The following comes from the influential Kheper Website created by Alan Kazlev
(Different Methods for Figuring Out Reality)
- Science(experimental approach to the physical universe)
- Philosophy(the abstract mind)
- Rationalism/Scepticism (not accepting realities that are not immediately evident)
- Religion (faith in divine revelation and social tradition)
- Mysticism (experiences based on spiritual techniques)
- Esotericism(intuitive speculation on cosmological world-views)
- Occultism(using psycho-physical technigues to access hidden realities)
- Gnosis (innate wisdom and understanding)
We can conclude that use of a method does not guarantee that the understanding will be a correct one. Each simply constitutes a different paradigm or meta-paradigm, some better, some worse.
Science
Philosophy
- Materialism, or Physicalism, is the opinion that only the physical is real, and the denial of all supra-physical or spiritual dimensions of existence. It is usually associated with Rationalism and Scientism. [Subcategories include Reductionism and Epiphenomenalism]
- Dualism believes that both physical and spiritual are real and distinct. {Sub-categories here are Cartesian Dualism and Platonism (Soft Idealism)]
- Holism, a compromise between Materialism and Dualism, asserts that both spirit and matter are real and interdependent.
- Hard Idealism (Mentalism) is the opposite of Materialism - it denies the physical and only affirms the mental.
- Subjective Idealism goes further and denies the existence of all otehr entities apart from oneself.
- Pluralism adheres to the belief in a multiplicity of fundamental irriducable principles.
- Monism in contrast claims that only the one Absolute Reality behind all phenomena (physical or spiritual) is real.
Religious (theological) explanations
- Monotheism is the belief in a single supreme deity or "God" which is seperate from the world but which maintains a personel connection to His (rarely Her) creation.
- Polytheism is the belief in a number of such personel deities
- Kathenotheism says that there are many deities, but only worships one
- Deism differs from Monotheism only in that the deity is distant and unconcerned with the needs of people.
- Atheism denies the existence of any higher powers.
- Agnosticism reserves judgment on the existence or non-existence of any higher poers.
Mystical & Yogic explanations
- Pantheism states that "God" is not different to the cosmos or nature.
- Panentheism differs from Panthesim in that "God" both includes and transcends the universe. It is more or less equivalent to Emanationism.
- Acosmism is a form of monism that states that the universe is unreal; only the transcendent Absolute is real.
- Theistic Monism is like panentheism except that it affirms that the one reality is personal in nature, or at least has a personal aspect.
- Samkhyan-style (non-theistic) Dualism asserts the existence of two irreducable ontological principles - conscious purushas and nonconscious nature (prakriti)
Esoteric & Occult explanations
- Manichaean-style Dualism asserts the existence of two warring and irreducable spiritual principles - Light and Darkness.
- Emanationism teaches a chain of creation from an original source (A creates B, B creates C, etc), so that all phenomena are real, and constitute a specific sequence of manifestation from spiritual to material (the "Great Chain of Being").
- Dramaturgism adds to Emanationism a dynamic temporal dimension by envisaging the cosmos or creation as a process of unfolding, usually proceeding from an original descent or Fall, through the present imperfect state to an eventual spiritual Redemption or transformation.
Interdisciplinary
Triple Point - Science, Religion and Philosophy
LAWS OF WISDOM - A Holistic Synthesis of Science and Religion - by R. C. L., J.D.- examines key laws from religions, esoteric traditions, psychology, and science. Sources include Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, Richard Wilhelm, Jean Houston, Charles Tart, Arnold Keyserling, Black Elk, Benoit Mandelbrot, and others. The author, an experienced lawyer and researcher in these areas, applies the insights of legal analysis and clear thinking.
The Struggle between Christian Theism, Metaphysical Naturalism and Relativism: how to proceed in science? by Jitse M. van der Meer - a rather celebral (abstractly intellectual) on-line essay (at least I though so), but worth including because of the title alone ;-)
Blogger Reference Link http://www.p2pfoundation.net/Multi-Dimensional_Science
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