1/ I discussed philosophy as a tool to impart structure to our thoughts, which is essential to coherent action.
I also discussed that structure can evolve from mental guide posts to mental traps.
Finally, the act of creating mental structure itself cannot be structured.
I also discussed that structure can evolve from mental guide posts to mental traps.
Finally, the act of creating mental structure itself cannot be structured.
2/ That is the starting point for eastern philosophy, Advaita, Tao and Zen.
These ideas together - structure being essential and also being a potential trap, and the ability to escape structure to create new structure while not being trapped by it - that's where we start East.
These ideas together - structure being essential and also being a potential trap, and the ability to escape structure to create new structure while not being trapped by it - that's where we start East.
3/ In science, we build models or mental maps of reality but we warn people "the map is not the territory" and also accept "All models are wrong; some are useful".
In the same way, all philosophical structures can become traps but even so, many of them are useful.
In the same way, all philosophical structures can become traps but even so, many of them are useful.
4/ Scientists constantly have to battle the temptation to treat models as reality, the map as the territory. I faced that problem in my PhD in electrical engineering.
The "model confused with reality" problem arises because models are so convenient - "tractable" mathematically.
The "model confused with reality" problem arises because models are so convenient - "tractable" mathematically.
5/ Philosphy poses a similar problem. Structure is really convenient and useful, and so we get trapped by it.
Organized religion is a structure of this nature - useful as a guide post for every day life but also can trap you from seeing the formless reality underneath.
Organized religion is a structure of this nature - useful as a guide post for every day life but also can trap you from seeing the formless reality underneath.
6/ Advaita and Tao have a similar take on this formless, structureless reality underneath (the Brahman or the Tao) while the Buddha identifies that as Emptiness. I don't believe they are fundamentally contradictory.
All structure ultimately arise from that formless reality.
All structure ultimately arise from that formless reality.
7/ These are not abstrat ideas devoid of everyday signficance.
In business terms I ask "what implicit assumption are we making that may not always hold?"
I urge people to use models but not be trapped in them.
In business terms I ask "what implicit assumption are we making that may not always hold?"
I urge people to use models but not be trapped in them.
8/ Finally this is the most subversive twist - everything I have said above is a foolish attempt to impart structure to formless, unstructured reality, trying to describe the indescribable.
So use them if they are of some use but don't be trapped by them! 🙏
So use them if they are of some use but don't be trapped by them! 🙏
