A Few Examples of Exercises which are Implicit in Rudolf Steiner’s The Philosophy of Freedom By Timothy E. Nadelle with the support & assistance of the Exercise Advisory Group
AFewExamplesofExerciseswhichareImplicitin
RudolfSteiner’sThePhilosophyofFreedom
ByTimothyE.Nadelle
withthesupport&assistanceoftheExerciseAdvisoryGroup
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TABLEOFCONTENTS
THINKINGConsciousHumanAction:2DesireforKnowledge:2–3ThinkingintheServiceofKnowledge:4-6TheWorldasPercept:7-8TheActofKnowing:9-10HumanIndividuality:11-12ArethereLimitstoKnowledge:13-14FEELINGTheRoleofThoughtintheFormation&UniversalizationofFeeling:15-16ExploringtheIinPassiveversusConceptuallyDigestedFeeling:17-18WILLINGFreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseA QuotationsfromthePhilosophyofFreedom:19-22 Exercise…WhatifIHadConsciouslyFashionedaMotive?:23FreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseB
QuotationsfromthePhilosophyofFreedom:24-25Exercise…WhatifIHadConsciouslyFashionedaMotive?:25-26
FreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseCQuotationsfromthePhilosophyofFreedom:27Exercise…WhatifIHadConsciouslyFashionedaMotive?:27-28
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PART1)THINKING
ConsciousHumanAction
ThefollowingexerciseanditssequelwereinspiredbythecontentofthefirstchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom.Pertinentquotesfromchapteroneareasfollows:
“Ifthereisadifferencebetweenaconsciousmotiveofactionandanunconsciousurge,thentheconsciousmotivewillresultinanactionwhichmustbejudgeddifferentlyfromonethatspringsfromblindimpulse.Henceourfirstquestionwillconcernthisdifference,andontheresultofthisenquirywilldependwhatattitudeweshallhavetotaketowardsthequestionoffreedomproper.”
“ThequestionisnotwhetherIcancarryoutadecisiononcemade,buthowthedecisioncomesaboutwithinme.”TheExerciseØ Inthefollowingexercise,selectexamplesfromyourlifewhichyouarecomfortablesharinginasmall
group.
1. Lookintoyourpastandidentifyanactionyoutookwhichresultedmorefromimpulse.Bringthemomentvividlybeforeyou.• Whatwastheactionyoutook?• Whatwereyoufeelinginthemomentbeforeyouacted?• Whatwasthemotivewhichledtoyouraction?• Howdidthedecisiontoactcomeaboutwithinyou?
2. Lookintoyourpastandidentifyanactionwhichyoutookwhereyouwereconsciousofthemotiveforyouraction.Bringthemomentvividlybeforeyou.• Whatwastheactionyoutook?• Whatwereyoufeelinginthemomentbeforeyouacted?• Whatwasthemotivewhichledtoyouraction?• Howdidthedecisiontoactcomeaboutwithinyou?
3. Whatdifferencesdoyouseeinthemannerinwhichthetwodecisionstoactcameaboutwithinyou?Sequel(forpotentialfutureuse):Overthecourseoftheday,makeanefforttobecomeawareattimeswhenyouareabouttotakeactionarisingfromanunexaminedmotive.Pausebeforeactingandrecognizethemotive.Considerwhetheradifferentmotivemightmoreappropriatelymeettheneedsofthesituation.
Chapter2,DesireforKnowledge
ThefollowingexerciseswereinspiredbythecontentofthesecondchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom.Pertinentquotesfromchaptertwoareasfollows:
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“Thissomethingmorewhichweseekinthings,overandabovewhatisimmediatelygiventousinthem,splitsourwholebeingintotwoparts.Webecomeconsciousofourantithesistotheworld.Weconfronttheworldasindependentbeings.Theuniverseappearstousintwooppositeparts:IandWorld…Butweneverceasetofeelthat,inspiteofitall,webelongtotheworld,thatthereisaconnectinglinkbetweenitandus,andthatwearebeingswithinandnotwithouttheuniverse.”“DualismpaysattentiononlytotheseparationbetweenIandWorldwhichtheconsciousnessofmanhasbroughtabout.Allitseffortsconsistinavainstruggletoreconciletheseopposites,whichitnowcallsspiritandmatter,nowsubjectandobject,nowthinkingandappearance.Itfeelsthattheremustbeabridgebetweenthetwoworldsbutisnotinapositiontofindit…Dualismseesinspirit(I)andmatter(World)twofundamentallydifferententities,andcannot,therefore,understandhowtheycaninteractwithoneanother.”“Monismpaysattentiononlytotheunityandtrieseithertodenyortoslurovertheopposites,presentthoughtheyare…monismhastriedthreedifferentwaysofmeetingthedifficulty.Eitheritdeniesspiritandbecomesmaterialism;oritdeniesmatterinordertoseekitssalvationinspiritualism;oritassertsthateveninthesimplestentitiesintheworld,spiritandmatterareindissolublyboundtogethersothatthereisnoneedtomarvelattheappearanceinmanofthesetwomodesofexistence,seeingthattheyareneverfoundapart.”“Materialism…beginswiththethoughtofmatterormaterialprocesses.But,insodoing,itisalreadyconfrontedbytwodifferentsetsoffacts:thematerialworldandthethoughtsaboutit.Thematerialseekstomaketheselatterintelligiblebyregardingthemaspurelymaterialprocesses…Heoverlooksthat,indoingso,heismerelyshiftingtheproblemfromoneplacetoanother.”“Thegenuinespiritualistdeniestomatterallindependentexistenceandregardsitmerelyasaproductofspirit.Butwhenhetriestousethistheorytosolvetheriddleofhisownhumannature,hefindshimselfdrivenintoacorner.Overagainstthe“I”orEgowhichcanberangedonthesideofspirit,therestandsdirectlytheworldofthesenses.Nospiritualapproachtoitappearsopen.”TheExercise1. Bringbeforeyourselfaquestionwithwhichyouarenowgenuinelyinvolved.
2. Enterintothequestionfromtheperspectiveofeachofthefollowingworldviews.Betruetoeachworldview.Ifyouwereadevoted,intelligentrepresentativeofeachofthefollowingworldviews,howmightyoureflectuponyourquestion?Asyouexploreeachone,askyourselfinturnwhatyouwouldaccept,modifyorrefuteineachoftheseperspectives.
a. Dualismb. Monism–materialismc. Monism–spiritualism
3. Hasthecomplexionofyourinitialquestionaltered?Hasyourapproachtoansweringitevolved?
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Chapter3ThinkingintheServiceofKnowledge(PartI)
ThefollowingexercisewasinspiredbythecontentofthethirdchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom.Pertinentquotesfromchapterthreeareasfollows:
“Observationandthinkingarethetwopointsofdepartureforallthespiritualstrivingofman,insofarasheisconsciousofsuchstriving.”
“Insequenceoftime,observationdoesinfactcomebeforethinking…Everythingthatentersthecircleofourexperience,wemustfirstbecomeawareofthroughobservation.Thecontentofsensation,perceptionandcontemplation,allfeelings,allactsofwill,dreamsandfancies,mentalpictures,conceptsandideas,allillusionsandhallucinations,aregiventousthroughobservation.”
“Whereasobservationofthingsandevents,andthinkingaboutthem,areeverydayoccurrencesfillingupthecontinuouscontentofmylife,observationofthinkingitselfisakindofexceptionalstate…Wemustbequiteclearaboutthefactthat,inobservingthinking,weareapplyingtoitaprocedurewhichconstitutesthenormalcourseofeventsforthestudyofthewholeoftherestoftheworld-content,butwhichinthisnormalcourseofeventsisnotappliedtothinkingitself.”Exercise,PartIObservingThinkingintheWorld1)Observeanoccurrenceinyourenvironment.2)Thinkaboutyourobservation.3)Observethethinkingthatyoudid.Chapter3ThinkingintheServiceofKnowledge(PartII)
Thefollowingexerciseinitstwoparts(A&B)wereinspiredbythecontentofthethirdchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom.Pertinentquotesfromchapterthreeprecedeeachexercise.
