And those whose hearts are fixed on Reality itself deserve the title of Philosophers. (Plato, Republic, 380BC )
Metaphysics is universal and is exclusively concerned
with primary substance. And here we will have the science to study that which
is, both in its essence and in the properties which, just as a thing that is,
it has. ... That among entities there must be some cause which moves and combines
things. ... There must then be a principle of such a kind that its substance
is activity.
(Aristotle, 340BC)
Reality cannot be found except in One single source, because of the interconnection of all things with one another. ... It is a good thing to proceed in order and to establish propositions (principles). This is the way to gain ground and to progress with certainty. ... I hold that the mark of a genuine idea is that its possibility can be proved, either a priori by conceiving its cause or reason, or a posteriori when experience teaches us that it is a fact in nature. (Gottfried Leibniz, 1670)
Hello,
I was hoping to make a start on this website in late 2005, but other work has distracted me! Anyway, I am about to start work again, so hopefully over the next 6 months (to early 2007) I will get quite a lot done.
I think Ibiblio is a great website, I am all for free access to free knowledge. So good on them and hopefully I can contribute some good quality knowledge on the subjects of physics, philosophy, metaphysics, truth and reality over the next few years.
My view (as a natural philosopher) is;
1. There are many errors in current foundations of human knowledge (this is well accepted, even within Academia).
2. Knowledge tends to get corrupted / misrepresented over time, thus it is important to have people who have read the original work and present quotes such that future generations can more easily confirm the truth of the central ideas of these great minds of Human history.
3. There is an inherent censorship within the Academic / Peer Review process that tends to maintain existing ideas (no matter how absurd and convoluted they become). That the free exchange of knowledge is vital for a healthy society. This is one thing I particularly like about Ibiblio.
4. That truth (even though it is a much abused concept) is vitally important for the future quality survival of Humanity. Thus the subjects of philosophy, physics and metaphysics, which study truth and reality, are very important. And I just happen to love these subjects, have read extensively on them over the past ten years. So over time I look forward to presenting lots of lovely wise knowledge from many beautiful and intelligent minds of human history (from ancient Indian and Greek philosophy through to modern western philosophy and physics).
However, I have a website that now gets around 50,000 visitors a day that still needs substantial work (and has grown much faster than I expected) which is keeping me very busy in the short term. But I will get there eventually!
All the best,
Geoff Haselhurst, October. 2006
PS - I am currently working on the Quantum Physics pages - so once they are
written up I will add short summaries here.
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Physics-Quantum-Theory-Mechanics.htm
A few interesting quotes;
And though the philosopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself throughout the whole society, and bestow a similar correctness on every art and calling.
... The sweetest and most inoffensive path of life leads through
the avenues of science and learning; and whoever can either remove any obstructions
in this way, or open up any new prospect, ought so far to be esteemed a benefactor
to mankind. And though these researches may appear painful and fatiguing, it
is with some minds as with some bodies, which being endowed with vigorous and
florid health, require severe exercise, and reap a pleasure from what, to the
generality of mankind, may seem burdensome and laborious. Obscurity, indeed,
is painful to the mind as well as to the eye; but to bring light from obscurity,
by whatever labour, must needs be delightful and rejoicing. ... Of the same
class of virtues with courage is that undisturbed philosophical tranquility,
superior to pain, sorrow, anxiety, and each assault of adverse fortune. Conscious
of his own virtue, say the philosophers, the sage elevates himself above every
accident of life; and securely placed in the temple of wisdom, looks down on
inferior mortals engaged in pursuit of honours, riches, reputation, and every
frivolous enjoyment. ... And the nearer we can approach in practice to this
sublime tranquility and indifference (for we must distinguish it from a stupid
insensibility), the more secure enjoyment shall we attain within ourselves,
and the more greatness of mind shall we discover to the world.
(David Hume, 1737)
The scientist does not study nature because it is useful;
he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is
beautiful.
If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing,
and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.
(Jules Henri Poincare)
If it comes to pride with a philosopher then it is a great
pride. His work never refers him to a public, the applause of the masses, and
the hailing chorus of contemporaries. To wander lonely along his path belongs
to the nature of the philosopher. His talents are the most rare, in a certain
sense the most unnatural and at the same time exclusive and hostile even to
kindred talents. The wall of his self sufficiency must be of diamond, if it
is not to be demolished and broken, for everything is in motion against him.
His journey to immortality is more cumbersome and impeded than any other and
yet nobody can believe more firmly than the philosopher that he will attain
the goal by that journey. He has truth; the wheel of time may roll whither
it pleases, never can it escape from truth. It is important to hear that such
men have lived.
(Friedrich Nietzsche, 1890)
Suppose, then, that all men were sick or deranged, save one
or two of them who were healthy and of right mind. It would then be the latter
two who would be thought to be sick and deranged and the former not!
(Aristotle, Metaphysics 340BC)
I don't know anything that gives me greater pleasure, or profit
either, than talking or listening to philosophy. But when it comes to ordinary
conversation, such as the stuff you talk about financiers and the money market,
well, I find it pretty tiresome personally, and I feel sorry that my friends
should think they're being very busy when they're really doing absolutely nothing.
Of course, I know your idea of me: you think I'm just a poor unfortunate, and
I shouldn't wonder if your right. But then I don't THINK that you're unfortunate
- I know you are. ...
When a man no longer has to work for his living, he should, 'practice excellence'.
(Plato)
To inquire after the meaning or object of one's own existence
or that of all creatures has always seemed absurd from an objective point of
view. And yet everybody has certain ideals which determine the direction of
his endeavors and judgments. In this sense I have never looked upon ease and
happiness as ends in themselves-this ethical basis I call the ideal of a pigsty.
The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new
courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty and Truth. Without
the sense of kinship with men of like mind, without the occupation with the
objective world, the eternally unattainable in the field of art and scientific
endeavors, life would have seemed to me empty. The trite objects of human efforts-possessions,
outward success, luxury-have always seemed to me contemptible.
My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibility has always
contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other
human beings and human communities. I am truly a 'lone traveler' and have never
belonged to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family, with
my whole heart; in the face of all these ties, I have never lost a sense of
distance and a need for solitude - feelings which increase with the years.
One becomes sharply aware, but without regret, of the limits of mutual understanding
and consonance with other people. No doubt, such a person loses some of his
innocence and unconcern; on the other hand, he is largely independent of the
opinions, habits, and judgments of his fellows and avoids the temptation to
build his inner equilibrium upon such insecure foundations.
(Albert Einstein - Ideas and Opinions, 1954)
My dear children:
I rejoice to see you before me today, happy youth of a sunny and fortunate
land.
Bear in mind that the wonderful things that you learn in your schools are the
work of many generations, produced by enthusiastic effort and infinite labour
in every country of the world.
All this is put into your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive
it, honour it, and add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children.
Thus do we mortals achieve immortality in the permanent things which we create
in common.
If you always keep that in mind you will find meaning in life and work and
acquire the right attitude towards other nations and ages.
(Albert Einstein - Ideas and Opinions, 1954)