6/8
E.F. Schumacher author of Small is Beautiful Harper & Row c.1977 E.F.S.
_A_Guide_for_the_Perplexed_ isbn: 0-06-090611-1
1. On Philosophical Maps (001)
6c In this book, we shall look at the world and try to see it whole. To
do this is sometimes called to philosophize, and philosophy has been
defined as the love of, and seeking after, wisdom. Socrates said:
"Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins with
wonder." He also said: "No god is a philosopher or seeker after wisdom
for he is wise already. Neither do the ignorant seek after wisdom; for
herein is the evil of ignorance, that he who is neither good nor wise
is nevertheless satisfied with himself."^8
One way of looking at the world as a whole is by means of a map, that
is to say, some sort of a plan or outline that shows where various
things are to be found-- not all things, of course, for that would make
the map as big as the world, but the things that are most prominent,
most important for orientation-- outstanding landmarks, as it were,
which you cannot miss, or if you do miss them, you will be left in
total perplexity.
The most important part of any inquiry or exploration is its beginning.
As has often been pointed out, if one makes a false or superficial
beginning, no matter how rigorous the methods followed during the
succeeding investigation, they will never remedy the initial error.^9
<decon/representation/scientific.process/method>
Mapmaking is an empirical art that employs a high degree of abstraction
but nonetheless clings to reality with something akin to self-abandon-
ment. Its motto, in a sense, is "Accept everything; reject nothing."
If something is ~there, if it has any kind of existence, if people
notice it and are interested in it, it must be indicated on the map,
in its proper place. Mapmaking is not the whole of philosophy, just as
a map or guidebook is not the whole of geography. It is simply a
beginning-- the very beginning which is at the present lacking, when
people ask: "What does it all mean?" or "What am I supposed to do with
my life?"
My map or guidebook is constructed on the recognition of four Great
Truths-- or landmarks-- which are so prominent, so all-pervading, that
you can see them wherever you happen to be. If you know them well, you
can always find your location by them, and if you cannot recognize
them, you are lost.
The guidebook, it might be said, is about how "Man lives in the world."
This simple statement indicates that we shall need to study
1. "The world";
2. "Man"-- his equipment to meet the world;
3. His way of learning about the world; and
4. What it means to "live" in this world.
The Great Truth about the world is that it is a hierarchic structure of
at least four great "Levels of Being."
The Great Truth about man's equipment to meet the world is the
principle of "adequateness" (adaequatio).
The Great Truth about man's learning concerns the "Four Fields of Know-
ledge."
The Great Truth about living in this life, living in this world,
relates to the distinction between two types of problem, "convergent"
and "divergent."
A map or guidebook-- let this be understood as clearly as possible--
does not "solve" problems and does not "explain" mysteries; it merely
helps identify them. Thereafter, everybody's task is as defined by the
last words spoken by the Buddha:
Work out your salvation with diligence.
For this purpose, according to the precepts of the Tibetan teachers,
A philosophy comprehensive enough to embrace the whole of knowledge
is indispendible.
A system of meditation which will produce the power of concentrating
the mind on anything whatsoever is indispensible.
An art of living which will enable one to utilise each activity
(of body, speech and mind) as an aid on the Path is indispensable.^10
------ Forwarded message ends here ------
E.F. Schumacher author of Small is Beautiful Harper & Row c.1977 E.F.S.
_A_Guide_for_the_Perplexed_ isbn: 0-06-090611-1
1. On Philosophical Maps (001)
6c In this book, we shall look at the world and try to see it whole. To
do this is sometimes called to philosophize, and philosophy has been
defined as the love of, and seeking after, wisdom. Socrates said:
"Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins with
wonder." He also said: "No god is a philosopher or seeker after wisdom
for he is wise already. Neither do the ignorant seek after wisdom; for
herein is the evil of ignorance, that he who is neither good nor wise
is nevertheless satisfied with himself."^8
One way of looking at the world as a whole is by means of a map, that
is to say, some sort of a plan or outline that shows where various
things are to be found-- not all things, of course, for that would make
the map as big as the world, but the things that are most prominent,
most important for orientation-- outstanding landmarks, as it were,
which you cannot miss, or if you do miss them, you will be left in
total perplexity.
The most important part of any inquiry or exploration is its beginning.
As has often been pointed out, if one makes a false or superficial
beginning, no matter how rigorous the methods followed during the
succeeding investigation, they will never remedy the initial error.^9
<decon/representation/scientific.process/method>
Mapmaking is an empirical art that employs a high degree of abstraction
but nonetheless clings to reality with something akin to self-abandon-
ment. Its motto, in a sense, is "Accept everything; reject nothing."
If something is ~there, if it has any kind of existence, if people
notice it and are interested in it, it must be indicated on the map,
in its proper place. Mapmaking is not the whole of philosophy, just as
a map or guidebook is not the whole of geography. It is simply a
beginning-- the very beginning which is at the present lacking, when
people ask: "What does it all mean?" or "What am I supposed to do with
my life?"
My map or guidebook is constructed on the recognition of four Great
Truths-- or landmarks-- which are so prominent, so all-pervading, that
you can see them wherever you happen to be. If you know them well, you
can always find your location by them, and if you cannot recognize
them, you are lost.
The guidebook, it might be said, is about how "Man lives in the world."
This simple statement indicates that we shall need to study
1. "The world";
2. "Man"-- his equipment to meet the world;
3. His way of learning about the world; and
4. What it means to "live" in this world.
The Great Truth about the world is that it is a hierarchic structure of
at least four great "Levels of Being."
The Great Truth about man's equipment to meet the world is the
principle of "adequateness" (adaequatio).
The Great Truth about man's learning concerns the "Four Fields of Know-
ledge."
The Great Truth about living in this life, living in this world,
relates to the distinction between two types of problem, "convergent"
and "divergent."
A map or guidebook-- let this be understood as clearly as possible--
does not "solve" problems and does not "explain" mysteries; it merely
helps identify them. Thereafter, everybody's task is as defined by the
last words spoken by the Buddha:
Work out your salvation with diligence.
For this purpose, according to the precepts of the Tibetan teachers,
A philosophy comprehensive enough to embrace the whole of knowledge
is indispendible.
A system of meditation which will produce the power of concentrating
the mind on anything whatsoever is indispensible.
An art of living which will enable one to utilise each activity
(of body, speech and mind) as an aid on the Path is indispensable.^10
------ Forwarded message ends here ------