PartA)ObservingThinkinginMeditation
“Observationandthinkingarethetwopointsofdepartureforallthespiritualstrivingofman,insofarasheisconsciousofsuchstriving.”
“Insequenceoftime,observationdoesinfactcomebeforethinking…Everythingthatentersthecircleofourexperience,wemustfirstbecomeawareofthroughobservation.Thecontentofsensation,perceptionandcontemplation,allfeelings,allactsofwill,dreamsandfancies,mentalpictures,conceptsandideas,allillusionsandhallucinations,aregiventousthroughobservation.”
“Whereasobservationofthingsandevents,andthinkingaboutthem,areeverydayoccurrencesfillingupthecontinuouscontentofmylife,observationofthinkingitselfisakindofexceptionalstate…Wemustbequiteclearaboutthefactthat,inobservingthinking,weareapplyingtoitaprocedurewhichconstitutesthenormalcourseofeventsforthestudyofthewholeoftherestoftheworld-content,butwhichinthisnormalcourseofeventsisnotappliedtothinkingitself.”
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“Whatinallotherspheresofobservationcanbefoundonlyindirectly,namely,therelevantcontextandtherelationshipbetweentheindividualobjects,is,inthecaseofthinking,knowntousinanabsolutelydirectway.Idonotknowonthefaceofitwhy,formyobservation,thunderfollowslightning;butIknowdirectly,fromtheverycontentofthetwoconcepts,whymythinkingconnectstheconceptofthunderwiththeconceptoflightning…."
PartII,ExerciseA):
1. Observetheseparateconceptswhicharereflectedinthewordsofanexcerptfromaverse.Forexample,
workwiththefollowingexcerptfromthewordsofBenedictusinScene3ofthePortalofInitiation:“Light’sweavingspiritstreamsthroughwidthsofspacetofilltheworldwithbeing.”Firstly,enterdeeplyintotheessenceoftheconcept“weaving”.Then,afteratime,turnseparatelytotheconcept“spirit”andenterdeeplyintoitsessence.
2. Now,withyourthinking,bringtheconcept“weaving”intorelationwiththeconcept“spirit”.Studyhowthroughtheircombinationthecountenanceofeachismodifiedandsomethinggreatercomesintobeing.Bringotherconceptsfromtheverseintorelationwithwhatyouhavecreated,growingthelivingthoughtentityandtakingnoteoftheprogressivetransformations.
3. Finally,removealloftheconceptsoftheversefromyourawareness.Observeyourcreativeactivity,theprocessthroughwhichthethoughtentitycameintobeing.
PartB)ObservingtheThinking“I”
“Anexperiencedeventmaybeasetofperceptsoritmaybeadream,ahallucinationorsomethingelse.Inshort,Iamunabletosayinwhatsenseitexists.Icannotgatherthisfromtheeventinitself,butIshallfinditoutwhenIconsidertheeventinitsrelationtootherthings.ButhereagainIcannotknowmorethanjusthowitstandsinrelationtotheseotherthings.MyinvestigationtouchesfirmgroundonlywhenIfindanobjectwhichexistsinasensewhichIcanderivefromtheobjectitself.ButIammyselfsuchanobjectinthatIthink,forIgivetomyexistencethedefinite,self-determinedcontentofthethinkingactivity.FromhereIcangoontoaskwhetherotherthingsexistinthesamesenseorinsomeothersense.”PartII,ExerciseB):
1. Takeupnowthesecondlineoftheversequotedabove,whichis:“Love’sblessingwarmsagesoftime,proclaimingrevelationofallworlds.”AsinthePartA)exercise,bringtheindividualconceptsintomutualrelation.Observehow,throughyouractivity,conceptsweaveoneintoanother,comingintomovement,intolife.
2. Turnyourgazeawayfromtheconceptsandobservenowtheprocessofthethinkinginwhichyouwereengaged.
3. Nowturnyourgazeawayfromthethinking.Observethe“I”throughwhichthethinkingcameintobeing.
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Thetwoexercisescanbesummarizedasfollows:
PartA)ObservingThinking PartB)ObservingtheThinking"I"
1)Observeconcepts2)Observetheirinterweaving 1)Observeconceptualinterweaving3)Observethethinkingprocess 2)Observethethinkingprocess
3)Observethethinking"I"
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Chapter4,TheWorldasPercept
ExperiencingtheContentofPure,UnthinkingObservationExerciseA,below,wasinspiredbythefollowingcontentofthefourthchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom:
“Wemustaskourselveshowthatotherelement,whichwehavesofarsimplycalledtheobjectofobservationandwhichmeetsthethinkinginourconsciousness,comesintoourconsciousnessatall.
“Inordertoanswerthisquestionwemusteliminatefromourfieldofobservationeverythingthathasbeenimportedbythinking.Foratanymomentthecontentofourconsciousnesswillalreadybeinterwovenwithconceptsinthemostvariedways.
“Wemustimaginethatabeingwithfullydevelopedhumanintelligenceoriginatesoutofnothingandconfrontstheworld.Whatitwouldbeawareof,beforeitstartsitsthinkinginmotion,wouldbethepurecontentofobservation.Theworldwouldappearthentothisbeingasnothingbutameredisconnectedaggregateofobjectsofsensation:colours,sounds,sensationsofpressure,ofwarmth,oftasteandsmell;alsofeelingsofpleasureandpain.Thisaggregateisthecontentofpure,unthinkingobservation.”
ExerciseA)ExperiencingtheContentofPure,UnthinkingObservation
1. ObserveandactivelythinkaboutanobjectBringanobjectbeforeyouandobserveit.Tobeginwith,payparticularattentiontoanyquestionswhichariseforyouandanyactivethinkingyoudoinconnectionwithwhatyouobserve.
2. EliminateactivethinkingNowturnyourattentiongentlyawayfromthosequestionsandthatactivethinking.Focusyourattentioninsteadonanyconceptswhichidentifyorcharacterizetheobjectanditsfeatures,forexample,theconcepts“book”,“softcover’orthetitleofthebook.
3. Eliminate“given”conceptsNowturnyourattentionawayfromthoseconceptswhichdescribeornametheobjectanditsfeatures.Focusinsteadonconceptswhichdefine,convey,relate…sensoryimpressions.Forexample,theconcept“book”isnotasensoryimpression.“Red”isasensoryimpression;butitisalsoaconcept.Focusonconceptswhichdescribecolour,texture,hardnessetc.
4. EliminatesensoryconceptsNowturnyourattentionawayfromtheconceptualcounterpartofyoursensoryimpressions.Forexample,turnyourattentionawayfromtheconcept“cool”andletonlythesensoryimpression(s)livewithinyourconsciousness.
5. Whatdoyounowexperience?
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PartB)ExperiencingthePerceiving“I”andtheMentalPictureExerciseB,below,wasinspiredbythefollowingcontentofthefourthchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom:
“…Itis,then,nottheprocessofobservationbuttheobjectofobservationwhichIcallthe‘percept’”.
“…Evenmyfeelingbecomesknowntomebybecomingaperceptforme.Andthewayinwhichwegainknowledgeofourthinkingthroughobservationissuchthatthinkingtoo,initsfirstappearanceforourconsciousness,maybecalledapercept.”
