Intersection 7 Metaphysics

Evergreen

"This is the Intersection where the philosophical and metaphysical issues relating to the dreamscape are discussed and debated. We also want articles on non-philosphical topics like new age thought, mythology and the use of the dreamspeak cards."

Just as metaprogram would refer to a set of principles by which many different programs might be written in the computer world, so the word metaphysical refers to a study of whatever principles underlie the manifestations we observe in the physical world.

It assumes there are such principles, non-material in themselves, that govern how our physical world operates. The principle of gravity would be one example, having no physical properties itself, it nonetheless controls many of the actions of physical objects -- and many modern physicists are working toward a universal field theory in which gravity is the single force effecting all physical operations.

In philosophy, metaphysical more often refers to intangibles having no discernible (testable, measurable) connection to physical actions or properties -- such as God, spirit, essence, cause, value and consciousness. Such intangibles can be debated within the framework of logic and reasonable conclusions may be reached, but they cannot be weighed, tasted, or quantified into mathematical equations. However, the lack of current scientific measures of these metaphysical variables does not necessarily imply the lack of any causal connection between the principles and physical objects and actions.

The broad catch-all container sometimes called New Age Thought falls somewhere in the middle of the continuum between the concretism of the physicists and the ethereal speculations of the philosophers -- and is thus well positioned to form links between what we know (can quantify) about the physical world and what we speculate about the causes and purposes of life. Studies of mythology, the Dreamspeak cards and related topics are certainly not philosophicalmetaphysics because they deal with definite, concrete aspects of individual psychology; conversely, they are not part of the physical sciences because the verification of their postulates are deeply dependent on internal, subjective experience.

But they are definitely metaphysics and, some would argue, metaphysics at it highest and best. All New Age studies have in common that they are based on the premise of some direct, regular and lawful causal link between ultimate intangible reality and the operations of tangible physical reality. The exact nature of that link may be still up for grabs, but the simple postulation is in itself revolutionary in 20th century thought and holds the seeds of almost unimaginable leaps in human capacity.

Do the Dreamspeak cards tell the future? Is this possible? New Age Thought would claim that the inner psychological states of all those involved, perhaps added to some broader purposeful energies, will effect the supposedly random flipping of a card -- in a word, yes, it's possible. This is not so different a conclusion, after all, from the discovery in modern quantum mechanics that the expectations or intentions of the experimenters can determine the outcome of an experiment.

Is this Intersection all about metaphysics? Yes, the topic is the study of underlying principles governing how our personal worlds function -- whether virtual or physical. Some people will prefer one piece of the pie while others prefer another, but it's all one pie: What are the principles by which things happen in our lives?

If you want to discuss state of the art technology in artificial intelligence (AI), see SeaJay. If you want to understand how cultural myths can impact your own psyche, see Daniele. And if you want a reading of the Dreamscape cards to see if your boyfriend will ask you to the next Match.com event, see me. <VBG>

;)

.