On the Metaphysical Principles of Nature
This book is a collection of aphorisms addressing several of the classic questions in philosophy. Arranged in seven chapters that progress through the topics of Infinity, Creation, Life, Mind, Language, Freedom, and Eternity, the work provides a general response to each in an organically cultivated manner. Although primarily written under the influence of modern European philosophy as defined by the period spanning Descartes to Wittgenstein, the style and substance of the text in many parts also owes a debt to various other traditions; these including Daoism, Kabbalah, Ch'an and more. Some of the ideas proposed however are, in all probability, entirely novel and so represent the development of unique views in multiple highly contested areas of speculation.
The main focus from the outset though is a penetrating investigation of the concept of infinity and, from this, a foundation is established for exploring the connections between the cosmological, psychological, social, moral, and aesthetic. Included as well are radical critiques of empiricism, rationality, and determinism while a general alternative framework is simultaneously erected. In such matters no compromise is made and therefore, in spirit, the text can broadly be said to follow William Blake’s instruction to “Drive your cart and plow over the bones of the dead.”
Excerpt:
INFINITY
1
The essence of infinity provides the key to all mysteries because the infinite is that which generates everything else.
2
Certainly the infinite cannot be composed of finite elements; then it would be defined by an internal poverty contrary to its essential nature.
3
4
For a thing to be finite it must be wholly determined and, as such, without energy. Energy comes from uncertainty, from the dynamism of infinitude.
5
Infinity is the only reality. Finitude is illusory; mere aspect.
6
If you scale out far enough, any set of finite varied things will diminish to nothing. The great and small are all made equal in the shadow of eternity.
7
Even though the finite is ultimately infinite, its identification with finitude temporarily obstructs the fulfillment of its nature. Finitude is inherently a negation (Of infinity) but this negative orientation leads to its own eventual inversion (It negates its own finitude) Given infinity, negation must be the origin of things (The kabbalist Isaac Luria called this tzimtzum)
