the limits of rationalism
The belief that there exist unspeakable things forms the cornerstone of human existence. When individuals are able to articulate every word they think, they lose a part of their humanity. There are certain concepts that should remain unspoken. It is puzzling why Western societies constantly challenge and disregard the limitations and prohibitions that common human sense imposes on them.
Consider, for example, a situation where someone discusses incest without any reservations, claiming that it is acceptable. Why do individuals feel the need to probe and question every taboo and restriction, subjecting everything to an airtight and consistent system? Western rationalism is the root of this issue. The problem lies not in recognizing that the world possesses rationality, but in the assumption that one can fully comprehend its rationality beforehand.
In contrast, Eastern rationalism, including dialectics and Marxism, assumes a deeper rationality and meaning in the world but does not claim to understand why. For instance, the prohibition of incest has a valid reason, yet the exact understanding may be elusive. Gaining knowledge about such matters requires more than intellectual contemplation; it necessitates experiencing and encountering the subject matter, leading to a realization of the ancestral wisdom behind the prohibition.
This type of enlightenment is distinct from merely constructing mental systems. It involves a mythical journey, discovering the reasons behind the prohibition of certain things in society and their sacred and unspeakable nature. Wisdom, in my view, entails recognizing this process of acquiring knowledge and understanding. It is not merely accepting established norms, but it also does not assume that meaning is absent if it cannot be justified intellectually.
Unfortunately, some individuals, like Vosh, approach these matters differently. They arrogantly believe that they can overturn the entire history of human civilization through abstract reasoning. They think that running ideas through their minds and achieving a logically consistent system allows them to redefine sacred truths that have been universal across time.
This mindset represents the disease of Western rationalism and modernity. They overlook the fact that meaning and human significance cannot be reduced solely to a formally consistent mental system. Such a system is but a fraction of the broader understanding of meaning in the world. Wisdom encompasses various forms of comprehension, including surrendering to the limits of rationalization and acknowledging the presence of the inexplicable.\
The search for meaning involves a journey where one sometimes finds themselves speechless. This quest is not about formal consistency alone, as it eventually dissolves into incomprehensible equivalences. There exists something beyond formalization, resisting its complete grasp. Can we formally justify how we are born or our entry into this world? There are aspects of our existence that defy formalization, and attempting to impose it on everything is a separate issue.
For instance, we are born into families without choosing them. Is it justifiable to live within a family? Dylan Burns' hypothetical debate about territorial disputes reflects a similar problem. By assuming a normative and moral position, he frames the debate within the individual's agency. The issue lies not in whether it is justified or not, but in understanding what it truly represents.
Historical phenomena like territorial disputes cannot be simplified to mere questions of justification. Instead, they require a broader understanding of their nature and context. Meaning, therefore, extends beyond formal consistency, as it encompasses the complexities and limitations of our attempts to rationalize the world.
In conclusion, recognizing the existence of unspeakable things and accepting the limits of our understanding is fundamental to being human. Wisdom lies in navigating the mythical journey of discovery, acknowledging that meaning transcends formalized systems and embracing the inherent mysteries of existence.
discoholicmusic
janainaart
prguitarman
2087
