The Real and the Unreal - Part VI - Prelude to Ontology

[Guest guest]

Dear Chittaranjan,

Namaste. Very well done.

 

You wrote:

>It is because of the metaphysical need to account for sameness that scholastic

>philosophers had postulated essences, for in scholastic philosophy a thing may

>cease to exist but its essence remains forever. Recognition of sameness is

possible >only if universals are admitted, but then this would negate the

doctrine that >'existence precedes essence'. Unfortunately, many modern

philosophers have >discounted scholastic philosophy without a deeper

understanding of its >metaphysics. It would seem that there was much more light

in the 'dark ages' >than most modern philosophers are willing to admit.

Yes, universals and scholastic philosophy are greatly misunderstood.

It has for a long time been the view here that the medieval period of

Europe--the "dark ages"-- was a period of tremendous spiritual illumination. It

was a time when the highest beliefs about the creation and consciousness were

integrated seamlessly with the rest of the culture and honored in the community.

The consciousness in the art, like that of much of Indian civilization, shines

brightly. Some of the most sublime examples of this are the Romanesque and

Gothic cathedrals (and medieval music). The Cathedral of Chartres, built by the

entire community, is an outstanding embodiment of this seamless culture, infused

with deep understanding of the philosophy of Plato.

In many ways, we live in a much darker age.

(The great scholar and curator at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Ananda

Coomaraswamy, discusses these questions, which you have presented to us,

beautifully, in "Christian And Oriental Philosophies of Art.")

End of digression.

 

Warm Regards,

Kenneth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste Shri Kenneth-ji,

 

Yes, Kenneth-ji, I believe that there was a numinous presence behind

the intense spiritual irruptions that took place in medieval Europe -

all those architectural creations, music, sublime writings, and

Christian metaphysics couldn't have happened without a deep spiritual

undercurrent. I also agree that in a sense we are living in a darker

age today. Thank you for your warm message.

 

Warm regards,

Chittaranjan

 

 

advaitin, kvl1949@c... wrote:

> Yes, universals and scholastic philosophy are greatly

> misunderstood.

> It has for a long time been the view here that the medieval

> period of Europe--the "dark ages"-- was a period of tremendous

> spiritual illumination. It was a time when the highest beliefs

> about the creation and consciousness were integrated seamlessly

> with the rest of the culture and honored in the community. The

> consciousness in the art, like that of much of Indian civilization,

> shines brightly. Some of the most sublime examples of this are

> the Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals (and medieval music). The

> Cathedral of Chartres, built by the entire community, is an

> outstanding embodiment of this seamless culture, infused with

> deep understanding of the philosophy of Plato.

> In many ways, we live in a much darker age.

> (The great scholar and curator at the Boston Museum of Fine

> Arts, Ananda Coomaraswamy, discusses these questions, which

> you have presented to us, beautifully, in "Christian And

> Oriental Philosophies of Art.")