What is a philsophical system aka worldview

Just x-posting this image that I found elegant and useful from Do you have a philosophy? — Gavitron

We all have an implicit philosophy – aka worldview.

Aside: useful to perhaps define more precisely worldview and “views and values” which we often use somewhat interchangeably.

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Changing the metaphysics and epistemology will therefore change everything else. I’d agree with that. The question is how. My position is that no amount of reading or even real world normative interactions will do so. Not beyond a certain again (i.e. once adulthood starts). There are only two ways beyond that stage: consistent, deep meditative practice (including working meditation and practicing compassion) AND use of plant medicines. The vast bulk of humanity now suffers from a cognitive disease, rooted in the foundation noted, and - like any disease- that requires medical intervention. And yet these are not medicines in the conventional, western sense. And they must be respected, combined with other practices, with a level of maturity and realisation that comes via the first avenue, to have meaningful, positive impact.

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My model is more prosaic. Garden variety learning and psychological development will do. That’s from life experience as both a teacher and a learner. I’ve personally been through as many worldviews as hermit crabs go through shells. I tend to outgrow any given worldview. This is basic neo-Piagetian process: assimilate, assimilate, assimilate … oops … can’t fit certain things in … accommodate = level up to higher abstraction. My current level of abstraction does not find metaphysics or epistemology foundational at all. Lived experience, energy flow, awareness … those are all more foundational. Logical systems of metaphysics and epistemology are fun to discuss, but none of that fits terribly snugly onto my functional sense of how the world works.

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Love the hermit crab analogy!

We’re spending a couple days at the seaside.

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Big :+1::+1:. “Head” stuff on its own often won’t be sufficient to really “get it”. You need the “heart” stuff. See From polycrisis to metacrisis and a second renaissance (SCQH) for more on this.

I would also likely expand the list of things that can do that beyond contemplation and plant medicines – there may be other dharma doors.

This question of what supports people to see this is a very active area of enquiry for me and others at Life Itself.

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Thank you for the link to the other discussion thread. Yes, we are aligned here. I’m interested in what avenues you may be practically developing. Perhaps enabling placements, courses or ‘retreats’ that link plant medicines with a sustained change that addresses the metacrisis in a practical way - equipping people with the skills, knowledge and contacts to start localised communities in the manner of seeding a new society across the globe. Life Itself seems to have only one center in France. Maybe something for another discussion.