Current mood:

Working & nerdy share a symbol

More "teasers" from the philosophy department
Similar to last post. This came to why while I was on the verge of getting to sleep- that is seriously the best time for thinking. This stuff is not really new - I'm sure other philosophers have done it before, I just can't think of names - but I'm moving it along towards the spiritual spectrum.

"There are three things that humans can perceive about a phenomenon, whether it is external to them or internal. The first is “how”, that is, the way in which a phenomenon is occurring- “The sun appears to be rising”. The second is “what” – the way that a phenomenon affects the observer. “The sun rises, and the warmth and light are pleasant to me.” Finally, there is the “Why”, the Meaning – with a capital M – which is the relevance of the phenomenon not just to the observer, but part of the larger framework.

The “Why” does not reveal itself in any apparent way - it must be sought out. If there is a “Why”, it is only available, as far as we know, to human beings. Other beings have gotten the “how,” and most of them can deal with the “what” – in that they understand how to function in the world, and most develop some conception of what a thing is to them.

Other creatures do not seem to ask “Why,” as in: “What is the relevance of this phenomenon not only to me, but to all other experience?” We, humankind, feel uniquely empty without asking that question – and it is there, in the Why, not in the How (and only a little bit in the What) that the modern seeking of God begins."