A Philosophy of Mind

[Barbara Brooks]

M,

A great read is Goethe’s “Wilhelm Mister’s Apprenticeship and Travels. “

I started writing once I got near the of Hegel’s Phenomenology of Mind when I began writing on the side of the book words I did not understand I would write down a word I understood better . When I began studying Hegel’s Philosophy of Nature I made a habit of doing this on the side of the book. Finally, I realized I knew nothing began rewriting Hegel;s Philosophy of Nature word for word in order to permeate it into my mind.

This approach is a catalog of accumulating information for storage. Socrates says its needed for old age so as not to forget.

BB

[mhoraine]

Ah yes, your tremendous amount of 'wrote'

Well, I'm not sure that system would work for me...
I remember ( when 17yrs old ) writing out an English translation immediately under some Latin text, and reading it over and over and over again.
By the time my Latin exam came round, I just had to look at the initial Latin phrase, and off I parroted. Now, I can 't even remember the title of the Latin text !

Thank you for sharing your method - but I don't see how simply copying exactly word for word helps in 'knowing' as in understanding the meaning which I'm sure you do....

And also thanks for further suggestions re reading - tell me, do you read more than one book at a time ? I never used to, because I was totally absorbed and once started I was there until the end. Now, not so much. Hey, Barbara, what about joining the Book Club !?

M.

[Barbara Brooks]

M,


I must have written “Philosophy of Nature” six times until finally I knew it. It's hard to explain why this method worked.

What exactly do you do in the book club forum?

BB

[mhoraine]

Hi Barbara.
You asked : What exactly do you do in the book club forum?

Good question ! Generally, it is a place for the discussion of philosophical books.
I interpret that in its widest sense.

I see it as a way of sharing thoughts about thoughts about thoughts....
I guess it can be done as simply - as in ' Have you read Ms B... she's great... because..... '
Or really delving deep, analysing the work of a single philosopher and seeing if others agree...

Whatever. It is as it is.
I would eg welcome others thoughts re Goethe. For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of the book club forum is when 2 or more people get a hold of a book eg Faust. Even better if there are several translations to get your teeth into....

Some people are bound to have greater insight than others, depending on their knowledge of eg Goethe. I think there is a delicate balance to be be maintained between telling people what to look for, and what it means....

I love the way people bounce ideas off each other and, to name a few names, AS, Richard, Non Sum - have all helped me along the way with an uncanny mix of subtle ingredients, tasty morsels and general yumminess { there are many others, yourself included ! }

Hmm, a good time to thank all who care, and are willing to share some food for thought....
Thanks.

So Barbara, your thoughts on discussing philosophical books ?

M.

[mhoraine]

Barbara, sorry I meant to address this :

' I must have written “Philosophy of Nature” six times until finally I knew it. It's hard to explain why this method worked '

You said earlier that you couldn't know it until it had 'permeated your mind'. I haven't read this work so I have no idea how much wroting was involved. I'm guessing plenty.
Can I ask in what way you wrote ? and how much were you 'connected' to the meaning of the words ?

I have been thinking of the ways in which mind can be permeated....and how 'knowing' results.
Another example from my youth daze. Not the Latin, but the dreaded piano practice - simply pressing the keys over and over did not effect a 'knowing' in me. However, I can see that if I had changed my attitude or perhaps simply 'flowed' with the notes even in a rough and ready fashion....I might have been more 'at one' ? Is it all in the approach ?

Tell me, Barbara, do you still use that method and is it still about 6 times ? Did you at any time have the opportunity to engage with others' thoughts, or would that have been a distraction ?
I generally read for/to myself - and see reading as a personal experience. I also tend not to re-visit a book.

Interesting the ways of permeation.....and knowing...or not. Can we know better ?

M.

[Barbara Brooks]

M,

I am able the write my point of view now, I am able to write the way I see it. I have examined and reexamined filtering and equating until a sound inward proclaims me no possibility of doubt. It is somewhat a release from the chains of formal learning. All arts and sciences and intelligences use in common, and which every one first has to learn among the elements of education. The power and capacity of knowledge exists in the mind already. Educators when they say that they can put knowledge into the mind of their student are wrong as if it were not there before.

Belief pervades and permeates all aspects of self kept together within this total wealth a real actual spirit within self that determines character of self. When I say pure determination; means self own account, because of this simple characteristic means "being for itself” one being is distinguished from another.We sentient creatures can show outwardly their feelings; that which is for itself reveals a voice;

Knowledge has power to conclude the little matter of distinguishing one, two, and three draws mind from becoming into being. Knowledge is an instrument of purpose but also; the bare path of empty intentions. When knowledge liberates the path and carries out the intention when it comes on the scene. Freethinking is pure knowledge and because pure knowledge is the ultimate absolute, purpose here there can be nothing so remote that we cannot be known.

