Elevating The Primacy of Existence

 

I think the above animation for the structure of Objectivism is an improvement on last month's because it firmly re-establishes “the primacy of existence” — indeed, the primacy of metaphysics at each stage. 

• Metaphysics is always the containing sphere.
• Epistemology is here always shown as the darker, larger sphere.
• Axiology (Ethics/Politics/Æsthetics) is here always shown as the brighter, smaller sphere.

It is just a bare-bones, 2-D animation. I haven't abandoned the reciprocal nature of each sphere's growth/shrinkage, nor the possibility of using loxodromic spirals on a 3-D model — I've kept the new arrangement as simple and as essential as possible for now. 

There are nine sets of conceptual trichotomies, passing through nine stages/levels.

For easy reference, here is a replicate of the tables (from February's blogpost): 

Metaphysics	Metaphysical  Angle	Epistemological  Angle	Axiological Angle
1 Axioms	1 Existence   exists.	2 Consciousness  is the process of identifying that which exists.	3 Identity  is what defines an existent (the difference  that makes a difference).
2 Correlates	4 Entities  exist as identifiable similarities.	5 Action  is how entities behave together as processes in accordance with their attributes.	6 Causality is the law of identity applied to the action of entities.
3 Inference	7 Volition Inserts Self  as a result of the choice to focus/evade (autopoiesis).	8 Validity of the Senses in that they are causal evidence of a difference making a difference.	9 Objective Reality as absolute  (primacy of existence).

Epistemology	Metaphysical  Angle	Epistemological  Angle	Axiological Angle
4 Integrals	10 Sensation  as undifferentiated awareness of objective reality.	11 Perception  as groups of sensations becoming causally identified as entities in the present.	12 Conception as the volitional categorisation of percepts into particular relationships.
5 Formation	13 Mind-Body Integration harmonises consciousness with existence.	14 Differentiation  & Integration of percepts into concepts.	15 Man-Made from Metaphysical  conveys that choice-contingent concepts are hewn from given percepts.
6 Integration	16 Cognitive Objectivity when concepts are aligned with reality.	17 Logic  as method of developing knowledge through non‐contradictory identification.	18 Rationality  as man’s only true means  of knowledge.

Axiology	Metaphysical  Angle	Epistemological  Angle	Axiological Angle
7 Ethics	19 Reason  as man’s means of survival.	20 One’s Own Life  as the ultimate measure of value  (reason, purpose,  self-esteem).	21 Virtue of Selfishness with man as an end in himself (pursuing rational  self-interest).
8 Politics	22 Happiness  as the aspired condition  of man  (via rational self-interest).	23 Individual Rights (freedom from coercion) entails enforcement  by governmental agency.	24 Capitalism  as the only moral system (in which happiness may be fully realised).
9 Æsthetics	25 Art  as the concretisation of metaphysical ideas.	26 Romanticism  as the supreme conceptual school of art.	27 Æsthetics  Are Objective when evaluated within the appropriate, holistic context.

More meat on the bones perhaps next month…

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