• Bob Ross
    1.8k


    I am not sure what you mean by a transcendent law. What do you mean by transcendent reality?

    Admittedly, “transcendent reality” is a double positive; but a transcendent law is a law—viz., a rule of conformance with strict necessity—that is in reality as it were in-itself (“transcendent”).

    I am just noting the difference between that which is transcendent and that which is transcendental, as a general dichotomy: the difference between what completely transcends consciousness and what transcends consciousness but pertains to how that consciousness is constructed.
  • Bob Ross
    1.8k


    Define transcendent.

    By “transcendent”, I mean that which completely transcends consciousness; whereas “transcendental”, I mean that which transcends but pertains solely to the way consciousness is constructed. Wouldn’t you say that is Kant’s standard distinction?

    And transcendent cannot be defined as that by which the brain cognizes reality into a coherent whole, without sufficient justification that pure transcendental reason hasn’t already provided the ground for exactly that.

    I would say that by which the brain cognizes reality is transcendental; and that which is sensed, whatever it be, independently of that sensing, is transcendent.
  • Bob Ross
    1.8k


    I presume the OP is not talking about the Kantian transcendental law.

    The OP is about a law which pertains to reality as it were in-itself—i.e., a transcendent law. A transcendental law would be a strict rule of conformity for how things are cognized.
  • Bob Ross
    1.8k


    Which is possible iff the relevant definitions are inconsistent with each other.

    I didn’t follow this: what do you mean?

    And there hasn’t yet been mention in the thesis, of principles, under which the transcendent laws would have to be subsumed.

    I was thinking of natural laws which exist in reality as it were in-itself: what they would exactly be and why they are there are separate questions (in my mind).
  • Mww
    4.9k
    Wouldn’t you say that is Kant’s standard distinction?Bob Ross

    I wouldn’t, myself, no. In Kant, transcendent is juxtapositional to immanent, with respect to experience, whereas transcendental merely indicates the mode in which reason constructs and employs pure a priori cognitions, which, of course, have nothing to do with experience as such, but only with those conditions by which it is possible. It’s complement is reason cognizing in its empirical mode, the difference being the conceptions of the former mode represent ideas, but in the latter the conceptions represent things or possible things.

    So it is that in Kant, transcendent relates to experience, not consciousness. Besides, and I’m surprised you’d do such a thing….you can’t use the word being defined, in the definition of it. I get nothing of any value from transcendent being defined as that which transcends.
    ————-

    On related definitions being inconsistent with each other, I just mean the conceptions in one represent a thing under these conditions, but the same conceptions are said to represent a different thing under those conditions.

    For instance, when you say, “that by which the brain cognizes reality is transcendental”, is the inconsistency wherein it is reason alone that cognizes anything at all transcendentally, the brain being merely some unknown material something necessary for our intelligence in general.
    ————-

    Not that I don’t admire your proclivity for stepping outside the lines. It’s just that you’re asking me to upset some rather well stabilized applecarts, but without commensurate benefit.
  • Corvus
    3.3k
    The OP is about a law which pertains to reality as it were in-itself—i.e., a transcendent law.Bob Ross

    I am not sure if reality works from a law. There are certainly observable and provable regularities in reality. However, there are also huge part of its operation which are random and chaos e.g. the weather changes, some part of human behavior and psychology and some of the principles in QM etc.
  • Bob Ross
    1.8k


    So it is that in Kant, transcendent relates to experience, not consciousness

    What’s the difference between the two in your view?

    Besides, and I’m surprised you’d do such a thing….you can’t use the word being defined, in the definition of it. I get nothing of any value from transcendent being defined as that which transcends.

    The definition was not circular—e.g., the property of goodness is the property of being good. If you just mean that it is vague, then sure: I can rewrite it. Instead, I would say that that which is transcendent is that which is beyond our experience of reality as opposed to that experience or the preconditions for constructing such an experience.

    For instance, when you say, “that by which the brain cognizes reality is transcendental”, is the inconsistency wherein it is reason alone that cognizes anything at all transcendentally, the brain being merely some unknown material something necessary for our intelligence in general.

    This seems like a technicality though: the brain is the representation of what is ontologically “responsible” for reason.

    Not that I don’t admire your proclivity for stepping outside the lines. It’s just that you’re asking me to upset some rather well stabilized applecarts, but without commensurate benefit.

