Unifying philosophy and science-
Thought and understanding
Unifying philosophy and science-
Thought and understanding
Science and philosophy are interconnected and differ only in their direction.
On one hand philosophy talks about ideas and meaning in life and on other hand science talks about physical world and natural laws which connect them.
Philosophy has to realise that ideas cannot be empty. They have to have both understandings and applications, with each having equal importance. The application part must give rise to nature.Science also has to realise and believe that physical world is based on fundamental natural laws and unifying ideas which can be understood by the mind.
Both science and philosophy unite in the innate natural ideas which can be defined as natural ideas with both understandings and applications.
The most important language is the symbolic language of nature. It is the language which speaks not in words, but in examples. All languages develop in coherence and in conjunction with this symbolic language of nature.
The neural mechanisms explain how we comprehend a language when there is multisensoryintegration in wernicke’s area of the brain. This part of the brain located in left posterio-superior temporal lobe recieves fibres from the visual cortex of occipital lobe, sensory and tactile fibres from the parietal lobe and auditory fibres from the temporal lobe. Networks involving temporoal and inferior frontal cortex with left lateralisation support syntactic processes. Whereas less lateralised networks control semantic processes and right predominant networks control Prosodic functions.
What is more important is that there is definite role of external sensations from the nature stimulating the above areas in developing a language. Without appropriate sensations language functions would be incomplete.
Those who cannot see since birth can still learn spoken language. Those who cannot listen since birth cannot speak but can learn the speech(lip) reading and sign language. Those who are deaf blind can learn Braille language.
Logically speaking, one or more mode of sensation is necessary to learn a language. Nature provides all the predicates of a language.
On morality, ethics and character
Human life and the moral values are intricately connected. Greek ‘ethikos” ‘(ethical) is adjective cognate of ‘ethos'(character) . Hence moral virtue can be also called the excellence of character.
Character is about combination of qualities which make an individual an ethically admirable person.
Character is a set of qualities which inspire an individual from within, to live a worthy life and to make life liveable for future generations to come.
The foundation of most religions of the world have their basis in the basic morals which govern and determine a valuable life.
We seem to require a morally upright God or ideal person to provide us directions in leading a virtuous life.
We look upon our elders to guide us in difficult moral situation.
Socrates stated that virtue is knowledge and man sins only from ignorance: he who is virtuous is happy.
These words of Socrates were the driving force behind the question as to what constitutes virtue and a virtuous life.
Any philosophical discussion of moral values begins with discussing relativism which states that moral and political values have no universal validity but are valid only for the specific epoch and culture on which they originate.
What was valid last century will not remain in next century because many aspects of our life would be changed by then. What is valid for a given culture may not be so for another culture.
“Everything is fair in love and war” a socially privileged person might say but a person who belongs to poorer section might stick more to morality or religion. So, are there social and economic reasons behind the moral principles we follow ?
So, are there any definitive moral principles which govern our living?
Marx believed that morality and religion is used by the bourgeoisie (rich and powerful) to control the proletariat (poorer and labour class).
The rich on their own never followed any moral or ethical rules for the betterment of society. He even believed that religion was used by ruling class to subdue the poorer section and to keep social order. So, it’s true that there are economic influences upon the moral fabric of an individual.
I have a different perspective of all the moral aspects. I believe morality and virtue is relative according to time and place and also influenced by economic factors.
But the more important aspect determining morality and ethics is the human will and our self worth and self respect. If we understand that ethics and character are about self worth and self respect then it becomes easy and a lot understandable.
We have to realise that life is connected to everything around not only by physical laws but also with the laws of perception and interpretation and eventually with our will to change.
There are certain core values which define human life. These values are life sustaining, life strengthening and also constitute life. We may deny honesty, compassion and generosity but we cannot deny the integrity and courage which follow them. Love and strength go hand in hand. Humans can have a sense of dignity only when there is realisation of self worth and self respect.
The ability of sustaining every value of life depend upon our own self respect.
If we have a decent self respect and value life, we shall maintain a respectable character and believe in ethics. If we do not believe in any self respect then humans are no different from any other biological species.
