graham
Senior Member
Posts: 96
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Post by graham on Apr 18, 2013 15:29:10 GMT 1
The English language is the only one on Earth that capitalizes the personal "I" in writing. Random thought, make of it what you will...
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ed
New Member
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Post by ed on Apr 21, 2013 5:28:58 GMT 1
My impression is that the saying, "I think therefore I am." is literally the foundation of all Humanism and components of the modern scientific age. I'm not sure if the phrase was intended to be a direct counter-point to the Bible's "I am the great I am", or not; however, again it seems to me that it has taken on those connotations in a relatively short period of time. That's why all spiritual pursuits outside of Rational Humanism are ridiculed and scorned; including Buddhism, in the Humanist'/Rationalist' mind, spiritual seekers are either ignorant of the words, "I think therefore I am", are too dumb too comprehend their import; or more likely: both.
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graham
Senior Member
Posts: 96
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Post by graham on Apr 22, 2013 16:12:09 GMT 1
That's interesting, I really wasn't sure how/why English became the only language to practice this. However, it's amazing how much of an effect capitalizing a letter can have on the way we perceive the world. If we capitalize "I", I wonder why we don't capitalize "we" or "you". Goes to show where our priorities lie, anyways.
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brian
Senior Member
Posts: 83
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Post by brian on Apr 23, 2013 4:56:19 GMT 1
Ed wrote My impression is that the saying, "I think therefore I am." is literally the foundation of all Humanism and components of the modern scientific age. I'm not sure if the phrase was intended to be a direct counter-point to the Bible's "I am the great I am", or not; however, again it seems to me that it has taken on those connotations in a relatively short period of time. That's why all spiritual pursuits outside of Rational Humanism are ridiculed and scorned; including Buddhism, in the Humanist'/Rationalist' mind, spiritual seekers are either ignorant of the words, "I think therefore I am", are too dumb too comprehend their import; or more likely: both. I've heard in a philosophy class that Renee Descarte's famous saying, "I think therefore I am" is considered to be putting the cart before the horse. Not to mention he's claimed to have "separated the mind from the body"in a philosophical sense. A more accurate statement would be "I am therefore I think". Buddhism would probably more be aligned with the quote presented like this. Our existence and basic consciousness is what enables us to even have the capacity to think and form words in the first place. One could even pose it as "I don't think therefore I am". Meaning a person is truly who they are, living in the present moment, when not thinking at all! As far as Rational Humanism is concerned, I see that as a label for an integral part of human psychology. I think Buddhism embraces rational humanism as part of the whole being. Perhaps as a "left brain", and "right brain" approach to wholeness. Religion and art speak from the right brain while science and reason speak from the left. It seems any stark imbalance and exaggeration of one over the other is a root cause of much suffering and delusion for the individual as well as society. In the past we've seen how various religious myths have overshadowed "rational humanism" and has caused great misunderstanding and suffering in the world. Yet today and for the future "rational humanism", or existensialism, could be too dominant. So when science and informed faith coincide most equally, as Buddhism does very well compared to any other world religion, then this is where true peace and harmony lie. This is one big reason why I personally support Buddhism particularly over any other religious teaching. It would be the Unifier of fragmented analysis and competing philosophies. All is One in mind and nature. The truth from within is what will be presented and shared to the world without. If a community is closer to enlightenment, then it makes it much easier for the individual to become enlightened. |
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