The Self : What Is It?. J S Malone
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Author: J S Malone
Number of Pages: 264 pages
Published Date: 18 Mar 2015
Publisher: Createspace
Publication Country: United States
Language: English
ISBN: 9781508934899
Download Link: The Self What Is It
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An excerpt from the beginning of the INTRODUCTION.
The first and most vital trait of materialism is, that it primarily springs from sensibility, and not from intelligence; from tendency, and not from theory. It is not possible to become a materialist by starting out with the question: Is mind or is matter the prime factor of the universe? To decide such question, mind and mind only, must be the sole judge, jury and law. As the sole active and interested party in the case, mind could not decide against itself; or even if it should, what would signify a decision coming from a self-repudiated source?
Instead, materialism originates from tendency, and from vicious tendency withal. True enough, being once born from tendency, it makes haste to clothe itself with theory, as a shield of defense. So also, every vicious act has a ready-made argument for its excuse or justification. This means that the why and how vice can justify itself, are identical with the why and how of materialism. Both alike disclose a serious flaw, either in intelligence or in sensibility; either in the head or in the heart. Which of the two is to blame? Rather, which of the two is the "causal" and "responsible" element of mind?
This is not a trite question; but the first and most - momentous one underlying human character. It is well to answer it on the spot: Which of the two is held responsible by a civil tribunal when trying a man for his life - which, his "intelligence" or his prompting sense motive? Of course, the question is too plain to be put to a sane man. But the strange fact is, though seeing and acting out the truth in practical life, on turning away, we instantly deny it in theory. That is to say, according to universal instinct and usage, the sense motive is the mainspring and responsible agent in the practical issues of life; while theoretically, intelligence is the supreme authority: Am not I and all other discreet people governed by calm and sober reflection? is an expression of it in theory.
This contradiction - the admission of sense causality in practice and its denial in theory, is the beginning point of all philosophical strife. The contradiction not only implies an error, but an all-inclusive error, respecting the root principle of human character. The question comes: Is sense or is intelligence the supreme authority of mind? Answer: Practically, sense is; theoretically, intelligence is. The latter will be seen to be a pure illusion; and as such, is the first and chief instrument of materialism - vicious tendency, for converting intelligence into a shield of defense.
Materialism lurks in every path of experience, whether practical or theoretical, impeding the one and mystifying the other, much as darkness does the traveler. Every inquiry of moderate scope, no matter when, where, or by whom begun, sooner or later leads into the wilderness of materialism. No wonder then, that in one or other of its phases, it has been the main trouble of philosophy from the first. Through all the ages, thoughtful men, seeing its harmful influence, have made a life long struggle against it....
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