BEING

Chapter Presentation on Being

BBL5202: Critical Appreciation

Instructor: Mr. Rohimmi Bin Noor

Khairul Hisyam BaharuddinGS23139

DEFINITION OF BEING

Being is an English word used for conceptualizing subjective aspects fundamental to the self —related to and somewhat interchangeable with terms like "existence" and "living".

In its objective usage —as in "a being," or "[a] human being" —it refers to a discrete life form that has properties of mind (i.e. experience and character) such that transcend that of mere organisms (ie. that have only "life functions").

In abstract usage, "the being" or "one's being" is the mind's concept of the self as a whole entity —including both mind and body —wherein the being is in the mind, and the "body" is all sensory aspects within the being.

DEFINITION OF BEING - CONTINUED

In philosophy, being is the object of study of metaphysics, and more specifically ontology.

In these contexts, the term "being," is typically understood as one's "state of being," and hence its common meaning is in the context of human (personal) experience, with aspects that involve expressions and manifestations coming from a being's innate being, or personal character.

In its most indeterminate sense, being could be understood as anything that can be said “to be”, which is opposed to nonexistence.

For example one could ask: “why is there something instead of nothing?” Where “something” implies being.

For a metaphysician the main problem is not the scientific question of how the universe works, but why the universe is the way it is.

THE BEING OF THINGS

Things can be broken down into two large categories which are:

a) Empirical Dimensionb) Transcendental Dimension

The Empirical Dimension (based on observation or experience)

(i.e – ‘there is a moon’, ‘there are stars). The question of being is concerned with “there is”. Being is a particular essence used to indicate a predicate.

THE BEING OF THINGS - CONTINUED

The Transcendental Dimension (beyond ordinary or common experience, thought, or belief).

It consists of three categories which are:a) The eternalb) The infinitec) God (Existence is essence)

The Transcendental Dimension is more systematic compared to the Empirical dimension because of its categorization of things.

THE BEING OF THINGS - CONTINUED

The Eternal- Assumed to exist outside and beyond worldly

existence.(i.e. Death of plants, animals, people as well as suns

and planets)

The Infinite Outside experience related to mathematics (concept

of infinity)(i.e. The ability to calculate and write long equations

without limits – the limitations we assume of this is because of the material we used to write it on).

God (Existence is essence) Exists everywhere and before other things existed. If something exist, the source of its existence is God.

WHY ARE THE TWO DIMENSIONS IMPORTANT?

The transcendental indicates an ordering or structuring of the empirical. This order is embedded within our experience.

We assume the existence of some universal or grand principle of ordering on the basis of what we do have access to.

(i.e. We only have access to our traditions, histories customs, the appearance of the world, our mode or reasoning and events we participate in).

In the absence of a universal principle of ordering we produce critical yet faulty versions of the ‘the universal’.

(i.e. We produce subjective points of view that might not be applicable to everyone such as the belief in karma, life after death and distant galaxies).

BEING AND EXISTENTIALISM

Human beings are concerned with their existence in the world and existentialism provides a limited framework to understand some dilemmas that might occur from time to time.

Existentialism is a philosophical movement or tendency emphasizing existence, freedom and choice.

Major Themes of Existentialism

a) Moral Individualismb) Subjectivityc) Choice and Commitmentd) Dread and Anxiety

BEING AND EXISTENTIALISM - CONTINUEDMoral Individualism

a) Plato held that the highest ethical good is the same for everyone; as one approaches moral perfection or morally perfect individuals.

b) Kierkegaard on the other hand believes that ‘one must choose one’s own way without the aid of universal and objective standards’.

c) Friedrich Nietzsche contends that ‘individuals must decide which situations are to count as moral situations’.

Subjectivityd) Importance of personal experience and acting on one’s own

convictions. Understanding of a situation by someone involved in the situation

is superior that that of the detached observer. It’s important to take be passionate in a matter when deciding

both truth and morality.

BEING AND EXISTENTIALISM - CONTINUED

Choice and Commitment

Humanity’s primary distinction is the freedom to choose.(Except for how we were born, which family we were born

into and other things beyond human control).Each human being makes choices that create his or her own

nature.Choice is central to human existence and is inescapable;

even the refusal to choose is a choice.Freedom of choice entails responsibilities.Individuals must accept the risk and responsibility of

following their commitment to wherever it leads.

BEING AND EXISTENTIALISM - CONTINUED Dread and Anxiety

Kierkegaard believes that it is spiritually crucial to recognize that one experiences not only a fear of specific objects (anxiety/phobias) but also a feeling of general apprehension (dread).

Individuals tend to feel anxiety and dread when it is impossible to find an ultimate justification for the choices he or she makes.

(i.e. The total freedom of choice that confronts individual at any given moment to make a decision that will affect his or her life).

WORKS CONSULTED

"Being - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Web. 3 Aug. 2010. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/being>.

"Existentialism." Microsoft Encarta. 2009. Web.

Lowe, E. J. Kinds of Being: a Study of Individuation, Identity, and the Logic of Sortal Terms. Oxford, UK: Blackwell, 1989. Print.

Phillips, John. "The Political - Being." Contested Knowledge: a Guide to Critical Theory. London: Zed, 2000. 95-97. Print.