“…Iperceivenotonlyotherthings,butalsomyself.Theperceptofmyselfcontains,tobeginwith,thefactthatIamthestableelementincontrasttothecontinualcomingandgoingofthepercept-pictures…WhenIamabsorbedintheperceptionofagivenobjectIamforthetimebeingawareonlyofthisobject.Tothistheperceptofmyselfcanbeadded…Idonotmerelyseeatree,butIalsoknowthatitisIwhoamseeingit.Iknow,moreover,thatsomethinghappensinmewhileIamobservingthetree.Whenthetreedisappearsfrommyfieldofvision,anafter-affectofthisprocessremainsinmyconsciousness–apictureofthetree…Myselfhasbecomeenriched;itscontenthasabsorbedanewelement.ThiselementIcallmymentalpictureofthetree…”
“…Thefailuretorecognizethetruerelationshipbetweenmentalpictureandobjecthasledtothegreatestmisunderstandingsinmodernphilosophy…”
Exercise,PartB)ExperiencingtheContentofPure,UnthinkingObservation
1) Bringyourobjectbeforeyouagainandobserveitinanywayyoulike.2) Shiftyourattentiontowardsyourself.Observenowthe“I”whichdidtheperceiving.3) Turnawayfromtheobjectorcloseyoureyes.Observethenewelementwhichyouhaveabsorbedas
contentintoyourself:observeyourmentalpictureoftheobject.4) Nowpullyourattentionawayfromthecontentofthementalpicture.Instead,observethemannerin
whichitappearstoyou.Observe,theform,substanceandcharacteristicsofyourmentalpicture.5) Whatisyourexperienceoftherelationshipbetweenyourmentalpictureandtheobject?
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Chapter5TheActofKnowingExploringtheSelfExerciseA,below,wasinspiredbythefollowingcontentofthefifthchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom:“Theallimportantthingnowistodeterminehowthebeingthatweourselvesareisrelatedtotheotherentities.Thisdeterminationmustbedistinguishedfrommerelybecomingconsciousofourselves.TheperceptionofmyselfrevealstomeanumberofqualitieswhichIcombineintomypersonalityasawholejustasIcombinethequalitiesyellow,metallic,hard,etc.,intheunity“gold”.Theperceptionofmyselfdoesnottakemebeyondthesphereofwhatbelongstome.Thisperceivingofmyselfmustbedistinguishedfromdeterminingmyselfbymeansofthinking.Justas,bymeansofthinking,Ifitanysingleexternalperceptintothewholeworldcontext,sobymeansofthinkingIintegrateintothewholeworldprocesstheperceptsIhavemadeofmyself.”
“Inthinkingwehavethatelementgivenuswhichweldsourseparateindividualityintoonewholewiththecosmos.Isofaraswesenseandfeel(andalsoperceive),wearesinglebeings;insofaraswethink,wearetheall-onebeingthatpervadeseverything.”
“Theperceptisthusnotsomethingfinishedandself-contained,butonlyonesideofthetotalreality.Theothersideistheconcept.Theactofknowingisthesynthesisofperceptandconcept.Onlytheperceptandconcepttogetherconstitutethewholething.”ExerciseA)ExploringtheSelf1) PerceivingVividlyrecallamomentwhenyoutookanaction.Whataspectofyourselfrevealsitselftoyounow,asyouconsideryouraction?Perceivethisaspectofyourself.Removeallconceptualcontentfromyourconsciousness.Removethememoryitself,sothatyouallowthepureperceptionofthistraitortendencyalonetolivewithinyourawareness.
2) ThinkingThinkaboutwhatyouhaveperceivedinyourself.Atwhattimesdoesthisqualitymanifest?Howdoesitcombinewithorinfluenceotheraspectsofyourself?Howdoesitaffectthepeopleinyourlife?
3) SynthesisObservethedifferencesbetweenyourperceivingandyourthinkingaboutthetrait.Witnesstheconversationwhichtakesplacebetweenyourperceivingandyourthinking.Whatistheessentialnatureofthisaspectofyourself,whichyouhaveobserved?ExploringtheWorldExerciseB,below,wasinspiredbythefollowingcontentofthefifthchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom:“Letusseewhatthisworldofperceptsislike:amerejuxtapositioninspace,ameresuccessionintime,amassofunconnecteddetails–thatishowitappears.Noneofthethingswhichcomeandgoonthestageofperceptionhasanydirectconnection,thatcanbeperceived,withanyother…Theseparatefactsappearin
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theirtruesignificance,bothinthemselvesandfortherestoftheworld,onlywhenthinkingspinsitsthreadsfromoneentitytoanother.”“Toexplainathing,tomakeitintelligible,meansnothingelsethantoplaceitintothecontextfromwhichithasbeentornbythepeculiarcharacterofourorganisation…Athingcutofffromtheworld-wholedoesnotexist.Allisolatinghasonlysubjectivevalidityforourorganisation.Forus,theuniversedividesitselfupintoaboveandbelow,beforeandafter,causeandeffect,thingandmentalpicture,matterandforce,objectandsubjectetc.Whatappearstousinobservationasseparatepartsbecomescombined,bitbybit,throughthecoherentunifiedworldofourintuitions.Bythinking,wefittogetheragainintoonepieceallthatwehavetakenapartthroughperceiving.”
“Whatthenisapercept?Thequestion,askedinthisgeneralway,isabsurd.Aperceptemergesalwaysassomethingperfectlydefinite,asaconcretecontent.Thiscontentisdirectlygivenandiscompletelycontainedinwhatisgiven.Theonlyquestiononecanaskconcerningthegivencontentiswhatitisapartfromperception,thatis,whatitisforthinking.Thequestionconcerningthe“what”ofaperceptcan,therefore,onlyrefertotheconceptualintuitionthatcorrespondstothispercept.”Exercise,PartB)ExploringtheWorld
1) PerceivingObserveanobject.Gradually-anintensifyingexertionofeffortwillbenecessary–tothegreatestextentpossible,setasideallconceptualcontentfromyourconsciousness,sothatwhatremainsareonlyyoursenseperceptionsoftheobject.Ifanyconceptemergesorre-emergesinyourconsciousness,gentlyletitgo.(Thisisnota“successorfailure”exercise.Partialprogressisfine.)
2) ThinkingObservetheobjectagain,attendingnowtotheconceptswhichriseupinyourawareness.Exploretheirinterconnections,howtheyweaveandformtherealitywhichmanifestsinyourobjectandwhichconnectsittotheworld.
3) SynthesisObservethedifferencesbetweenyourperceivingandyourthinkingabouttheobject.Witnesstheconversationwhichtakesplacebetweenyourperceivingandyourthinking.Whatistheessentialnatureoftheobject?
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Chapter6HumanIndividuality
ThefollowingexerciseinitstwopartswereinspiredbythecontentofthesixthchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom.Pertinentquotesfromchaptersixareasfollows:
“…wearenotsatisfiedmerelytoreferthepercept,bymeansofthinking,totheconcept,butwerelatethemalsotoourparticularsubjectivity,ourindividualEgo.Theexpressionofthisindividualrelationshipisfeeling,whichmanifestsitselfaspleasureordispleasure.”
“Thinkingistheelementthroughwhichwetakepartintheuniversalcosmicprocess;feelingisthatthroughwhichwecanwithdrawintothenarrowconfinesofourownbeing.Ourthinkinglinksustotheworld;ourfeelingleadsusbackintoourselvesandmakesusindividuals.”
“Fortheuniverseasawholemylifeoffeelingcanhavevalueonlyif,asaperceptofmyself,thefeelingentersintoconnectionwithaconceptandinthisroundaboutwaylinksitselftothecosmos.”
“Atrueindividualitywillbetheonewhoreachesupwithhisfeelingstothefarthestpossibleextentintotheregionoftheideal.”
“Alifeoffeeling,whollydevoidofthinking,wouldgraduallyloseallconnectionwiththeworld.Butmanismeanttobeawhole,andforhimknowledgeofthingswillgohandinhandwiththedevelopmentandeducationofthelifeoffeeling.”
Exercise
RemembertoselecteventsforPartsIandIIwhichyouarecomfortablesharinginasmallgroup.
