Phenomenology : Basing Knowledge on Appearance : Basing Knowledge on Appearance

By Sion, Avi, Dr.

Book Id: WPLBN0100304367
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.1 MB
Reproduction Date: 1/1/2003

Title:	Phenomenology : Basing Knowledge on Appearance : Basing Knowledge on Appearance
Author:	Sion, Avi, Dr.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Philosophy, Phenomenology, Logic, Epistemology, Ontology
Collections:	Authors Community, Philosophy
Historic Publication Date:	2003
Publisher:	Avi Sion - Kindle

Member Page:	Avi Sion
Citation APA MLA Chicago Avi Sion, B. D. (2003). Phenomenology : Basing Knowledge on Appearance. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Phenomenology is the study of appearance as such. It is a branch of both Ontology and Epistemology, since appearing is being known. By an ‘appearance’ is meant any existent which impinges on consciousness, anything cognized, irrespective of any judgment as to whether it be ‘real’ or ‘illusory.’ The evaluation of a particular appearance as a reality or an illusion is a complex process, involving inductive and deductive logical principles and activities. Opinion has to earn the status of strict knowledge. Knowledge develops from appearances, which may be: (a) objects of perception, i.e. concrete phenomena in the physical or mental domains; (b) objects of intuition, i.e. one’s subjective self, cognitions, volitions and valuations (non-phenomenal concretes); and/or (c) objects of conception, i.e. simple or complex abstracts of preceding appearances. Abstraction relies on apprehensions of sameness and difference between appearances (including received or projected appearances, and projected negations of appearances). Coherence in knowledge (perceptual, intuitive and conceptual) is maintained by apprehensions of compatibility or incompatibility. Words facilitate our construction of conceptual knowledge, thanks to their intentionality. The abstract concepts most words intend are common characters or behaviors of particulars (concrete material, mental or subjective experiences). Granting everything in the world is reducible to waves, ‘universals’ would be equalities or proportionalities in the measures of the features, motions and interrelations of particular waves. Such a theory of universals would elucidate sensation and memory. In attempting to retrace the development of conceptual knowledge from experience, we may refer to certain major organizing principles. It is also important to keep track of the order of things in such development, interrelating specific concepts and specific experiences. By proposing a precise sequence of events, we avoid certain logical fallacies and are challenged to try and answer certain crucial questions in more detail. Many more topics are discussed in the present collection of essays, including selfhood, adduction and other logical issues, the status of mathematical concepts and theology.

Summary
Phenomenology is the study of appearance as such. It is a branch of both Ontology and Epistemology, since appearing is being known. By an ‘appearance’ is meant any existent which impinges on consciousness, anything cognized, irrespective of any judgment as to whether it be ‘real’ or ‘illusory.’ The evaluation of a particular appearance as a reality or an illusion is a complex process, involving inductive and deductive logical principles and activities. Opinion has to earn the status of strict knowledge.

Table of Contents
1. What, Why and How 9 1. Phenomenology 10 2. Knowledge is Based on Appearance 14 3. To Be Or Not To Be 19 4. The Phenomenological Approach 23 2. Organizing Principles 27 1. The Order of Things 28 2. Appearance and Other Large Concepts 32 3. Material, Mental, Intuitive, Abstract 38 4. Number, Space and Time 38 5. Modality and Causality 53 3. Experiences and Abstractions 67 1. The Objects of Perception 69 2. The Objects of Intuition 93 3. Correlations between Experiences 100 4. Conceptual Objects 103 5. Degrees of Interiority 112 4. Conceptualization 117 1. Sameness and Difference 119 2. Compatibility or Incompatibility 132 3. Words and Intentions 146 4. A Theory of Universals 153 5. Unity In Plurality 170 5. The Self 175 1. The Self 176 2. Factors of the “Self” 187 3. Identification-With 196 4. Ideal and Practical Concepts 202 5. Fallacious Criticisms of Selfhood 205 6. What “Emptiness” Might Be 217 6. Additional Topics 227 1. Present Appearances 228 2. The Concepts of Space and Time 246 3. Apprehension of the Four Dimensions 256 4. Contents of Thought Processes 272 5. Universals and Potentiality 274 6. Social vs. Personal Knowledge 280 7. The Active Role of Logic 281 1. Principles of Adduction 282 2. Generalization is Justifiable 293 3. Logical Attitudes 298 4. Syllogism Adds to Knowledge 301 5. There is a Formal Logic of Change 306 6. Concept Formation 312 7. Empty Classes 315 8. Context 319 9. Communication 323 8. Epistemological Issues in Mathematics 329 1. Mathematics and Logic 331 2. Geometrical Concepts have an Experiential Basis 334 3. Geometry is a Phenomenological Science 338 4. On “New Arithmetical Entities” 350 5. Imagining a Thoroughly Empirical Arithmetic 356 9. Theology Without Prejudice 363 1. Applying Logical Standards to Theology 364 2. Conceiving the Divine Attributes 369 3. Analyzing Omniscience and Omnipotence 377 4. Harmonizing Justice and Mercy 383 5. The Formlessness of God 390 Illustrations. 395 Fig. 1. Existence, appearance, and reality, 396 Fig. 2. Material, mental and spiritual domains, 397 Fig. 3. A classification of appearances, 398 Fig. 4. Three types of continuity, 399 Fig. 5. Contextual meaning, 400 Appendices and References, 401 App. 1. Using meditation, 403 App. 2. Feelings of Emptiness, 413 App. 3. Mental Projection 417 About this book, 419 References, 422