Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Of Human Freedom', 'On Human Nature' and 'Holism: a Shopper's Guide'

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2 ideas

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / c. Becoming

22076	Being is only perceptible to itself as becoming [Schelling]
	Full Idea: Being is only perceptible to itself in the state of becoming.
	From: Friedrich Schelling (Of Human Freedom [1809], p.403), quoted by Jean-François Courtine - Schelling p.90
	A reaction: Is the Enlightenment the era of Being, and the Romantic era that of Becoming? They like process, fluidity, even chaos.

7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 3. Levels of Reality

5311	If observation goes up a level, we expect the laws of the lower level to remain in force [Wilson,EO]
	Full Idea: When the observer shifts his attention from one level of organisation to the next, as from physics to chemistry, he expects to find obedience to all the laws of the levels below.
	From: Edmund O. Wilson (On Human Nature [1978], Ch.1)
	A reaction: This seems to state a necessary condition of reduction, but not a sufficient one. Wilson points out that new phenomena emerge at higher levels. This principle is similar to Hume's argument against miracles. You don't easily overthrow basic laws.