    :smile:

    In Kant, transcendent is juxtapositional to immanent, with respect to experience, whereas transcendental merely indicates the mode in which reason constructs and employs pure a priori cognitions

    And what is “immanent”? What you defined as “transcendental” here is the exact same as how I defined it, no? I am not seeing any differences here.
  • Bob Ross
    1.8k


    . There are certainly observable and provable regularities in reality. However, there are also huge part of its operation which are random and chaos

    The OP is not arguing that reality has to be completely ordered; so that is a mute point. Further, like the OP mentioned, without any laws then it is all chaos—and there would be no observable regularities.

    the weather changes

    Change is not per se an example of randomness: the weather changing changes according to natural laws.

    some part of human behavior and psychology

    Human behavior is not regulated completely by natural, transcendent laws; but certainly is (at least partially) regulated by transcendental ones. E.g., one cannot decide to do something through reason without deploying principles reason (no matter how poorly deployed it may be).

    The brain, however, is constrained by natural laws.

    some of the principles in QM

    Sure. We have evidence to support that there is randomness in reality—how does that negate the OP?
  • Corvus
    3.3k
    Sure. We have evidence to support that there is randomness in reality—how does that negate the OP?Bob Ross
    Law means it works 100% as laid out without fail. If there was 1 fail out of billions of events, then it is not a law. It then is a rule.

    Is any law transcendent? In what sense? All laws are the product of human reasoning. Reality don't care about laws, or even be aware of laws. They just operate as they have done for millions of years. There is no guarantee that reality might operate totally different tomorrow from your expectation.

    Change is not per se an example of randomness: the weather changing changes according to natural laws.Bob Ross
    They say that the weather changes has been much more unpredictable recent times, so it is harder to predict the weather effects. And there are the other natural phenomenon such as volcano eruptions, hurricanes and earth quakes etc. You cannot predict the date, time and location of these phenomenon, and how they would unfold themselves on the earth by some law.
  • Corvus
    3.3k
    E.g., one cannot decide to do something through reason without deploying principles reason (no matter how poorly deployed it may be).Bob Ross
    This sounds circular. You are deciding something through reason but you also deploy principle reason? It sounds ambiguous and tautology.

    Many believe that human reasoning is just a nature for its survival. Deployment of principles reason? Is it not natural capacity which evolved for thousands of years via the history of human survival, civilization and evolution?

    The brain, however, is constrained by natural laws.Bob Ross
    What do you mean by this? Could you elaborate more on the detail and ground for the statement? Does everyone's brain then all works exactly the same way to each other when confronted an event?
  • Mww
    4.9k
    What’s the difference between the two in your view?Bob Ross

    Experience is cognition by means of conjoined perceptions; consciousness is a natural human condition, represented as the totality of representations. Sometimes called a faculty, but it doesn’t have faculty-like function, so….not so much in T.I..

    transcendent is that which is beyond our experienceBob Ross

    That definition works well enough.

    …..constructing such an experience.Bob Ross

    ….describes empirical cognitions…..

    …..the preconditions for constructing such an experience.Bob Ross

    …..describes transcendental cognitions, which covers not only experience but possible experience.
    —————-

    ….the brain is the representation of what is ontologically “responsible” for reason.Bob Ross

    This is a kind of categorical error, in that when talking of the brain, the discourse is scientific, in which representation has no place, but when talking of representation, the discourse is philosophical, in which the brain has no place.

    Nothing untoward with the fact the brain is necessary for every facet of human intelligence, but there remains whether or not it is sufficient for it. Until there comes empirical knowledge of the brain’s rational functionality, best not involve it in our metaphysical speculations.
    —————-

    Immanent has to do with empirical cognitions, hence experience; transcendental has to do with a priori cognitions, hence possible experience. Transcendent, then, has do to with neither the one nor the other, hence no experience whatsoever.
  • Bob Ross
    1.8k


    Law means it works 100% as laid out without fail. If there was 1 fail out of billions of events, then it is not a law. It then is a rule.

    Not quite. What you described is not the nature of a law but, rather, how we pragmatically determine what we think is a law.

    Is any law transcendent? In what sense?

    In the sense that it pertains to reality in-itself as opposed to the way we cognize it.

    All laws are the product of human reasoning

    No laws which pertain to reality as it were in-itself are the product of human reasoning. Our understanding of them is a product of human reasoning.