BB

[mhoraine]

Hey Barbara !

You said : ' I am able the write my point of view now, I am able to write the way I see it.'‘

So, ' I am able…now’ - Barbara, if as you say ‘ the power and capacity of knowledge exists in the mind already’, then what prevented you from being able to write about your point of view before. And what enables you to do it now ? What would ‘disable’ you ?

From what you say, it seems to have been a process of examination, re-examination, filtering and equating until you had no doubt. This sounds like you have 5 R’s – reading, ‘wroting’, reasoning ‘rithmetic and finally writing.
So, from my point of view – this requires a high level of intelligence. Not everyone has this. So, what would enable them ? If there is knowledge inside the mind then what draws it out ?

You say that knowledge has the power to ‘conclude the little matter of distinguishing one, two and three’. So, when you say that everyone has this knowledge to ‘filter’ and ‘equate’ – do you mean recognize what is meaningful and important to them ? This, to me, is no ‘little matter’ and to realize potential, some need help.

Help. To ‘liberate the path’ and ‘carry out the intention when it comes on the scene’.
People may free-think all they like, it may even be ‘pure’. So why read and learn ? You talk of knowledge ‘drawing mind from becoming into being’ – I need help here to understand this.

From my current view, I would have said that mind is already ‘being’ and it is to ‘become’ better that we engage with others. Outward knowledge of the voice of others, does that not lead to greater understanding ? and talking of your thoughts, does that not help in the filtering process – you may well have filtered out dross, only to discover that it was ‘gold dust’ all along….

And Barbara, when you arrived at your ‘sound inward proclaims me no possibility of doubt’ – is this enlightenment ? Which you had to work hard for ? Is it to be held in your being cherished…or is this thread a ‘release’ or relief…a sharing.
I see a difference in the way we think or express. This thread seems to me like a protective bubble – other voices are allowed in – however you choose a level of obscurity. A kind of wizardry. I blow airy-fairy bubbles which may pop or float.

Magical moments of wand-er-waving ?
or just passing the time of day....
M.

[Barbara Brooks]

M,

Knowledge is the ultimate absolute element of freethinking exalts ideas and truth not superficial rhetoric. To learn is through that chain that keeps us in bondage labor the unconditional sacrifice to succeed.

All sensible creatures aim at knowledge. Socrates believed, we must have known previously and through sight or touch, or of some other sense knowledge is derived Then, before we see, hear, or perceive anything we must have knowledge and that we acquired before we were born, or at the instant of our birth all ideas of beauty, goodness, justice, holiness, and all which we stamp with the name of essence in the dialectical process.

Learning is a process of recovering knowledge rightly termed recollection. When I am perceiving something, either by the help of sight or hearing, or some other senses, I have no difficulty receiving from my senses a conception of something like it or unlike it. Then either I got this knowledge at birth or when born and continue having it throughout life..

Knowledge does not lay in the field of subjective thinking, the mind summons knowledge to see whether the several objects announced are one or two. If simple one could be adequately perceived by the sight or by any other senses, but when there is some contradiction present, and one is the reverse of one and involves the knowledge of plurality, then thought begins to be aroused within and the mind perplexed wants to arrive at a decision. knowledge has power of converting mind to contemplate.

BB

[mhoraine]

Thanks Barbara for your reply.

In my case it seems that perplexity and contemplation are insufficient for understanding the work of someone else.

M.

[Barbara Brooks]

M,
Perplexity and contemplation are insufficient for understanding the work of someone else? I am not sure what you mean.

BB

[mhoraine]

BB,

I am not sure what you mean ? What do you think I mean ?

M.

[Barbara Brooks]

M,

I am perplexed, please explain more.

BB

[Barbara Brooks]

M,

To know something has a compelling effect of those who have a natural talent for knowledge, they are generally quick at every kind. Geometry may be truly called necessary for the attainment of knowledge. It is a kind in which learning should be best trained in and never give up the study.

Knowledge comes on the scene as the instrument of purpose liberates , because nothing ever turns into something without purpose . even as disregarded maimed of its fair proportions, and uses , still it forces its way by natural charm and emerges into light.

BB

[mhoraine]

BB,

What perplexes you ?

M.

[Arising_uk]

...Geometry may be truly called necessary for the attainment of knowledge. It is a kind in which learning should be best trained in and never give up the study. ...

Why? I not sure if we do anymore but we used to teach Euclid and it appeared to puzzle many? If it is so important then how best to teach its methods?