PartA)1. Recallaverybriefevent–justamoment-whichbroughtaboutinyouapainfulfeeling.2. Perceivethefeelingwithoutatfirstthinkingaboutitorevennamingit.Ifthefeelingwasmulti-layered,
experienceitsvariousfeatures,itsnuances.Letthefeelingspeakwithinyou.3. Namethefeelingorfeelings,findingtheconcept(s)whichidentifyitorthem.4. Now,thinkaboutthefeeling.Considerwhatexternalfactorsevokedthisfeeling,identifyingclearlyand
objectivelywhatwasatworkintheworldandhowitsexpressionbroughtaboutyourfeeling.5. Considerwhatwasalreadylivinginyourself,whichmadeitpossiblefortheeventtobringaboutinyou
thefeeling.Wasthereanunderlyingthoughtaboutyourselfortheworldwhichwasawakenedbytheevent?Wasthereadesireorintentionorstrivingyoucarry,whichcollidedwiththeevent?
6. Wheredoyoufindthegoodintheevent?7. Leavingyourmemoryimageoftheeventaside,bringthethinkingyouhavejustdoneaboutthefeeling
beforeyouasapicture.Whatdoyousee?
PartB)1. Recallaverybriefevent–justamoment-whichbroughtaboutinyouapleasurablefeeling.2. Perceivethefeelingwithoutatfirstthinkingaboutitorevennamingit..Letthefeelingspeakwithinyou.3. Namethefeelingorfeelings,findingtheconcept(s)whichidentifyitorthem.4. Considerwhatexternalfactorsevokedthisfeeling,identifyingclearlyandobjectivelywhatwasatworkin
theworldandhowitsexpressionbroughtaboutyourfeeling.
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4. Considerwhatreceptivityinyourselfmadeitpossiblefortheeventtobringaboutinyouthefeeling.5. Towhatextentdidthepleasurederivefromtheevent’stransitorynature?6. Towhatextentdidthepleasurederivefromsomethingessential,enduring?7. Leavingyourmemoryimageoftheeventaside,bringthethinkingyouhavejustdoneaboutthefeeling
beforeyouasapicture.Whatdoyousee?
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Chapter7ArethereLimitstoKnowledge?
ThefollowingexercisewasinspiredbythecontentoftheseventhchapterofthePhilosophyofFreedom.Pertinentquotesfromchaptersevenareasfollows:
“Everykindofexistencethatisassumedoutsidetherealmofperceptandconceptmustberelegatedtothesphereofunjustifiedhypotheses.”
“Thefollowerofamonisticworldconceptionknowsthateverythingheneedsfortheexplanationofanygivenphenomenonintheworldmustliewithinthisworlditself.Whatpreventshimfromreachingitcanbeonlyaccidentallimitationsinspaceandtime,ordefectsofhisorganisation,thatis,notofhumanorganisationingeneral,butonlyofhisownparticularone.
“Itfollowsfromtheconceptoftheactofknowingaswehavedefinedit,thatonecannotspeakoflimitsofknowledge.”
“Ifwesetourselvesquestionswhichwecannotanswer,itmustbebecausethecontentofthequestionsisnotinallrespectsclearanddistinct.Itisnottheworldwhichsetsusthequestions,butweourselves.”
“…Itmaybethat,atanyparticularmoment,thisorthatremainsunexplainedbecause,throughourplaceinlife,wearepreventedfromperceivingthethingsinvolved.Whatisnotfoundtoday,however,maybefoundtomorrow.Thelimitsduetothesecausesareonlytransitory,andcanbeovercomebytheprogressofperceptionandthinking.”
“Wemustclearlyunderstandthateveryperceptualpictureoftheworldowesitsformtotheorganisationoftheperceivingbeing,butalsothattheperceptualpicturewhichhasbeenthoroughlypermeatedbytheexperienceofthinkingleadsintoreality.”
“…everyperceptgivesusonlyapartoftherealityconcealedwithinit,inotherwords…itdirectsusawayfromitsinherentreality.Addedtothisisthefurtherrealizationthatthinkingleadsusintothatpartoftherealitywhichtheperceptconcealswithinitself.”
“Thedeepeningofknowledgedependsonthepowersofintuitionwhichexpressthemselvesinthinking.Inthelivingexperiencewhichdevelopsinthinking,thisintuitionmaydivedowntogreaterorlesserdepthsofreality.”
Exercise
1. Observesomething:anobjectorafeelingorthememoryofanevent–whateveryoulike.Thinkaboutwhatyouareobserving.
2. Asyourthinkingprogresses,abideforawhilewiththefirstquestionwhichariseswhichyouareunabletoanswer.
3. Investigatewhetheryourinabilitytoanswerthequestionis…• duetoaccidentallimitationsinspaceandtimeOR• duetodefectsinyourindividualorganisationOR• becausethecontentofthequestionisnotinallrespectsclearanddistinctOR• duetosomecombinationofthesefactors.
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4. Ifyourquestionisnotclearanddistinct,reviseit.Otherwise,ponderhowananswertoyourquestionmightbediscoveredsometimeinthefuture,eitherbyyourselforsomeoneelse.
5. Returntoyourthinkingorthinkanewaboutwhatyouareobserving.Intheprocessofthisthinking,whathaveyoudiscoveredwhich,atfirst,remainedconcealedwithinthepercept?
6. Letallthethinkingwhichyouhavedone(in1–5)nowriseupbeforeyouasapicturewhichyoucanobserve.
7. Whatrevealsitselfthroughthepicture?
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PART2)FEELING
TheRoleofThoughtintheFormation&UniversalizationofFeelingTheexercise,below,wasinspiredbythefollowingquotesfromthePhilosophyofFreedom:
QuotesfromChapter1ConsciousHumanAction,pages11–12:
i. “Pityentersmyheartwhenthementalpictureofapersonwhoarousespityappearsinmyconsciousness.Thewaytotheheartisthroughthehead.Loveisnoexception.Wheneveritisnotmerelytheexpressionofbaresexualinstinct,itdependsonthementalpictureweformofthelovedone.Andthemoreidealisticthesementalpicturesare,justsomuchthemoreblessedisourlove.Heretoo,thoughtisthefatheroffeeling.”
ii. “Itissaidthatlovemakesusblindtothefailingsofthelovedone.Butthiscanbeexpressedtheotherwayround,namely,thatitisjustforthegoodqualitiesofthesoulthatloveopenstheeyes.Manypassbythesegoodqualitieswithoutnoticingthem.One,however,perceivesthem,andjustbecausehedoes,loveawakensinthesoul.Whatelsehashedonebutmadeamentalpictureofwhathundredshavefailedtosee?Loveisnottheirs,becausetheylackthementalpicture.”
QuotefromChapter6HumanIndividuality,page86:
iii. “Onemightbetemptedtoseeinthelifeoffeelinganelementthatismorerichlysaturatedwithrealitythanisthecontemplationoftheworldthroughthinking.Butthereplytothisisthatthelifeoffeeling,afterall,hasthisrichermeaningonlyformyindividualself.Fortheuniverseasawholemylifeoffeelingcanhavevalueonlyif,asaperceptofmyself,thefeelingentersintoconnectionwithaconceptandinthisroundaboutwaylinksitselftothecosmos.”
Exercise:TheRoleofThoughtintheFormation&UniversalizationofFeeling1. Pictureaperson,livingordead,whomyoulikeorwhomyoulove.2. Recallatimewhenoneofthatperson’sgoodqualitieswasrevealedtoyouthroughtheperson’swordsor
actions.(Preferably,chooseanexperiencewhichdoesnotdirectlyinvolveyou.However,ifyouweredirectlyinvolved,looknowuponyourparticipationobjectively,asifyouwereathirdparty.)Bringthisincidentbeforeyouasvividlyaspossible.
