The Substance Of Thought In Relation To Nothingness

Abstract

Metaphysics leans towards the philosophical and spiritual entities in synergy. Thoughts are the reflection of memories stored for a long period of time. Thoughts are fragmented and incessantly flow in the mind. Understanding the journey of the thought requires the inception and denouement. The substance of the thought provides an essence to the being. Having core information in the center of the thought gives the center the control of the thought. Leaving the center in the journey, the thought is left with minute traces. The journey continues with another thought following a vicious circle to proceed. A state of absoluteness is created with the absence of the presence. Nothingness is a state of absolute absence in the presence of the thought. The incessant thought always flows in the mind. To have a state of nothingness in the presence of the thought requires the unlearning of the existing. An unlearned mind will start afresh with observation. Observing nature shall explore many avenues never traced before with the conditioned mind. Nothingness will create a state of mind of absoluteness with the thoughts flowing without hindering the state of nothingness. Such a state of existence requires a state of a staid unconditioned mind.

Introduction

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy whose object is to determine the real nature of things to determine the meaning, structure, and principles of being and world. It is presented by metaphysicians as the most fundamental and most comprehensive of inquiries, in as much as it is concerned with reality as a whole. Being the foundation of philosophy, metaphysics is referred by Aristotle as the “first philosophy. ” He further attributed this branch of philosophy as the precursor for understanding the causes and principles of being.

The word 'metaphysics' derives from the Greek words μετά (metá,'after') and φυσικά (physiká, 'physics'). 2It was first used as the title for several of Aristotle's worksbecause they were usually anthologized after the works on physics in complete editions. The prefix meta- ('after') indicates that these works come 'after' the chapters on physics. However, Aristotle himself did not call the subject of these books metaphysics: he referred to it as 'first philosophy. ' The editor of Aristotle's works, Andronicus of Rhodes, is thought to have placed the books on first philosophy right after another work, Physics, and called them as 'the books that come after the books on physics'. However, once the name was given, the commentators sought to find other reasons for its appropriateness. For instance, Thomas Aquinas understood it to refer to the chronological or pedagogical order among our philosophical studies so that the 'metaphysical sciences' would mean 'those that we study after having mastered the sciences that deal with the physical world'. The term was misread by other medieval commentators, who thought it meant 'the science of what is beyond the physical'. Following this tradition, the prefix Meta-has more recently been prefixed to the names of sciences to designate higher sciences dealing with ulterior and more fundamental problems: hence metamathematics, metaphysiology, etc.

A person who creates or develops metaphysical theories is called a metaphysician. Common parlance also uses the word 'metaphysics' for a different referent from that of the present article, namely for beliefs in arbitrary non-physical or magical entities. For example, 'Metaphysical healing' to refer to healing by means of remedies that are magical rather than scientific. Metaphysics has been divided into three branches based on Aristotle’s book on Metaphysics. The book was widely divided into three sections: ontology, theology, and universal science.

Ontology, the philosophical study of being in general, or of what applies neutrally to everything that is real. It was called “first philosophy” by Aristotle in Book IV of his Metaphysics. The Latin term ontologia (“science of being”) was felicitously invented by the German philosopher Jacob Lorhard (Lorhardus) and first appeared in his work Ogdoas Scholastica (1st ed. ) in 1606. It entered general circulation after being popularized by the German rationalist philosopher Christian Wolff in his Latin writings, especially Philosophia Prima sive Ontologia.

Theology is the study of God. It questions the creations and existence of the divinity. It sheds light on the nature of religion and its practices. It touches the spiritual nuances and various other forms of spirituality. Universal Science talks about the first principles which deal with the origin of the universe. It sheds light on the fundamental laws of logic and reasoning.

Aristotle's Law of Identity (or the Axiom of Identity) states that to exist, an existent (i. e. an entity that exists) must have a particular identity. A thing cannot exist without existing as something. Otherwise, it would be nothing and it would not exist. Also, to have an identity means to have a single identity: an object cannot have two identities at the same time or in the same respect. The concept of identity is important because it makes explicit that reality has a definite nature, which makes it knowable and since it exists in a particular way, it has no contradictions.

What is a Thought?

