Hi Marsha --
> How do you get from epistemology to "the very purpose > of human existence?" Purpose? How do you make such a leap? Interesting question. You know, I wondered myself, after typing that reply to David, whether I had short-circuited the loop between the "how" and the "why". I decided I had not. All I really did was outline an epistemology for value-perception, and then ask if that concept might also suggest a purpose for man's existence. It's a related question, but I don't believe I forced the issue, even though I'll admit that purpose (teleology) is always a goal to be pursued. > Have you had an experience of such a leap? I'm not sure. I may have made an intuitive leap in constructing this ontology. But how does one experience an "intuitive leap"? The philosopher doesn't deal with empirical reality, so theoretical "breakthroughs" can't be compared with experiential knowledge. > Is there a logic for such a leap? Is such a leap necessary? If so, why? I think there is logic in my conclusions. What I've proposed is a cogent theory supported by propositions that are consistent with the conclusion. Since traditional logic is applicable only within a relational system, one can't furnish "logical proof" for a non-relational hypothesis. That, unfortunately, is a limitation of intuition as applied to metaphysics. As for whether such a leap is "necessary", that depends on how serious you are in resolving the enigma of existence. I think most people reach a certain plateau in their understanding of reality, and leave it for others to explain the rest. Some are resigned to the ineffability of the unknown, and are content to live out their lives as if it had no meaning or purpose. As you see, I refuse to accept life at face value, even in the realization that we can never have empirical certainty for our convictions. What it all boils down to is that philosophy is ultimately an individual matter. We are guided along the way by perspectives that may or may not conform to our own, and most of us arrive at some philosophical conclusion, whether we express them publicly or not. Thanks for your penetrating insight, Marsha. I hope I've answered your questions. Essentially yours, Ham Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