3. Whatisthatgoodqualitywhichwasrevealedtoyou?Whatdoesthatgoodqualitytellyouabouttheperson?
4. TurnyourattentiontothefeelingswhichariseinyouNOW,inthepresent,throughthisqualityyouhaveseenintheperson.Enterdeeplyintoyourpresentfeeling.Withoutyetnamingit,letitcomealivebeforetheeyesofyoursoul.
5. Nowfindtheconceptwhichexpressesthenatureofthefeeling(s).Namethefeeling(orfeelings).
*******6. Thinkaboutyourfeeling.Whatdoesyourfeelingimparttoyouaboutlifeandtheworld?
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7. Imaginesomeoneiscomingtoyouforadviceafteratimeofearnestself-examination.Heasksyou,“HowcanIcultivateamorelovingdispositiontowardsthepeopleinmylife?”InformedbythequotesfromSteinerinPart1andbyyourworkwiththisexercise,whatwouldyoutellhim?
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ExploringtheOrientationoftheIinPassiveversusConceptuallyDigestedFeeling
Theexercise,below,wasinspiredbythefollowingquotesfromthePhilosophyofFreedom:
QuotefromChapter8TheFactorsofLife,pages116-117:
1) “…Thus,formonism,feelingisanincompletereality,which,intheforminwhichitfirstappearstous,doesnotyetcontainitssecondfactor,theconceptoridea.Thatiswhy,inactuallife,feelings,likepercepts,appearpriortoknowledge.Atfirst,wehavemerelyafeelingofexistence,anditisonlyinthecourseofourgradualdevelopmentthatweattaintothepointatwhichtheconceptofselfemergesfromwithinthedimfeelingofourownexistence.However,whatforusappearsonlylaterisfromthefirstindissolublyboundupwithourfeeling.Thisiswhythenaivepersoncomestobelievethatinfeelingheispresentedwithexistencedirectly,inknowledgeonlyindirectly.”
QuotefromAuthor’sAddition,1918toChapter3ThinkingintheServiceofKnowledge,page442) “…onlyinthethinkingactivitydoestheIknowitselftobeoneandthesamebeingwiththatwhichis
active,rightintoalltheramificationsofthisactivity.Withnoothersoulactivityisthissocompletelythecase.Forexample,inafeelingofpleasureitisperfectlypossibleforamoredelicateobservationtodiscriminatebetweentheextenttowhichtheIknowsitselftobeoneandthesamebeingwithwhatisactive,andtheextenttowhichthereissomethingpassiveintheItowhichthepleasuremerelypresentsitself.Thesameappliestotheothersoulactivities.”
QuotefromChapter7HumanIndividuality,page93:
3) “Alifeoffeeling,whollydevoidofthinking,wouldgraduallyloseallconnectionwiththeworld.Butmanismeanttobeawhole,andforhimknowledgeofthingswillgohandinhandwiththedevelopmentandeducationofthelifeoffeeling.
Feelingisthemeanswhereby,inthefirstinstance,conceptsgainconcretelife.”
Exercise:ExploringtheOrientationoftheIinPassiveversusConceptuallyDigestedFeeling
Workthroughthisexercisebyyourselffirst.Asyouwilllaterbeaskedtorecountyourworkwithinyourgroup,youmaywishtotakenotes.
1. Recallabriefmomentwhenyouexperiencedapleasurablefeeling.Recreatethemomentwhichledtothefeeling,vividly.Findtheconceptswhichcharacterizethefeelingorfeelings.Whatwouldyouanswerifsomeoneaskedyou“Whatwereyoufeeling?”
2. ConsidertheorientationofyourIduringthatmoment,asthefeelingsmanifested(notbeforeorafter,butduringthefeelingexperience).TowhatextentwasyourIoneandthesamebeingwithwhatwasactiveandtowhatextentwastheresomethingpassiveinyourI,towhichthefeelingsmerelypresentedthemselves?
3. Thinkabouthowthefeelingsaroseatthetime.a. Whatexactlyintheworld–whatspecificthoughtormentalpicture–broughtaboutthefeelings?b. Whatisitaboutyou–yourcharacterologicaldisposition-thatmadeyoufeelthefeelingsinyour
ownuniquemanner?
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4. Whatdoesthefeelingtellyouaboutlifeandtheworld?5. Asyouruminateoverthesethoughts(re-thinkthemifithelps),attendnowtoyourpresentfeelings,the
feelingswhichariseforyouinconnectionwithyourthinking.Howwouldyoucharacterizethesefeelings?6. Withrespecttothesepresentfeelings…experiencetheorientationofyourI.Inthispresentmoment,as
thefeelingsmanifest,towhatextentdoyou(doesyourI)knowyourselftobeoneandthesamebeingwiththatwhichisactiveandtowhatextentistheresomethingpassiveinyourItowhichthefeelingmerelypresentsitself?
7. Whatindications,ifany,doyourownexperienceworkingwiththeexercisesuggestforthedevelopmentandeducationofyourlifeoffeeling?
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PART3)WILLING
FreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseA)FreedomCallisthenicsExerciseA)andTables1-3)wereinspiredbythefollowingquotesfromthePhilosophyofFreedom:
QuotesfromChapter9TheIdeaofFreedom,pages124-126:
“…wecangaininsightintotheconnectionsbetweenthinking,consciousI,andtheactofwill,onlybyobservingfirsthowanactofwillissuesfromthehumanorganisation.Inanyparticularactofwillwemusttakeintoaccountthemotiveandthedrivingforce.Themotiveisafactorwiththecharacterofaconceptormentalpicture;thedrivingforceisthewill-factorbelongingtothehumanorganisationanddirectlyconditionedbyit.Theconceptualfactor,ormotive,isthemomentarydeterminingfactorofthewill;thedrivingforceisthepermanentdeterminingfactoroftheindividual…”
“Butoneandthesameconcept,oroneandthesamementalpicture,affectsdifferentindividualsdifferently.Theystimulatedifferentmentodifferentactions.Anactofwillisthereforenotmerelytheoutcomeoftheconceptormentalpicturebutalsooftheindividualmake-upoftheperson…thecharacterologicaldisposition…Thecharacterologicaldispositionisformedbythemoreorlesspermanentcontentofoursubjectivelife,thatis,bythecontentofourmentalpicturesandfeelings…Mycharacterologicaldispositionisdeterminedespeciallybymylifeoffeeling.WhetherIshallmakeaparticularmentalpictureorconceptintoamotiveofactionornot,willdependonwhetheritgivesmejoyorpain…”
“Wemustthereforedistinguish(1)thepossiblesubjectivedispositionswhicharecapableofturningcertainmentalpicturesandconceptsintomotives,and(2)thepossiblementalpicturesandconceptswhichareinapositiontoinfluencemycharacterologicaldispositionsothatanactofwillresults.Forourmorallife,theformerrepresentthedrivingforce,andthelatter,itsaims.”
Table1)ActofWill
DrivingForce(WillFactor) Motive1)whichdispositionscan -chacterologicaldisposition -mentalpictures 2)whichmentalpictures&turncertainmental (formedbyone'spersonalhistoryof -concepts conceptscaninfluencemypictures&conceptsinto mentalpictures,feelings) characterologicaldispositionmotives? permanentdeterminingfactor momentarydeterminingfactor sothatanactofwillresults?
