Vichara

In the previous essay, we saw that when we perceive Good, we are seeing something that marks a fundamental break or rupture with hitherto existent reality, with all that we know as causally related reality—i.e., absolute, radical contingency. For what could be apart from reality? It appears to be a paradox; reality is, after all, everything there is.

It is apodictic that whatever is good in-itself and objectively is what should be in and of reality. But what is the criterion of that which we find to have intrinsic, objective value? We know that it can't be directly defined in terms of some concept or concepts that break it down. So then, what could be a sufficient basis for being able to say correctly that there is Good? Is there a basis on which it could be said, “Well, there is this that there is whenever there is Good.” What could be such?

It is apodictic that whatever is good in-itself and objectively is what should be in and of the world. But what is the criterion of that which we find to have intrinsic, objective value? We know that it can't be directly defined in terms of some concept or concepts that break it down. So then, what could be a sufficient basis for being able to say correctly that the Good is present?

We have already seen that there is a sense we have of intrinsic, ultimate value (on the subjective side), and if our sense isn't entirely illusory, value is a simple, irreducible substance, form or attribute of reality (on the objective side). What more can be said? Earlier I had spoken of "an objective quality of pure value, the nectar or light, one could say, of the Good" that is apprehended when experiencing a truly great work of art.

We shall now look into what it is that comes across to us as (being of) ultimate, objective value. This post and the next one will look at two preliminary, non-definitive properties about it that will help us pin down what it exactly is in the dispatches beginning with Vichara 7. The property we will look at today is that it is not possible to pin down exactly what it is. I know, I know. It's complicated.

At the end of the last dispatch I had written that there is one important case of our having the sense, whether or not valid, that certain things are better than others that I will treat separately. This is the domain of art and other social productions. One of the many refrains of our society is that there is no such thing as good or bad art, but that there is only art that one likes or doesn't like.

In the first dispatch, I had written that "we find it salient to think in terms of some things or some state of affairs ... having merit," via the example of the sentiment expressed by Elon Musk in an interview about being "optimistic about the future". Whatever that might specifically entail, I'd written, we find that sentiment to make sense, at least—our natural inclination is to think that there could be better or worse possibilities for the future.

Today's dispatch pertains to terminological matters. I introduce no new ideas here, and depending on your philosophical sophistication, it could be very basic. I'll be starting to get into the actual substance next time (though it will be the time-after-next that I'll really have started to get into it).

Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. I will begin by laying my cards face-up. The purpose of this project is to develop a conception of (ultimate, objective) value and a vision for what the world would look like if oriented around (ultimate, objective) value. This will involve a reworking of an array of philosophical ideas, such as beauty, vitality, the subject, the Absolute, etc.

Friends and family, known and unknown: I have been much fresh content, and am going to start publishing it tomorrow. But before I did so, I wanted to make a short personal note, or write a contextual preface unrelated to the content of the project itself, for my existing sign-ups and subscribers. It will be deleted in a couple days from Substack itself, and will live on only in these emails that you have received. It has been over a year since I sent anything out here.