    They say that the weather changes has been much more unpredictable recent times, so it is harder to predict the weather effects. And there are the other natural phenomenon such as volcano eruptions, hurricanes and earth quakes etc. You cannot predict the date, time and location of these phenomenon, and how they would unfold themselves on the earth by some law.

    In principle you can. Just because it is hard, does not negate science.

    This sounds circular. You are deciding something through reason but you also deploy principle reason? It sounds ambiguous and tautology.

    This is an incoherent thought: do you think it is circular, or tautological? It can’t be both. Either way, it is neither: reason has an a priori structure, which contains principles and laws, of which one is using when thinking. It is impossible to think without deploying, e.g., the law of non-contradiction.

    Many believe that human reasoning is just a nature for its survival. Deployment of principles reason? Is it not natural capacity which evolved for thousands of years via the history of human survival, civilization and evolution?

    Principles of reason are a part of the faculty of reason; so this makes no sense and is a false dichotomy.

    What do you mean by this? Could you elaborate more on the detail and ground for the statement?

    I meant like laws in science, such as F = MA, and formal laws, such as A = A. These laws are estimations of laws which exist independently of our thinking of them.

    Does everyone's brain then all works exactly the same way to each other when confronted an event?

    If you are stipulated that they have the exact same brain, their brains have had the exact same experiences, and they both experience the same event at the same time, place, etc.; then, yes; but this is just to say that they are the exact same being (and that there really isn’t two people)….

    If you just mean to ask if two people with, e.g., different brains interpret the same events the same; then no.
  • Bob Ross
    1.8k


    Experience is cognition by means of conjoined perceptions; consciousness is a natural human condition, represented as the totality of representations. Sometimes called a faculty, but it doesn’t have faculty-like function, so….not so much in T.I..

    I didn’t follow this: that still sounds like they are the exact same thing…

    This is a kind of categorical error, in that when talking of the brain, the discourse is scientific, in which representation has no place, but when talking of representation, the discourse is philosophical, in which the brain has no place.

    They are two sides of the same coin. This makes it sound like neuroscience is a philosophical field of study….

    Nothing untoward with the fact the brain is necessary for every facet of human intelligence, but there remains whether or not it is sufficient for it. Until there comes empirical knowledge of the brain’s rational functionality, best not involve it in our metaphysical speculations.

    What do you mean? We’ve already determined that the brain is responsible for cognizing reality into the ‘experience’ that you have.

    Immanent has to do with empirical cognitions, hence experience; transcendental has to do with a priori cognitions, hence possible experience. Transcendent, then, has do to with neither the one nor the other, hence no experience whatsoever.

    Ah, I see. What I am saying is that the transcendental argument—viz., the argument from the given consciousness for the necessity of something else—demonstrates that beyond all cognition there truly are laws.
  • Corvus
    3.3k
    Not quite. What you described is not the nature of a law but, rather, how we pragmatically determine what we think is a law.Bob Ross

    I disagree with all of your points, but I am not going to try to change your views. It would be futile and fruitless endeavor trying to do so, because you don't sound like you would change your views no matter what the objective truths are on these points. So we agree to disagree on the points, and carry on with the journey of life on this earth. Life is too short for everyone on the earth no matter wherever they are, and whoever they are, and there are a lot to catch up in the readings and reasoning exercises ahead. Thank you for your interaction with the points. :)
  • Mww
    4.9k


    Shouldn’t the discussion bear on the OP? Maybe present some theory-specific examples of transcendent laws?

    Even if we’re limited to their necessity, but without examples, then we’re just doing noumenal imaginings, which have nothing to do with the possibility of consciousness of reality.
    ————-

    Until there comes empirical knowledge of the brain’s rational functionality, best not involve it in our metaphysical speculations.
    —Mww

    What do you mean? We’ve already determined that the brain is responsible for cognizing reality into the ‘experience’ that you have.
    Bob Ross

    Nahhh…you may have stipulated something like that as part of your thesis, but I never agreed with it. Cognizing reality into experience is a metaphysical process, using conceptions thought, relating them to things perceived. The brain, on the other hand, even if it is the mechanism by which metaphysical processes are possible, has no part to play in the tenets of such process.

    Humans do not think in terms of natural law. The certain number of phosphate ions required, at a certain activation potential, as neurotransmitters across certain cleft divisions, in some certain network or another, never registers in the cognition, “black”-“‘57”-“DeSoto”.
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