1) 2)
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TheDrivingForces:QuotesfromChapter9TheIdeaofFreedom,pages126-129:
“Thedrivingforceinthemorallifecanbediscoveredbyfindingouttheelementsofwhichindividuallifeiscomposed.Thefirstlevelofindividuallifeisthatofperceiving,moreparticularlyperceivingthroughthesenses.Thisistheregionofourindividuallifeinwhichperceivingtranslatesitselfdirectlyintowilling,withouttheinterventionofeitherafeelingoraconcept.Thedrivingforcehereinvolvedissimplycalledinstinct.Thesatisfactionofourlower,purelyanimalneeds(hunger,sexualintercourseetc.)comesaboutinthisway…”
“Thiskindofdeterminationofthewill,whichbelongsoriginallyonlytothelowersenses,mayhoweverbecomeextendedalsototheperceptsofthehighersenses.Wemayreacttotheperceptofacertaineventintheexternalworldwithoutreflectingonwhatwedo,withoutanyspecialfeelingconnectingitselfwiththepercepts,asinfacthappensinourconventionalsocialbehaviour.Thedrivingforceofsuchactioniscalledtactormoralgoodtaste…”
“Thesecondlevelofhumanlifeisfeeling.Definitefeelingsaccompanytheperceptsoftheexternalworld.Thesefeelingsmaybecomethedrivingforceofanaction.WhenIseeastarvingman,mypityforhimmaybecomethedrivingforceofmyaction…Suchfeelings,forexample…areshame,pride…revenge…piety…loveandduty.”
“Thethirdleveloflifeamountstothinkingandformingmentalpictures.Amentalpictureorconceptmaybecomethemotiveofanactionthroughmerereflection.Mentalpicturesbecomemotivesbecause,inthecourseoflife,weregularlyconnectcertainaimsofourwillwithperceptswhichrecuragainandagaininmoreorlessmodifiedform.Hencewithpeoplenotwhollydevoidofexperienceithappensthattheoccurrenceofcertainperceptsisalwaysaccompaniedbytheappearanceinconsciousnessofmentalpicturesoractionsthattheythemselveshavecarriedoutinasimilarcaseorhaveseenotherscarryout.Thesementalpicturesfloatbeforetheirmindsaspatternswhichdetermineallsubsequentdecisions;theybecomepartoftheircharacterologicaldisposition.Thedrivingforceinthewill,inthiscase,wecancallpracticalexperience.Practicalexperiencemergesgraduallyintopurelytactfulbehaviour…”
“Thehighestlevelofindividuallifeisthatofconceptualthinkingwithoutregardtoanydefiniteperceptualcontent.Wedeterminethecontentofaconceptthroughpureintuitionfromoutoftheidealsphere.Suchaconceptcontains,atfirst,noreferencetoanydefinitepercepts.Ifweenteruponanactofwillundertheinfluenceofaconceptwhichreferstoapercept,thatis,undertheinfluenceofamentalpicture,thenitisthisperceptwhichdeterminesouractionindirectlybywayofconceptualthinking.Butifweactundertheinfluenceofintuitions,thedrivingforceofouractionispurethinking.Asitisthecustominphilosophytocallthefacultyofpurethinking“reason”,wemaywellbejustifiedingivingthenameofpracticalreasontothemoraldrivingforcecharacteristicofthisleveloflife…Itisclearthatsuchanimpulsecannolongerbecountedinthestrictestsenseasbelongingtothecharacterologicaldisposition.Forwhatishereeffectiveasthedrivingforceisnolongersomethingindividualtome,buttheidealandhenceuniversalcontentofmyintuition.”
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TheMotives
QuotesfromChapter9TheIdeaofFreedom,pages129-130:
“Themotivesofmoralconductarementalpicturesandconcepts.ThereareMoralPhilosopherswhoseeamotiveformoralbehaviouralsointhefeelings…Pleasureitself,however,cannotbecomeamotive;onlyanimaginedpleasurecan.Thementalpictureofafuturefeeling,butnotthefeelingitself,canactonmycharacterologicaldisposition…”
“Thementalpictureofone’sownoranother’swelfareis,however,rightlyregardedasamotiveofthewill.Theprincipleofproducingthegreatestquantityofpleasureforoneselfthroughone’saction,thatis,ofattainingindividualhappiness,iscalledegoism.Theattainmentofthisindividualhappinessissoughteitherbythinkingruthlesslyonlyofone’sowngoodandstrivingtoattainitevenatthecostofthehappinessofotherindividuals(pureegoism),orbypromotingthegoodofothers,eitherbecauseoneanticipatesafavourableinfluenceonone’sownpersonindirectlythroughthehappinessofothers,orbecauseonefearstoendangerone’sowninterestbyinjuringothers(moralityofprudence).Thespecialcontentoftheegoisticalprinciplesofmoralitywilldependonthementalpictureswhichweformofwhatconstitutesourown,orothers’,happiness.Amanwilldeterminethecontentofhisegoisticalstrivinginaccordancewithwhatheregardsasthegoodthingsoflife(luxury,hopeofhappiness,deliverancefromvariousevils,andsoon.)
Thepurelyconceptualcontentofanactionistoberegardedasyetanotherkindofmotive.Thiscontentrefersnottotheparticularactiononly,aswiththementalpictureofone’sownpleasures,buttothederivationofanactionfromasystemofmoralprinciples.Thesemoralprinciples,intheformofabstractconcepts,mayregulatetheindividual’smorallifewithouthisworryinghimselfabouttheoriginoftheconcepts.Inthatcase,wesimplyfeelthatsubmittingtoamoralconceptintheformofacommandmentovershadowingouractions,isamoralnecessity…”
“Itisaspecialkindofthesemoralprincipleswhenthecommandmentismadeknowntousnotthroughanexternalauthoritybutthroughourowninnerlife(moralautonomy).Inthiscase,wehearthevoicetowhichwehavetosubmitourselves,inourownsouls.Thisvoiceexpressesitselfasconscience.
Table2)DrivingForces
Elementsof GenericDrivingForcesIndividualLife
thinkingwith,atfirst,no
referencetoperceptsthinking&formingmental practicalexperiencepictures
feeling feeling
highersenses tactormoralgoodtaste
lowersenses instinctperceiving
practicalreason (nolongerbelongingtocharacterologicaldisposition)
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Itisamoraladvancewhenamannolongersimplyacceptsthecommandsofanouterorinnerauthorityasthemotiveofhisaction,buttriestounderstandthereasonwhyaparticularmaximofbehaviourshouldactasamotiveinhim.Thisistheadvancefrommoralitybasedonauthoritytoactionoutofmoralinsight.Atthislevelofmoralityamanwilltrytofindouttherequirementsofthemorallifeandwilllethisactionsbedeterminedbytheknowledgeofthem.Suchrequirementsare:
(1) thegreatestpossiblegoodofmankindpurelyforitsownsake;(2) theprogressofcivilization,orthemoralevolutionofmankindtowardsevergreaterperfection;(3) therealizationofindividualmoralaimsgraspedbypureintuition…”
“Theprincipleoftheprogressofcivilization,likethatofthegeneralgood,isbasedonamentalpicture,thatis,onthewaywerelatethecontentofourmoralideastoparticularexperiences(percepts).Thehighestconceivablemoralprinciple,however,isonethatfromthestartcontainsnosuchreferencetoparticularexperiences,butspringsfromthesourceofpureintuitionandonlylaterseeksanyreferencetopercepts,thatis,tolife…”
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FreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseA)TheDispositionswhichcanturnvariousmentalpicturesandconceptsintomotivesAND
Mentalpictures&conceptswhichinfluencemydispositionsoanactofwillresults
1)Inyourmind,movebackwardsthroughthelastdaysorweeks,untilyourecallspecificactionsyoutookwhichrevealthefollowinggenericdrivingforces.(Seetablebelow.)Recordoneactionwhichcorrespondstoeachdrivingforce.
2)Onceyouhavefoundanactualactionexampleforeachgenericdrivingforce,recordalsothespecificdrivingforcebehindeachactionandrecordit.Forexample,forthegenericdrivingforce"instinct",aspecificdrivingforcemightbe"thirst".
Table3)
3)Foreachaction,recallwhatyouwerethinkingjustbeforeyouacted.Whatspecificmentalpicturebecamethemotiveforyouraction?Recorditonthetable.
