mind is a presupposition to substance
the concept can only be formed given mind
but even this is not strictly true
perhaps it's knowing that is presupposed
in that to formulate the notion of substance
we presuppose a capacity to know
reflection on this may lead to mind as a concept -
and then on to substance
but - back to knowing for a minute
in a sense - mind is some sort of answer to the question
what is it to know?
mind - substantializes or objectifies the act - of knowing
if act is what we are talking of
and this is a real question
what are we talking about here?
the straight answer is I don't know
the formation of concepts - mind - substance
is a response to this
and what is it to respond like this?
what is going on?
the base line is lack of knowledge - of the act -
explanation is sought
how do I explain - describe what is going on - when I think?
the lack of knowledge is reflective
we are never as it were lost for words on the surface
a primary statement is made
i.e. - I think
even though its content is in question
even though - that is - it is regarded - on reflection -
as contentless
so more notions come into play -
as it were to underpin the essential scepticism
mind is what knows
and the flip
inorder to know - mind must exist
I know
therefore
mind exists -
and -
inorder for mind to be
real - meaningful sensible etc.
substance must exist (Spinoza would say)
and then again the flip -
inorder for mind to be
substance must exist
mind exists
therefore
substance
what goes on here
what is going on is the creation of foundation
I would have it that our fundamental intuition is
that we don't know
(this is to suggest that Descartes was mistaken in
thinking 'I think' is fundamental - it was only
fundamental because he chose not to think about
it further - that is it became his foundation -
his place to stop and build - and it was essentially
a clever appeal to the obvious)
and it is after this intuition -
that the necessity for knowledge - for foundation -
is - quite obviously - apparent
so -
the manufacture of knowledge -
of foundation
as necessary
and this is important
necessity emerges out of nothing
necessity emerges out of need -
the need for - knowledge - or a foundation for knowledge
and subsequently - a structure - a building - a description
foundation here is really - a logical construct
it is decided upon -
that there is foundation -
clearly this is an unknown -
but it is in response to this notion - this idea -
that things begin
it is essentially a process of explanation
a kind of fishing expedition
how to find in this notion all that we want -
all that we need -
i.e. - mind - substance
and it is essentially an artistic process or endeavour
a making of notion - form and content
and finally a picture - a presentation -
it is no more substantial than this -
we construct ourselves from necessity
