Summary of Section 2

In my ideas on consciousness I use two axes as the framework of theory. One axis is a dynamic perspective on reality, and the other one is a static perspective on reality. I use two axes because I consider that consciousness is binary in its form. This assumption enables me to solve problems that appear to be insoluble within a viewpoint based on the unity of consciousness.

In some of my articles I classify consciousness as a pattern of will, mind and feeling : this produces a static structure. However, mind is changeable and dynamic. By shifting the perspective on consciousness to psychology and existentialism, a dynamic element is introduced.

Another way of classify the relations between psychology and existentialism is that of causal and functional aspects to consciousness. Causes are within time and are static ; functions are dynamic (independent of time). Whence

The causal view is the psychological perspective.
The functional view is the existential perspective.

The agency of consciousness is the ego. I contrast this with the elements of determinism within consciousness, which I denote by the term 'karma'. Ego and karma link to the ideas above in this way : consciousness consists of a static, causal structure (karma, or fixed beliefs) plus a dynamic, particular perspective on life (the ego).

Solving Philosophical Paradoxes

The use of two concepts that are in opposition to each other illustrates the method of solving philosophical paradoxes. The two opposed concepts form a pair, or binary.

Each person has two sources of influence acting on him/her : these are subjectivity and objectivity. Hence the solution of a paradox must reflect this fact. All paradoxes which involve consciousness need to be set within a framework that has two axes.

For example : using these ideas I can solve the riddle of Being and Becoming. Traditional philosophers preferred Being as the primary feature of reality. However, my view of relativity implies that neither is more important than the other. Being is objective (fixed or essence). Becoming is subjective (changeable or impermanent). They are relative to each other ; that is, the relation of Being to Becoming is the ground of all relativity. Relativity gives rise to sign systems, so therefore Being and Becoming can be considered to be the primal sign system in creation, from which human consciousness is formed.

The relations within consciousness are :

Karma = Being.
Ego = Becoming.

When consciousness is thought to be a unitary phenomenon, then understanding the relationship between binaries such as Being and Becoming becomes problematical.

If something is a relative phenomenon, which consciousness is, then it can never have a unitary reality. It always has to be binary in its nature. The whole of creation is a relative product. Hence there is nothing in creation that can have a unitary existence.

Kant considered that the antinomies were natural contradictions in our reason. This view is false.
The apparent contradictions arise from the attempt to apply non-relative logic to relative concepts.

The articles in this section are :