4)Findandrecordthegenericmotive(fromTable2)whichcategorizesyourspecificmotive.
5)Chooseanyoneofyour4actionsfromthetableasanexampletoinvestigatemoredeeply.Recallthequotefromchapter9:
"Mycharacterologicaldispositionisdeterminedespeciallybymylifeoffeeling.WhetherIshallmakeaparticularmentalpictureorconceptintoamotiveofactionornot,willdependonwhetheritgivesmejoyorpain."
Contemplatethesourceofthejoywhichcausedyoutomakethisspecificmentalpictureorconceptintoamotiveofaction.Whatfeelingseithersupportedorworkedagainstyourimpulsetoact?
6)Chooseanotherexamplefromyourtable.Examinemoredeeplywhatyouwerethinkingbeforeyouacted.Whywasthisspecificmentalpictureorconceptsoabletoinfluenceyourcharacterologicaldispositionthatanactofwillresulted?
Action DrivingForce Motive
Generic(fromTable2)
Specific Specificmentalpicture Generic(fromTable2)
practicalexperience
feeling
tact/moralgoodtaste
instinct
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FreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseB)FreedomCallisthenicsExerciseBwasinspiredbythefollowingquotesfromthePhilosophyofFreedom:
QuotefromChapter1ConsciousHumanAction,page11“…Thatanaction,ofwhichtheagentdoesnotknowwhyheperformsit,cannotbefree,goeswithoutsaying.Butwhataboutanactionforwhichthereasonsareknown?Thisleadsustothequestionoftheoriginandmeaningofthinking.Forwithouttherecognitionofthethinkingactivityofthesoul,itisimpossibletoformaconceptofknowle"dgeaboutanything,andthereforeofknowledgeaboutanaction.Whenweknowwhatthinkingingeneralmeans,itwillbeeasytogetclearabouttherolethatthinkingplaysinhumanaction.”
QuotefromChapter3ThinkingintheServiceofKnowledge,page29“Foreveryone,however,whohastheabilitytoobservethinking–andwithgoodwilleverynormalmanhasthisability–thisobservationisthemostimportantonehecanpossiblymake.Forheobservessomethingofwhichhehimselfisthecreator;hefindshimselfconfronted,notbyanapparentlyforeignobject,butbyhisownactivity.Heknowshowthethingcomesintobeing.Heseesintoitsconnectionsandrelationships.Afirmpointhasnowbeenreached,fromwhichonecan,withsomehopeofsuccess,seekanexplanationofallotherphenomenaoftheworld.”
QuotesfromChapter9TheIdeaofFreedom
Pages132–133:“Inanyparticularactofwillwemusttakeintoaccountthemotiveandthedrivingforce.Themotiveisafactorwiththecharacterofaconceptormentalpicture;thedrivingforceisthewillfactorbelongingtothehumanorganizationanddirectlyconditionedbyit.”
Page131:“Itisamoraladvancewhenamannolongersimplyacceptsthecommandsofanouterorinnerauthorityasthemotiveofhisaction,buttriestounderstandthereasonwhyaparticularmaximofbehaviourshouldactasamotiveinhim.Thisistheadvancefrommoralitybasedonauthoritytoactionoutofmoralinsight.Atthislevelofmoralityamanwilltrytofindouttherequirementsofthemorallifeandwilllethisactionsbedeterminedbytheknowledgeofthem.Suchrequirementsare:
i. thegreatestpossiblegoodofmankindpurelyforitsownsake;ii. theprogressofcivilization,orthemoralevolutionofmankindtowardsevergreaterperfection;iii. therealizationofindividualmoralaimsgraspedbypureintuition…”
“Theprincipleoftheprogressofcivilization,likethatofthegeneralgood,isbasedonamentalpicture,thatis,onthewaywerelatethecontentofourmoralideastoparticularexperiences(percepts).Thehighestconceivablemoralprinciple,however,isonethatfromthestartcontainsnosuchreferencetoparticularexperiences,butspringsfromthesourceofpureintuitionandonlylaterseeksanyreferencetopercepts,thatis,tolife…”
Page134:“Thesumofideaswhichareeffectiveinus,theconcretecontentofourintuitions,constituteswhatisindividualineachofus,notwithstandingtheuniversalityoftheworldofideas.Insofarasthisintuitivecontentappliestoaction,itconstitutesthemoralcontentoftheindividual.Toletthiscontentexpressitselfinlifeisboththehighestmoraldrivingforceandthehighestmotiveamancanhave,whoseesthatinthiscontentallothermoralprinciplesareintheendunited.Wemaycallthispointofviewethicalindividualism…Thedecisivefactorinanintuitivelydeterminedactioninanyconcreteinstanceisthediscoveryofthecorrespondingpurelyindividualintuition.”
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QuotefromChapter12MoralImagination,pages163–164“Manproducesconcretementalpicturesfromthesumofhisideaschieflybymeansoftheimagination.Thereforewhatthefreespiritneedsinordertorealizehisideas,inordertobeeffective,ismoralimagination.Thisisthesourceofthefreespirit’saction…Moralimagination,inordertorealizeitsmentalpicture,mustsettoworkinadefinitesphereofpercepts.Humanactiondoesnotcreatepercepts,buttransformsalreadyexistingperceptsandgivesthemanewform.Inordertobeabletotransformadefiniteobjectofperception,orasumofsuchobjects,inaccordancewithamentalpicture,onemusthavegraspedtheprincipleatworkwithintheperceptpicture,thatis,thewayithashithertoworked,towhichonewantstogiveanewformordirection.Further,itisnecessarytodiscovertheprocedurebywhichitispossibletochangethegivenprincipleintoanewone.Thispartofeffectivemoralactivitydependsonknowledgeoftheparticularworldofphenomenawithwhichoneisconcerned…”IndividualFreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseB):WhatifIHadConsciouslyFashionedaMotive?
1) Movebackwardsuntilyoudiscoveranactionyoutookwhichnowdisappointsyou–anactioninwhichyounowrecognizeyoufellshortoftheidealsyouwouldliketoembody.
a) Whatwerethegenericandspecificdrivingforceofthisaction?b) Whatwerethegenericandspecificmotive?c) Towhatextentwereyouconsciousofyourmotiveatthetimeyouacted?d) Attendnowtothefeelingswhichariseinyouinresponsetothisself-knowledge.Whatareyou
feeling?
2) Thegreatestgoodofmankindpurelyforitsownsakea) Bringbeforeyoutheperceptpictureofthesituation–justpriortoyouraction-withasmuchdetail
andclarityaspossible.b) Reflectnowupontheideaofthegreatestgoodofhumankindpurelyforitsownsakeasa
comprehensivemotive.c) Whatspecificmotiveemergesforyounow,outofthegreatestgoodofhumankind,asthemoral
principlemostappropriatetoyourperceptpicture?d) Whatmentalpictureclarifiesforyounowoutofthatspecificmotive,asapossiblealternativeaction
youmighthavetaken?(Keepinmind,thegreatestgoodinthiscasewillapplytothehumanbeingorhumanbeingsconnectedwiththespecificsituation.)
3) Theprogressofcivilization,ormoralevolutionofmankindtowardsevergreaterperfectiona) Onceagain,bringbeforeyoutheperceptpictureofthesituation–justpriortoyouraction.
