Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Perfectionism, Super-Perfectionism, Evolution

Despite the abandonment of Ancient Astronomical Perfectionism, entailed by the repudiation of Geocentrism, as has been previously discussed, Modern Philosophy has remained generally constrained by Perfectionism.  For example, even as Kant recognizes some of the revolutionary potential of Copernican discoveries, his concept of Human Morality remains bounded by an unapproachable Rational Perfectionism, i. e. the Passions can be temporarily mastered, but susceptibility to them cannot be permanently eliminated.  Now, the structural flaw in Kant's doctrine is that Freedom of Choice, i. e. to choose Reason, remains an irreducible surd.  But, that failure has generally been interpreted as an ultimate triumph of sub-Rational Sentimentalism, e. g. Schopenhauer's detection of Hedonism, or Mill's of Utilitarian motives, in Kant's Highest Good.  However, a third alternative to Rationalism or Sub-Rationalism has emerged in more recent doctrines--a Super-Rationalism, as evidenced by the possibility of Supererogatory action, i. e. behavior that is beyond the call of duty, and, hence, beyond, not beneath, Reason.  Likewise, an alternative to Perfection and Imperfection is Super-Perfection, an indication of an Evolutionary step beyond the constraints of Perfection, indicative of a transcending of the presumed bounds of Ancient Astronomy.

No comments:

Post a Comment