Josh asked:

I hate to stereotype, but I have reviewed some of your questioners questions and they seem
so...Western Philosophical! My point is that the questions don't involve any spiritualistic notions. Why
do you think this is, or am I just paranoid? Do you believe in spiritualism, if so, what are your
spiritualistic notions?

On another note, I have a few questions of my own: What is the nature of the Universe? Is it to create
life and sustain it, or is there something more relevant, less obvious?

============

If by spiritualism you mean that we possess a soul that continues to exist after our body dies and/or is
possibly reincarnated, then, No, I do not believe in spiritualism. That is not because these ideas are
childish or superstitious. In fact, philosophy is full of accounts and theories about reincarnation and
immortality, some even without the need for any notion of a soul. The reason I do not believe in these
ideas is simply because they do not make sense, at least as presented by their advocates.

If, on the other hand, you as asking whether philosophy ignores or dismisses spiritualistic ideas such
as the classic idea that we are all one with nature and all connected with one another, then the
answer is, No again.

I remember being taught at school that we are all composed of chemicals manufactured in the heart
of stars. Basically we are all star stuff. Every time I think about this I still feel awe. It amazes me that
we areall connected in that we were born in a star. Immanuel Kant, one of the greatest philosophers
ever, once wrote that "Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the
often and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above and the moral law within."

But it is easy to take this thought too far. For if all we are is a bunch of chemicals forged in a nuclear
furnace and randomly assorted, then that's it. That's your explanation of our life. Objectively there isn't
anything left to say, there is no such thing as the 'nature' of the universe or the 'meaning' of life. The
universe just exists.

But this is not the whole story. There is something more to us than a few pounds of chemical
compounds. What is it? I don't know. But I think this is the fundamental question of philosophy. It has
something to do with the subjective and inter-subjective aspect of our lives.

In summary, philosophy does not ignore spiritualism, it is just that we can see when we do philosophy
that spiritualism is subject to as much criticism as any other theory, and if it is found to be inadequate
then it must be rejected. But at the same time philosophy can be, and often is awe inspiring. The fact
that we exist at all, and, given that we do exist as limited, finite and mortal beings, that we have the
capacity to delve into and uncover mysteries about existence merely serve as examples.

A good book that covers these issues is Robert Nozick Philosophical Explanations.

Brian Tee
Dept of Philosophy
University of Sheffield.

Second opinion:

Students of Western Philosophy will tend to ask Western Philosophical questions! This is because
Western philosophy is based on the discovery and use of reason. Phenomenally speaking,
spiritualism is a fringe area of religion, and differs according to the religion to which it is related.
Philosophy is a way of thinking about thinking and tends on the whole not to uphold "spiritualistic
notions", which have more to do with areas of unreflected belief and superstition. On the other hand
Jung has written well about para-psychological phenomena and Nobel prize winning author, Isaac
Bashevis Singer includes "spiritual notions" in most of his stories where they appear quite natural and
both writers, who are world famous, believed that we are not alone.

As to your personal questions and knowing your distaste for Western Philosophy, hearken then to the
Buddha, who said:

In the search for truth there are certain questions that are unimportant. What is the nature of the
universe? Is the universe eternal? Are there limits or not to the universe? If a man were to postpone
his searching and practicing for Enlightenment until such questions were solved, he would die before
he found the path.

Suppose a man were pierced by a poisoned arrow, and his relatives and friends got together to call a
surgeon to have the arrow removed and the wound treated. If the wounded man objects, saying,
"Wait a little. Before you pull it out, I want to know who shot this arrow. Was it a man or a woman?
Was it someone of noble birth, or a peasant? What was the bow made of? Was it a big bow or a
small bow that shot the arrow? Was it made of wood or bamboo? What was the bow-string made of?"
Then what will happen?

Matthew Del Nevo

www.sicetnon.com