ElementsofIndividualLife GenericDrivingForces GenericMotivesthinkingwith,atfirst,no realizationofindividualmoralaimsgraspedbypureintuitionreferencetopercepts moral progressofcivilization;moralevolutionofmankindthinking&forming practicalexperience insight greatestgoodofmankindmentalpictures authority inner consciencefeeling feeling outer commandment
highersenses tact/moralgoodtaste indirectegoism,throughhappinessofotherslowersenses instinct egoism moralityofprudence
pureegoism(promotionofone'sownwelfare)
practicalreason
perceiving
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b) Reflectnowupontheideaoftheprogressofcivilization,ormoralevolutionofmankindtowardsevergreaterperfection.Experienceinyourthinkinghowthisidea“turnsouttobeaspecialcaseoftheforegoingmoralprincipal”(i.e.ofthegreatestgood).
c) Whatnewspecificmotiveemergesforyounow,outoftheprogressofcivilization,ormoralevolutionofmankindtowardsevergreaterperfection,asthemoralprinciplemostappropriatetoyourperceptpicture?
d) Turnagaintothementalpictureyouformedinthelaststep.Howmightyoufurtherrefineorelaboratethementalpictureofyouralternativeactionbasedonyournewspecificmotive?
4) TheRealizationofIndividualMoralAimsGraspedbyPureIntuitiona) Letallexternalmoralprinciplesfallaway.Onelasttime,bringthesituation–justpriortoyouraction-
beforeyououtofyourmemorywithasmuchdetailandclarityaspossible.b) Whatwastheprinciple(orwhatweretheprinciples)atworkwithinthisperceptpicture,towhich–if
thesituationwasnowunfoldinginthepresent–youwouldliketogiveanewdirection?c) Fromyourindividualperspective,whatspecificmoralconceptwouldhaveexpressedthenewdirection
mostappropriatetothatsituation?d) Hadyouadoptedthismoralconceptasyourmotive,whatdifferentalternativeactionmightyouhave
taken?
5) Observetheprogressofyourthinkingfromsteps2to3to4.Whattransitions,developmentsdoyousee?
6) Attendnowtothefeelingswhichariseinyouinresponsetoyourworkwiththeexercise.Whatareyoufeeling?
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FreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseC)FreedomCallisthenicsExerciseC)wasinspiredbythefollowingquotesfromthePhilosophyofFreedom:
QuotefromChapter9TheIdeaofFreedom,page132
“Ifamanholdstotheprincipleofthegeneralgood,hewillinallhisactions,firstaskwhathisidealswillcontributetothisgeneralgood.Ifamanupholdstheprincipleoftheprogressofcivilization,hewillactsimilarly.Butthereisastillhigherwaywhichdoesnotstartfromoneandthesameparticularmoralaimineachcase,butseesacertainvalueinallmoralprinciplesandalwaysaskswhetherinthegivencasethisorthatprincipleisthemoreimportant.Itmayhappenthatinsomecircumstancesamanconsiderstherightaimtobetheprogressofcivilization,inothersthepromotionofhisownwelfare,andineachcasemakesthatthemotiveofhisaction.Butifnoothergroundfordecisionclaimsmorethansecondplace,thenconceptualintuitionitselfcomesfirstandforemostintoconsideration.Allothermotivesnowgiveway,andtheideabehindanactionalonebecomesitsmotive.”
QuotefromChapter12MoralImagination,pages163–164“Manproducesconcretementalpicturesfromthesumofhisideaschieflybymeansoftheimagination.Thereforewhatthefreespiritneedsinordertorealizehisideas,inordertobeeffective,ismoralimagination.Thisisthesourceofthefreespirit’saction…Moralimagination,inordertorealizeitsmentalpicture,mustsettoworkinadefinitesphereofpercepts.Humanactiondoesnotcreatepercepts,buttransformsalreadyexistingperceptsandgivesthemanewform.Inordertobeabletotransformadefiniteobjectofperception,orasumofsuchobjects,inaccordancewithamentalpicture,onemusthavegraspedtheprincipleatworkwithintheperceptpicture,thatis,thewayithashithertoworked,towhichonewantstogiveanewformordirection.Further,itisnecessarytodiscovertheprocedurebywhichitispossibletochangethegivenprincipleintoanewone.Thispartofeffectivemoralactivitydependsonknowledgeoftheparticularworldofphenomenawithwhichoneisconcerned…”
QuotefromChapter12MoralImagination,pages164–165“Moralaction,therefore,presupposes,inadditiontothefacultyofhavingmoralideas(moralintuition)andmoralimagination,theabilitytotransformtheworldofperceptswithoutviolatingthenaturallawsbywhichtheseareconnected.Thisabilityismoraltechnique.Itcanbelearntinthesamesenseinwhichanykindofknowledgecanbelearnt.Generally,speaking,menarebetterabletofindconceptsfortheexistingworldthantoevolveproductively,outoftheirimagination,thenot-yet-existingactionsofthefuture.Henceitisperfectlypossibleformenwithoutmoralimaginationtoreceivewsuchmentalpicturesfromothers,andtoembodythemskilfullyintotheworld.Conversely,itmayhappenthatmenwithmoralimaginationlacktechnicalskill,andmustmakeuseofothermenfortherealizationoftheirmentalpictures.”
IndividualFreedomCallisthenics,ExerciseC):PracticingtheArtofFreedom
1) Consideranactofwillwhichyouanticipateperforming.Itcouldbeaverysimpletask,likedoingthedishes.Oritcouldbeamorecomplexaction,affectingoneormorepeople,involvingaweboffeelingsandpresentingarangeofpotentiallysensitiveoutcomes,positiveandnegative.
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2) Thegreatestgoodofmankindpurelyforitsownsakea) Bringbeforeyoutheperceptpictureofthecircumstancesencompassingyourapproachingactofwill,
withasmuchdetailandclarityaspossible.b) Reflectnowuponthemotive“thegreatestgoodofmankindpurelyforitsownsake”.Enterintothe
beingofthisidea,exploringitsnature,feelingitsessence.c) Takingthisideaasyourcomprehensivemotive,whatspecificmotiveemergesforyouasappropriateto
theperceptpictureyouhavebuilt?(Keepinmind,thegreatestgoodinthiscasewillapplytothehumanbeingorhumanbeingsconnectedwiththespecificsituation.)
d) Whatmentalpictureemergesforyounowasanactionyoumighttake?
3) Theprogressofcivilization,ormoralevolutionofmankindtowardsevergreaterperfectiona) Onceagain,bringbeforeyouthecircumstancesencompassingyourapproachingactofwill.b) Reflectagainuponthegreatestgoodformankind.Experienceinyourthinkinghowtheideaofthe
progressofcivilization,ormoralevolutionofmankindtowardsevergreaterperfectionrefinesoutoftheideaofthegreatestgood.
c) Livingwiththisrefininggestureasanideal,whatspecificmotiveemergesforyououtoftheprogressofcivilizationormoralevolutionofmankind,inrelationtotheperceptpictureyouhavebuilt?
d) Turnagaintothementalpictureyouformedinthelaststep.Howmightyoufurtherrefineorelaboratethementalpictureofyouralternativeactionifyourmotivationnowwastoservetheprogressofcivilization,ormoralevolutionofmankindtowardsevergreaterperfection?
4) TheRealizationofIndividualMoralAimsGraspedbyPureIntuitiona) Letallexternalmoralprinciplesfallaway.Onelasttime,bringbeforeyouthecircumstances
encompassingyourapproachingactofwill,withasmuchdetailandclarityaspossible.b) Whatistheprinciple(orwhataretheprinciples)atworkwithinthisperceptpicture,towhichyou
wouldliketogiveanewdirection?c) Fromyourindividualperspective,whatmoralconceptexpressesthenewdirectionmostappropriateto
thesituation?d) Adoptingthismoralconceptasyourmotive,whatmentalpictureofanactiontotakeemergesforyou?
Beasspecificaspossible.
5. ActandReflectuponyouractiona) Actinaccordancewiththemotiveyoudevelopedinthelaststep,i.e.therealizationofindividual
moralaims,graspedbypureintuition.b) Towhatextentinpracticewereyousuccessfulinunfoldingyourmoralmentalpictureintheworld?c) Whatwastheoutcomeofyouraction?d) Whathaveyoulearned?