Spiral Revolution | The Metaphysical | The Epistemological | The Axiological |
① 1st | ① Metaphysics | ② Epistemology | ③ Axiology |
① 2nd | ④ Existence exists | ⑤ Consciousness as the faculty of perceiving that which exists | ⑥ Identity (A is A) |
① 3rd | ⑦ Causality as a corollary of identity | ⑧ Existence as possessing primacy over consciousness | ⑨ Absoluteness of the metaphysically given (idealism/materialism refuted) |
The spiral–triangle intersections represent the spiralling-in build-up of ‘Reality’, the first chapter in Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand by Leonard Peikoff.
Indeed, answering last month's blog, this does display a logical explanatory structure for metaphysics, yet it is still to be seen if such a spiral would continue to map out the subsequent branches of Objectivism.
I still can't help but notice a recurring pattern of threes. Might the five branches themselves be more appropriately contracted into three? Axiology, the study of values, perhaps rather neatly encompass Ethics as well as the largely derivative Politics and Æsthetics, so I have used that in the table.
I’m no longer sure whether the triangulation of “actual part / potential remainder / whole” is still apt so have opted for broad philosophical branches as the table's column headings, the rows being numbered for consecutive spiral revolutions.
The triangles of the spiral image emphasise the repeating trichotomies, each revolution building philosophical flesh on the previous one, all integrated into a whole (ultimately validated by the senses).
I'll see if this pattern of trichotomies holds up for other OPRA chapters, likely topic for next month…
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