A man with self respect would always have a rich character and remain steadfast to the core values of life no matter which situation he is put into.
If necessary, such man will be ready to take a stand for all that which makes life valuable.
On logic and mathematics
Only logically valid mathematical operations are universal.
Consider a simple mathematical operation like 1+1 is equal to how much? Any nursery going child will answer it as 2.
Yes, so simple.
Now consider adding 1 apple and 1 apple, how many? Obviously 2 apples.
Now consider adding 1 apple and 1 orange, how much?
Not so simple isn’t it ?😀
We cannot add two dissimilar objects because they don’t belong to same set of fruits. They belong to different sets.
Now consider sets.
Sets are mathematical collection of objects with similar qualities. For example a set of odd or even numbers or a set of fruits.
We can carry out all mathematical functions in between the objects of a single set because it’s objects have similar qualities.
Hence two apples can be added but an apple and an orange cannot be added unless you consider a larger set consisting of all fruits.
So, in order to conduct all mathematical operations, the first thing we have to do is; remove distinctions between all objects and consider only the universal set.
This allows all possible operations to be carried out among entities and let them have different qualities at the same time.
So 1+1 is 2 only when both the 1 belong to same set or it is an operation in a universal set.
The principles and operations of mathematics have to follow logical rules to have a universal application.
Did you get the logic of the discussion?
Only logically valid mathematical operations are universal.
On words, meanings and languages
If words alone contained their own meanings then we would have had a single language all over the world.
Meanings exist in the mind and nature also and we choose words to express those meanings. It is for this reason that those populations which were unconnected due to geographical reasons developed completely different languages.
As we grow older, each one of us can develop a language of our own in our minds. Many code languages are used by many secret service agents also and modified as per need.
However, language is not just means of discussing with ourselves but also communicating with others.
If we develop a new language of our own, we would not be understood by anyone else or will be understood by others with great difficulty.
We therefore learn a language which is already in use in the community so that we could communicate with everyone easily.
A traditional or native language is borne out of meanings of many generations. A traditional or native language is borne out of thinking of many people of the past- Cogitamus Ergo Sumus.
Practically speaking, we can develop our own unique language after a certain age, but we need not waste time doing so, because not many people will be interested in learning our new language. The best language is the language which is already in acceptance at the place where we live. And remember this native language is borne out of the thinking of many minds in past. Words acquire their meanings because we agree to believe it so, based on our common thinking.
The last and most important point (scientific as well as logical one)….
The most important language is the symbolic language of nature. It is the language which speaks not in words but in examples. All languages develop in coherence and in conjunction with this symbolic language of nature. Mind and nature connect with each other by this language.
(Will elaborate on this topic in times to come)
It is necessary that every person who wishes to take vaccine must be vaccinated. This is valid not just for India but the entire population of Earth. This is specifically important because the virus is mutating at a rapid pace and from place to place. As long as herd immunity is not developed, the virus will keep mutating, circulating around and keep infecting people. Vaccination will help in development of this herd immunity.
This is the time when WHO and other leaders of the world should take responsibility and think about vaccinating each and every individual of the planet. This will prevent further mortality due to virus.
It is disaster time and I understand the vaccine companies have to take care of their financial aspects but it is time when WHO and economically developed countries should come forward and take complete onus of vaccinating the entire population. The vaccine companies should make whatever concessions they could make.
In this regard I invoke the spirit on oneness and solidarity
(Cogitamus Ergo Sumus)
We may belong to different nations of the world but we know we inhabit one planet Earth and one Universe.
We may belong to different caste, creed, colour or religion but we know we are one humanity.
We may be different individuals but we strive and seek a common universal truth.
“No matter which nation of the world we may belong to
No matter which religion of the world we may belong to
No matter which language of the world we might speak
No matter which colour, caste or creed we may belong to
We all are one in our spirits.”
On Art, aesthetics and philosophy..
Since time immemorial philosophy has tried to bring art into the realms of rationality and the assign the role of cognition to it. Art always claims that its content is inaccessible to philosophy and serves a much higher purpose and value.