The etymology of thought is from the old English þoht, geþoht 'process of thinking, a thought; compassion,' from the stem of þencan 'to conceive of in the mind, consider'. Cognate with the second element in German Gedächtnis 'memory,' Andacht 'attention, devotion,' Bedacht 'consideration, deliberation. ' Second thought 'later consideration' is recorded from the 1640s.

Bammesberger ('English Etymology') explains that in Germanic -kt- generally shifted to -ht-, and a nasal before -ht- was lost. Proto-Germanic *thankija- added a suffix -t in the past tense. By the first pattern, the Germanic form was *thanht-, by the second the Old English was þoht. Thought encompasses an 'aim-oriented flow of ideas and associations that can lead to a reality-oriented conclusion'. Although thinking is an activity of an existential value for humans, there is no consensus as to how it is defined or understood.

Because thought underlies many human actions and interactions, understanding its physical and metaphysical origins, and effects have been a longstanding goal of many academic disciplinesincluding philosophy, linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, etc. Thinking allows humans to make sense of, interpret, represent or model the world they experience, and to make predictions about that world. It is therefore helpful to an organism with needs, objectives, and desires as it makes plans or otherwise attempts to accomplish those goals.

What is a Substance?

The etymology of Substance is from Latin substantia for “substance, essence”, from substāns, substō for “exist' or literally, 'stand under” is a term indicating an essential quality of anything, especially the most vital aspects or portions. It also commonly refers to physical matter or to anything with apparent substantiality, solidity, or firmness by various measures, including resources, property, or material possessions; in philosophy and theology, it often refers to the hypostasis of reality or the cosmos. Spinoza's use of the term finite tends to make space the only form of substance, and all existing things but affections of space, and this, I think, is really one of the ultimate foundations of his system. This idea of Spinoza's we must allow being in the main true and well-grounded; absolute substance is the truth, but it is not the whole truth; in order to be this, it must also be thought of as in itself active and living, and by that very means it must determine itself as mind. But substance with Spinoza is only the universal and consequently the abstract determination of mind; it may undoubtedly be said that this thought is the foundation of all true views — not, however, as their absolutely fixed and permanent basis, but as the abstract unity which mind is in itself. It is therefore worthy of note that thought must begin by placing itself at the standpoint of Spinozism; to be a follower of Spinoza is the essential commencement of all Philosophy.

Whatsoever can be perceived by the infinite intellect as constituting the essence of substance belongs altogether only to one substance: consequently, substance thinking and substance extended are one and the same substance, comprehended now through one attribute, now through another. So, also, a mode of extension and the idea of that mode are one and the same thing, though expressed in two ways. This truth seems to have been dimly recognized by those Jews who maintained that God, God's intellect, and the things understood by God are identical. Thus, whether we conceive of nature under the attribute of thought, or under any other attribute, we shall find the same order, or one and the same chain of causes — that is, the same things follow in either case. Wherefore of things as they are of themselves, God is really the cause, inasmuch as he consists of infinite attributes

The being of substance does not appertain to the essence of man — in other words, the substance does not constitute the actual being of man. God, or substance, consisting of infinite attributes, of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality, necessarily exists.

What is Nothingness?

Nothing means the absence of something or cessation of existence or inactivity of a thing. Nothingness in philosophy means the state of nonexistence. Nothingness is a philosophical term that denotes the general state of nonexistence, sometimes referred to as a domain or dimension into which things pass when they cease to exist or out of which they may come to exist. Nothingness is a state of mind where the absence becomes the status quo. It creates an aura of a staid ambiance. When the conditioned mind turns into an unconditioned state of mind, the mind is lucid without any thinking.

Thought in Metaphysics

A thought is an impulse resulting from the product of thinking. Thought has a center called the nucleus controlling all elements around it. Having a specific character attached to a thought form an expression giving life to it.

Mind designs the action of thought. The mind shall act according to the circumstances to let the thought to flow in a direction of affirmation or denial. The curious process of signaling the thought is definite with respect to the signal sent to the thought. The action of a thought depends on the mastery of the mind with the self. It can follow or deny the action with respect to the control of the mind.

