Editorial notes:
The sections “Learning to reading to learn” and “Misc comments on writing” are typical of Shai’s phenomenological journey and his reflection on his own intellectual endeavours and achievements. As explained at length in other places, Shai’s journey has two main components: the first being the domain of knowledge under investigation, be it Philosophy, Science etc; and the second, his reflection on his journey and the lessons he draws from these reflections
A perspective of war as chaos
Tentative principle: War is chaos.
A “perhaps” implication, of this “tentative” principle, is that because war is such a great consumer of energy (in its capacity in general to generate entropy) it is, therefore, within an economic-state, a natural attraction for resources (hence focus). Importantly, this would be a separate force to psychological motives (e.g. war as a consequent of greed). It is meant to indicate a (transcendental*) force that promotes the creation of those entities and features that in turn are the more immediate drivers of war. It is meant to answer questions akin to asking, Why do these socioeconomic (including political) entities and socioeconomic features (including the most obvious one, the market) exist to a larger than otherwise expected extent?
*The word “transcendental” can be applied to the source of this phenomenon in a manner akin to Kant’s transcendental ego, which exists in the individual on a level more basic than its manifestation; “meta” insofar as it is more fundamental certainly than the level of war, but possibly also more fundamental than the society and its constituents that are mechanism of action for war.
There are many arguments, rational and empirical, for this principle. This includes support for it via its use for describing the actual phenomenon. For instance, war can be described by its use of destruction, which in turn can be generically described as the directed transformation of order into chaos. This is physical (destruction of life and their products) and social (including interrupting production lines, or judicial systems, etc). That line of thought could lead to consideration of “all” levels of a phenomenon. For instance, there are many forms of damage, that by some perspectives are collateral, for example, psychological damage, or scarring of society via scarring of its culture (nb. these examples are chosen in part because they are observed very often after the warfare).
There is a principle that can support/explain this phenomenon, namely that the actions of war or the action of chaos are such that they can be explained to act (i.e. mechanisms) on multiple levels. (Note however that this possible principle, is not obviously necessary for the same outcome principle to be a true description (i.e. that these effects are trans-phenomenon).
Learning to reading to learn
Lessons from Kant – Learning to Reading to Learn. I have observed that there is a differential in my reading quality. By this, I mean that I have observed that on different occasions my capacity and consequent outcome for deriving understanding from a reading of the text are different. First, this means that what I derive from any given text will not always be the same, including its extent. It also means that reading can be less than optimal, but also that reading can (often if not perennially) improved. On top of allowing that my reading skill can be improved with experience, it requires me to develop a total reading and learning strategy that incorporates this evolution. Before explicating that strategy, I would like to introduce another principle. In a quest to consume everything, take the large pieces first. In my philosophy reading, for the large part, it is best that I choose each title with the aim of maximising benefit on each occasion. Leaping from mountaintop to mountaintop, gaining always the best view, each time adding the most to my accumulated vistas. While it is impossible to entertain a perfect reading always, since all learning is relatively cumulative (learning to learn), we need must read each item aiming always for the best. (Perhaps it is useful to point to the present qua example). I’ve chosen the Prolegomena as the best book (a compromise versus The first Critique) on Kant’s best philosophy (i.e. his transcendental idealism and his metaphysics). And while I will move onto another Great next, I may have cause to return to Kant in the future, in which case I would take whatever next is best, and in doing so will apply the lessons I’ve learned in the interim. In considering the best to read, I might (I am thinking as I go here, and am in no way sure as to significance) take into account my awareness of my ignorance. I might realise that I am not capable of appreciating enough of the knowledge available via text, and thus I might choose a different text to the one which would otherwise be the default, i.e. the Greatest.
Lessons can be categorized. I am referring to the categorization of lessons, which includes (narrowly identified) life lessons but also potentially (what I am unsure how to name best) world lessons. I have no particular intentions for the identity of categories, but the goal is obviously practical, and in particular their usefulness for referral and referencing at times after their creation. One motivation for this, is the realization that I am accumulating lessons, but I have uncertainty about how likely it is for me to recall or retain them.
Misc comments on writing
Meta: After writing the above in this single session, I note positively they are featuring good quality elaborations. They can be usefully contrasted with writing from the last few days, which aside from a general aimlessness, also their literary modules fail to achieve very much explorations of their central points. A measure that is positive of Journal writing are their “streaming” (cf. stream of consciousness) as manifested by organic growth, by which I understand growth that can be any of linear (like a train of thought or an expanding argument) or general (which can combine analysis of elements and then their expansion). There is only one lesson I can comfortably (esp. reliable) relate. But aside from that unwritable, I hope that this can offer itself as an example which by that significant virtue will be able to promote (whether by lesson or inspiration) similar achievements.
Note to self: Be Normal. At least to your own values.
