The path of philosophy and the path of research

 

The path of philosophy and the path of research seem to be opposite.

Research is the domain of the intellect primarily – that will use the tool of dissection/ fragmentation/ analysis to understand a phenomenon. In the process, it will discover variables of different scales, intensities, frequencies and discover the relationship of interdependence. The picture that arises is of “complexity”. The next urge that arises is of “controlling these variables” and of “perfection”. The impression that may get created is of dynamism and fluidity and speed. If I ask myself, that does it “solve” a problem, the answer is – No. It only interprets the problem with more nuances. More nuances result in more debate and more discussions and more evaluations and more judgements and a faster changing world of perception. So you know how the cycle is getting generated. Effectively, we lead ourselves to a hyper world of change and argumentation. The kinds of research that seem to be undertaken in the academic world seem to point to this trend or attitude of the mind. Either one discovers greater depth of the phenomenon or a greater breadth of the phenomenon and in either cases, uncertainty (or things one doesn’t know) increase at the same rate. As more variables are discovered, our perception becomes more localized, more refined, more microscopic and more “unique”. What do we achieve by undertaking this path, if what is being discovered is how uniquely has one understood a given situation?

The path of philosophy is meant to dissolve all differences altogether – probably “merge” them or to say that the variables were just “apparent” – like a dream that the mind was conceiving. In other words, all situations are relative to the context, they are based on the same laws of space-time-causation and what we are supposed to realize aren’t distinct situations BUT a common thread that connects everything. This common thread if seeing from different lenses “creates” different situations. The emphasis or the tendency to realize a common thread results in greater empathy and acceptance of diversity. It is the opposite of complexity and may be said to develop an inherent “simplicity” of thought and action.

Philosophically, the notion of “I” causes separation – of situations. The more this “I” is emphasized (as individualism), the more the separation is felt. When the mind expands to dissolve with geography or space-time, then there is no “I”, there is no mind and there is no body. This state is of Consciousness.