The ambiance has a bearing on the flow of thought. A person’s state of mind shall define the action of the thought. The positive ambiance creates a greater state of mind and providing a thought with blissful with the state of mind. The manifestation of many thoughts is possible when a single thought stays longer than the normal one. This has a bearing on the state of mind and the harmony of the balance of the body.

Substance in Metaphysics

Being omnipresent and satiated in all things is the attribute of a substance. It inspires all manifestations and provides the energy for the inception. It provides the impetus for the expression. It gives the value by providing enrichment and help in sustenance. It evinces the divinity of realism in all things. In a divine form in man, it provides the real essence from which the spiritual aura gives it a value and expression. It becomes conscious of being with the affirmation of belief in silence. The existence of divinity and the form is acknowledged with the state of mind being in silence with spiritual essence.

The Substance of a Thought

The thought is a reflection of memory which is stored to be flown in at any time. The thought is unaware of itself in inception. It becomes conscious of the self as the process of the flow sustains. Being in this form of contradiction, thought is unaware of the path. The inception of thought is not stored within. Only during the process of the flow in the mind, thought is able to understand the significance of self. Being in a flow without a direction, thought is constantly moving as the content is not constant. The life of thought is temporary as it is putrescible. Being fragile, it is constantly on a move seeking protection. As thought moves for survival, it inhibits the nature of evolving. Thought tries to change its nature to the circumstance but it fails. The belief of being unlimited has never deterred the thought to move on.

Perception being not fragmented acts with specific intent. Perception penetrates in the realm of the physical structure of the brain to bring about a change. Perception is not a product of thought. Perception is constant and has a stand of its own, unlike a thought. Perception doesn’t change with the circumstances.

Thought has a flow which very mechanical in the process with a center. The center forms the nucleus which has the content. As the thought moves from the inception, it leaves the center. Center is the form of unification where many thoughts are connected. When the thought moves to leave the center alone, the essence of the thought becomes fragmented. The whole essence of the substance of the thought becomes insignificant as the thought leaves the center. These fragmentations leave the traces for the other thought to flow. This vicious circle is redundant in the mind where the thoughts are created incessantly.

The substance of thought in relation to nothingness

Thought flows with a center having no direction of its own. Being fragile, the thought leaves the center and get misted. The substance of thought begins with the idea of not knowing self. As the journey unfolds, the thought starts to realize the importance of its own self. The inception of thought is from the memories in the brain. They originate and flow without any information. The mind shall listen to the content of the thought. The affirmation and denial depend on the state of mind of an individual. Being fragmented, they leave the content in the midst where another thought flows.

Nothingness is the state of mind where the thought is flowing without hindering the state of mind. Nothingness is the absence of presence. With respect to the substance of a thought, nothingness let the flow of the thought in the mind. Nothingness makes the mind not to get perturbed by the flow of thoughts. It makes the mind to think in absoluteness of nothingness. A state of mind to unlearn the existing begins with the exploration from the unlearned by observation. This state of mind is an unconditioned mind where the existing conditioned mind goes into the transformation of cleaving the existing information. This absolute state of exploration is devoid of thought as they are left flowing, not affecting the process of absoluteness.

Thoughts shall flow in the mind. We cannot stop them from flowing in the status quo. But we can make a state of mind where the thoughts are left undisturbed as they flow. The mind shall be in the state of absoluteness of nothingness where there is an inception of knowledge. The knowledge is from the observation of absoluteness in an ambiance of nothingness. Nothingness is a state of not having anything in the presence of something. Here, the absence is absoluteness and the presence is the thought.

Conclusion

The substance of thought is unaware of the self in the inception and knows the value of self as it flows with the center. Leaving the center, the content is lost with the thought leaves the traces behind. Thoughts shall flow in a vicious circle in the mind as a thought leaves with the center behind, leading another thought to flow.

Nothingness in relation to the substance of thought can be attributed to the absence of the presence. The presence of thought in the mind never impacts the absence of it. The absence is a form of nothingness having absoluteness as the state of mind to observe and explore in an unconditioned mind. Thoughts are flowing incessantly flowing without any hindrance. Nothingness shall create absoluteness in the presence of thoughts leaving a state of mind which is staid and observing for the exploration of the unknown.

Reference

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01 February 2021
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