timaeus 37 c-e.



Posted by William F. Vallicella on Monday April 25, 2005 at 9:16am. 0 Comments 0 Trackbacks

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Reininger in the Vicinity of Plato

I continue to translate the aphorisms and observations of the Austrian philosopher Robert Reininger, Philosophie des Erlebens, ed. Nawratil (Wien: Verlag Franz Deuticke, 1976), p. 229:

Nichts, was vergaenglich und darum voruebergehend ist, ist wahrfhaft ernst zu nehmen. Ernst zu nehmen im tiefsten Sinne ist weder die Welt noch das Leben, sondern nur unsere gegenwaertige Stellungnahme zu Welt und Leben. Ueberwindung des Pessimismus — dazu verhilft die Einsicht in die Irrealitaet der Zeit. Der Glaube an die (absolute) Realitaet der Zeit als Grundirrtum! (A 840, 1939)

The ephemeral and transient is not to be taken with the utmost seriousness. At bottom, neither the world nor life is to be taken seriously, but only our present attitude toward them. Insight into the unreality of time will secure us against pessimism. The belief in the (absolute) reality of time is the fundamental error!
Posted by William F. Vallicella on Tuesday April 19, 2005 at 4:14pm. 0 Comments 0 Trackbacks

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Reininger Contra Buddhism

Robert Reininger, Philosophie des Erlebens, p. 227:

Gegen Buddhismus: Trishna nicht ertoeten (ausloeschen), sondern durch Ueberhoehung in den Dienst des Vernunftwillens stellen — sonst fehlt diesem die lebendige Kraft, die nur der Daseinsbejahung eignet (A 751, 1932).

Against Buddhism: Trishna is not to be killed or extinguished, but elevated and placed in the service of the rational will. Without this sublimation, the rational will lacks the vital force inherent in the affirmation of existence.

COMMENT: Trishna is Sanskrit for desire, thirst. Central to Buddhism is the notion that the suffering and general unsatisfactoriness of life is rooted in desire, and that salvation is to be had by the extirpation of desire. Reininger's point is one with which I wholly agree. The goal ought not be the extinction of desire, but its sublimation. Desire as such is not the problem, the problem is misdirected desire. Properly channeled and sublimated, desire provides the motive force for the rational will.
Posted by William F. Vallicella on Wednesday April 13, 2005 at 6:39pm. 0 Comments 1 Trackbacks