reasoning is essentially a process of intellectual
embrace - and integration
its characteristics are elegance simplicity unity
it requires nothing but clear thought
and the clear operation of thought
this process does not require input from the world -
outside of mind
in fact successful thinking requires an internal -
not external focus
reasoning is the mind at work
at work with itself
experience?
shall we say the raw stuff of reasoning?
yes
that which is to be identified - categorized -
formalized - in short organized
if you wish the point of reasoning -
it is that which comes to us - presents as un-reasoned
one's conceptual world is defined by reason
the appearance of new experience - of phenomena
perhaps not new in kind - rather 'in res' - in the act -
is always a challenge to the given conceptual arrangement -
and the question is embrace or rejection
or a change in the conceptual view -
the world view
this may simply mean - something like a change of
priority in principle
or perhaps a change of principle
indeed possibly the introduction of a new way of seeing
and hence new status to dominant ideas - and their
relations
for always everything is presented - comes before the
court of conception -
and is decided upon one way or another -
if absorbed - it is absorbed - either as presented -
or as modified
a balance is always looked for
the stability of the system - always a presupposition
of reason
we might think that with a comprehensive enough conceptual
scheme
nothing is a threat to the order of knowledge
this is indeed the rational quest - to find such - an all
embracing - and final comprehensiveness
and to hold to it - in a rational security -
everyone from your bigot to your free thinker falls in here
the point is -
there are no guarantees -
and this is the true beauty of experience
that experience is essentially - undefined - quite anarchistic -
even in the face of reason and its constructions
constructions which by the way are as thin as air
platforms based on nothing designed to hold everything
(no wonder we don't have much luck)
this may be too harsh -
the basis is finally need - no matter how we dress it up
the complexity of need is the story of reason
(need it seems on first acquaintance to be quite discreet -
and definable - even eminently manageable - this however
is only the illusion of anguish
need is without origin or end
it is a desolate wind in a desolate place)
even so - the thing is - it is quite foolish to hold too
hard to one's epistemic framework
to one's deepest held beliefs
(you need a sense of humor here - it is a metaphysical
necessity - for survival in the face of collapse)
true - a core is the fact of it - in the day to day
dealings of motion and breadwinning
however it is a core based not on some extra-experiential
foundation -
it is a core based on function
we maintain whatever view we have - so long as it serves
what we regard as our most important concerns
(to do otherwise - to persist in a belief or belief system
in the face of its failure to address our central issues -
is to court disaster
run the risk of ruin - mental and physical
it is epistemologically speaking - in severe form -
the origin of madness)
always wise to regard doubt - doubt of self -
and of course the world -
as the first principle
(this is how you breathe)
here I suggest is true openness
as a guiding - thought
