Concrete vs. Abstract Reality
Before we make a comment here,
we'll remember to realize that philosophy is the study of thought.
Thoughts, ideas, notions (all abstract) have impact on others (influence!),
and our way of thinking
is never the only way of thinking (paradigm, perspective)
and is seldom the best.
Do we not grow from the knowledge and experience of others?
What do you think about these concepts?
How do you feel you or others enact them in life?
Be sure to keep an open mind!
posted by D. Robin @ 9/07/2008
8 comments
8 Comments:
I feel as though humans purposely choose not to grow from experience-and/or past mistakes. Personal reflection may prove otherwise-but the majority of mankind does not have AP level minds. Rather than accepting our faults, we create a false sense of well-being and correctness (though fully aware that this abstract reality is merely a defense mechanism). On another note, I find it interesting that abstract thought has such a strong influence on our physical actions and concrete world. This is evident in everyday life. A bad mood, or insecurity may ruin the rest of our day, and cause physical strain. The power of the human mind is infinite.
Erika Alexander
I feel as though humans purposely choose not to grow from experience-and/or past mistakes. Personal reflection may prove otherwise-but the majority of mankind does not have AP level minds. Rather than accepting our faults, we create a false sense of well-being and correctness (though fully aware that this abstract reality is merely a defense mechanism). On another note, I find it interesting that abstract thought has such a strong influence on our physical actions and concrete world. This is evident in everyday life. A bad mood or insecurity may ruin the rest of our day, and cause physical strain. The power of the human mind is infinite.
Sincerely,
Erika Alexander
Philosophy is a very interesting subject, since it can apply to basically anything and everything (I personally enjoy thinking about philosophy). Due to the fact that anything within humankind’s perception of reality is something within human thought, only imperceptible entities and facts are outside of the scope of philosophy. However, since we do not know of these facts or objects, they do not exist within our reality.
To address the question (if/how we grow from the knowledge and experience of others), I believe that the knowledge and experience of others is what allows us to develop our own thoughts. There are very few ideas that we can have without having previous knowledge to base them on. By learning about the ideas of others, and thus gaining knowledge from them, we can think of new things related these older ideas causing us to grow ourselves. School is a good example of this, since we (students) learn from the knowledge and previous experiences of others (teachers and peers). Through this gained knowledge, we can then develop new ideas and teach others through our knowledge and experiences.
As a side note, I would like to ask a few questions related to the idea of concrete vs. abstract reality. How do you view reality? Do you see all things as either abstract or concrete realities, or do you see reality differently? In other words; do you agree with the rhetorical view of reality? Personally I believe that reality is based on an individual’s perspective, each person is the center of their own world (though this does not mean they control their own reality) and what exists is based on what they can perceive. I think that everything can fit in abstract reality, as thoughts and ideas dictate how we see everything (without the ability to think about and describe things, we wouldn’t be able to understand our senses).
Randolph Chua
I think people can grow significantly from the knowledge and experiences of others. For instance, everything we read has come from the mind of some other person. Someone else's knowledge or experience is being presented to us. Whether we agree with it, find it to be absolutely ridiculous, or are indifferent, we usually have some kind of opinion. The fact that we are thinking about the subject at all shows that we are somehow analyzing it and growing from it. This is especially true when there is a very negative experience being discussed. After reading something like that, I would not want to experience it myself. This, of course, is a personal opinion. If I believe that what is written is legitimate, I will take the author’s word for it. By trusting the author about their negative experience, I believe I am also indirectly learning and growing from them.
~Brianna Saviano
I think that we can grow from people's experiences. Although we cannot always personally relate, we can take away from the choices they made. If a friend makes a bad choice, I know I will be less likely to make the same mistake. Also we can learn how to deal with situations by seeing how others react.
I think people use both concrete and abstract simultaneously in their everyday lives. People say things like "I feel _______ today." which is abstract, and people with say things like "That tastes/smells/feels/sounds/looks _______." I think that you need both concepts to fully understand everyday life. For example, if a friend is crying, I only know she is upset because she says it. Otherwise they could be tears of joy. Without an explanation of their feelings (abstract), nothing can be certain.
I think the concepts are pretty straightforward, and can be found in everyday life if the observer is looking for them. Honestly, the concepts have always been a part of our lives. When we were little, we knew we could interact with concrete concepts, while we also realized how abstract concepts affected us. When the people around you feel an emotion, it tends to rub off on you.
-Ashley
Philosophy is a rhetorical concept that people choose to take in or reject it. Even though sometimes we reject few philosophical comments and be closed minded about it, we're still considering them. But if we choose to accept those concepts, they may be the turning points of ourlives. Everytime we read a major author's book, they become a turning point, making the path of our lives to have continuous turns and curves. The effect the authors have on us is so big because we always relate to them unconsciously and when we experience a similar event from the book, we refer back and think about the philosophy of it.
I agree with Randy about the individual perspectives on reality. Because everyone is a unique human being, we have read different philosophies from others and we accept them differently from each other. There are various ways to process these concepts in our lives and thats how we let those influence us in different ways. I agree with the rhetorical view; however I don't belive that there is one perspective to look at reality.
I agree with Erika on how people purposely choose whether or not they grow from their mistakes. I know that for a fact becuase I do that same thing myself, and have seen that other people have as well. For instance, people know the consequences of teen sex yet they do it anyway, or for grades they know if they don't do it then they will get bad grades. This also has to do with the human mind as a whole becuase it's not that fact that they know whether something is right or wrong, it's a matter of whether or not they care about the consequences of their actions or if they know how it will effect them personally.
Once a person knows what they are doing will have dire consequences and they still do it, then there is something bigger then the fact of whther they know it's right or wrong. There is something else going on to make the person act the way they do, something deeper and more abstract than they are showing in their idiotic actions. This is now when someone of their elder need to look rhetorically into their actions, such as a psychologist, and decifer what caused then to begin to act negatively in the first place. Once the real reason for their actions have been uncovered, only then will they truely be able to learn from their actions.
Another approach I have is that the people around a person will effect them whether or not they believe their friends will. The person admist negative people may know the right thing, but if they are constantly around people doing exactly what they know is wrong, then that person will become influenced negatively. I read in a book that the people we surround ourselves with will have an impact on us, that is how when a person is sad they tend to make those around them sad and then people don't want to be around them, but a happy person tends to have more people because their attutude is catchy. Our friend corrolate to the decisions we make, and if we know they aren't doing the right thing and we still are with them, that then is a poor choice. An experience then chosen not to grow from if not changed once they realize what is happening.
-Tempest
We do grow from the knowledge and experiences of others but not only do we do grow, we need to grow! If mankind is not able to grow from knowledge or past experiences of others, then the human race is doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again! If someone touches a hot stove and tells you not to touch it, that person is sharing their experiences with you. You learn to not touch the stove and if for some odd reason you choose to do so, it becomes your own experience which you can pass on to other people.
We enact concrete and abstract examples everyday in our lives. Everything we think in our mind to the emotions we feel are abstract. While concrete examples are more of the five senses, which we also use everyday. When you combine both abstract and concrete reality together, a wonderful creature called the human race and the human mind is created.
Ben Wu
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