Philosophers then coined aesthetics to discuss art and to make it more precise and give it a philosophical form.
Earlier philosophical movements attributed the role of romanticism in art. These movements assigned the role of our feelings, emotions and affects in the works of art. According to romanticism, our psychological states had a role in development of art. Beauty was considered as an apprehension of the moral rational order of things. Beauty in art and art is beauty was the dictum of the romantic movement.
There was then an anti-romantic art movement which assigned a higher purpose to art. Art should be for art’s sake was the inspiration. Teleology was assigned more important role than cause of it.
Transcendental theory of art says we all have a geist (the inner spiritual being) which inspires all art forms. The inner apriori inspirations guide us and help us express our emotions and feelings in different forms.
The naturalistic theory on the other hand says that nature and the external world is the inspiration behind all art. There is definitive role of empericism in art and we can explain our artistic growth in terms of natural evolution of mind and humans.
I agree with all the theories but assign different roles to them at different stages.
I do agree that art comes from within for which we should allow ourselves to be calm. Once we are tranquil creativity begins to flow on her own. It is like being a child; a child busy his play.
However art also needs a language to express itself. An author can write only in language he learns. A painter needs assess to colours in order to paint. Music will need instruments. These instruments and musical forms undergo natural changes over time. We inherit art from our surroundings and our experiences also and how we are effected by them. So, our art grows only when we are provided with basic ingredients for its development from nature.
At the same time, we always need to have the right feelings, emotions and inspirations to produce work of art. We need a sensitive persona to become an artist.
To summarise, all elements including our heart, brain, mind and soul need to come together to produce work of art.
The importance of science is not in its infallibility but in its corrigibility.
Science and scientific thinking has revolutionised the way we live our life in this century and it will continue to shape the course of human civilization in the times to come.
The present corona virus pandemic and the manner in which vaccines and medicines are saving human lives will give more credence to it.
Every human strives to have more control over his own life and also has a deep desire to know the truth. Science helps us in both.
Science is based on a rigorous method and strives to be exact. It tries to find exact relationship between constituents and causes of events. Everyone will agree that when faced with new challenges, we all have to proceed with scientific methodology and advancements of the time.
It does not mean that science is infallible. It still has many more questions to answer and it has been proved wrong many a times.
But science has the ability and true scientists have humility to accept the wrong. Their beliefs are not blind and are based on a rationale. Once presented with evidence against their own long lasting viewpoint, a scientist will always agree to look into it and make the correction.
Take the example of present pandemic.
The virus causing covid was detected when doctors noted a different type of pneumonia in the X-rays and CT scans. The disease involved peripheral lungs initially with ground glass opacities unlike hitherto known types of pneumonia. The cause was soon found to be novel corona virus. New and easier tests were made to detect the virus and disease from already known techniques. Experimental treatments were explored. These experimental drugs had known antiviral properties and were safe to use. Steroids were found to be most effective after many randomised and meta analytical trials. Many drugs like Hydroxychoroquine were later discarded when trial showed they had very little impact. Plasma therapy has also been discarded recently due to lack of treatment benefit.
Science is evidence based and if given evidence against a known theory, it will be ready to discard it. If tommorrow we come to know that a particular treatment is not effective or having side effects, it will be immediately discarded and course corrections will be made. For example, even steroid therapy need to be rationalised in covid to prevent mucormycosis.
Newer drugs have also been tried but most importantly effective vaccines were made available within a span of one year.
Research into more effective drugs and vaccines will continue to go on and many course corrections will be made.
Science believes that nature is not capacious but systematic and logical. Science is methodical and hence more likely to find a solution to the mysteries of nature. A sincere and determined effort to discover its principles will always bear fruits. Scientific method will therefore remain valid for many more future challenges to come.
No doubt, serendipity is possible and God may be helping us at critical junctures, but a discovery after sustained effort always gives better results because it is based on a definitive understanding of the principles involved. Even God would like us to become more self sufficient and knowledgeable. “Remember self help is the best help,” God would teach us from within.
We as humans are free to believe in an infallible God but we will have to depend and accept science because of its humility to accept failures and for its powers of corrigibility.