Understanding Being, Reality, Death, and the Absolute
Being and Becoming
Being and becoming: In a broader sense, not only are material beings judged to have existence, and the observable realities of science, but also intimately subjective realities (feelings, God). Heraclitus of Ephesus believed that the secret of reality lies in eternal becoming. Others believe that true reality is immutable.
Reality and Appearance
Reality and appearance: Reality is the set of all beings and objects that have existence in themselves, regardless of a subject that perceives them. Appearance is how that reality manifests or is perceived by subjects.
Being and Nothingness
Being and Nothingness:
- Being: That which is, what exists, reality.
- Nothingness: The negation of being.
According to Henri Bergson, “nothingness” is a meaningless term because it cannot be thought of or even imagined; it is a pseudo-idea. Nothingness is a logical term, but it is empty of content.
Spiritualism and Materialism
Spiritualism and materialism:
- Spiritualism: Considers thinkers who argue that underlying the material reality that we experience, there is a spiritual reality that gives it meaning.
- Materialism: Philosophers who deny the existence of realities of a spiritual nature.
Death
Death:
- Specific trait: As in plants and animals, death is a fact. In humans, it is a constituent of life itself. The human being is aware of their own death, knowing that they will inevitably die, which implies that death conditions their whole life.
Death is beyond life; therefore, it is impossible to live or feel. The only possibility we have to know it is through the death of others, just as spectators. Only the feelings that we live create us.
Conceptions of Death
- Death as the end: The absolute end of all life.
- Death as transit: Only the biological being dies; the spirit and mind are kept in another life.
The Absolute
- Independent, unqualified: Its existence depends on nothing and is the cause and reason for everything else.
- Infinite, unlimited: Not subject to the limitations of time and space.
- Superhuman.
Conceptions of the Absolute
- Pantheism: Absolute reality is immanent in the world. They believe in a god who is identified with the unity of all being; God and nature are identical.
- Theism: The absolute is a transcendent reality. They believe in a god who created the universe and can also intervene in the events that happen; a personal god.
- Deism: The absolute is a transcendent reality. According to Unamuno, they believe in a god that is the cause and foundation of the world but does not intervene; a god that is not personal and does not reveal himself.
- Atheism: Rejects and denies everything. As there is no God, it is impossible to know of its existence or to access it.
- Agnosticism: Neither affirms nor denies the existence of the absolute. It is impossible to know or demonstrate both the existence and the nonexistence of God.
- Indifference: Neither affirms nor denies the existence of the absolute, and this question is not a concern.
What is the Stance of Philosophy?
- Since ancient times, it has been theistic.
- During modernity, there is a change of perspective because Kant says that you cannot prove the existence or nonexistence of God.
- In the modern era, atheism is especially prevalent.