Notes -- William James / new habits

          I slept the same, Amorella. Up at three for the bathroom, cuddled the cat who came by wanting warmth, back in bed and eventually, by four or so back to sleep. Up a little after eight. When in the bath this morning I was thinking about William James’ Varieties of Religious Experience which I re-read back in 1988 and have read at least once since. Below from Wikipedia:


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The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature is a book by the Harvard University psychologist and philosopher William James that comprises his edited Gifford Lectures on “Natural Theology” delivered at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland between 1901 and 1902. These lectures concerned the nature of religion and the neglect of science, in James' view, in the academic study of religion. Soon after its publication, the book entered the canon of psychology and philosophy, and has remained in print for over a century. James went on to develop his philosophy of pragmatism; there are many overlapping ideas in Varieties and his 1907 book, Pragmatism.  


[Views without citation below] 


Proposition of value versus existential judgment James believed that the study of the origin of an object or an idea does not play a role in the study of its value. He asserted that existential judgment, or the scientific examination of an object's origin, is a separate matter from that object's value. As an example, he alluded to the Quaker religion and its founder, George Fox. Many of the scientists in James' audience immediately reject all aspects of the Quaker religion because evidence suggests that Fox was schizophrenic. Calling this rejection medical materialism, James insisted that the origin of Fox's notions about religion should not come into account when propositioning the value of the Quaker religion. As an aside, many believe El Greco to have suffered from astigmatism, yet no one would dismiss his art based on this medical detail. James proposed, somewhat sarcastically, that his audience's atheism was perhaps a dysfunction of the liver. Some believe science to be superior to religion because of religion's seemingly vain, unfounded, or perhaps insane origin. In his lectures, James asserted that these claims, while perhaps historically or epistemologically interesting, play no role in the separate question of religion's value. 


Reality versus symbols of reality The lectures discussed the distinction between symbolism and reality. Symbols, such as the word "steak" on a menu, do not embody the actuality of the objects they represent. The word "steak" on a menu merely points to some slab of meat in the back of the restaurant. In a similar way, James posits that all of science is fundamentally detached from reality since the tools of science are merely pointers to some actual objective realm. He criticized his audience for the scientific tendency to ignore the unseen aspects of life and the universe. As an example, he discussed the way the notion of a lemon causes salivation in the mouth of an individual; while there is no lemon, there is clearly a process occurring worthy of academic inquiry. 


Wikipedia


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         You have a doctor’s appointment in less than an hour. Jadah is playing with a red-tail hawk feather you found in the yard. Carol just dried her hair. Another day slowly passing by.  


          I forgot about Halloween this week. Is that what the ghost business was about – to get me in the mood? 


You were thinking about William James earlier because it bothers you that you wrote “religious experience” in your 1988 work. You do not think you have ever had a religious experience in your life – a spiritual-like experience is the best wordage you can come up with, and I agree, it is the best, truest term for a heartansoulanmind like yourself. To each herorhis own is a good phrase here for those who think ‘it’s their way or the highway’. Enjoy the cool but sunny day, boy. More later. Post. – Amorella. 

         You were thinking about William James earlier because it bothers you that you wrote “religious experience” in your 1988 work. You do not think you have ever had a religious experience in your life – a spiritual-like experience is the best wordage you can come up with, and I agree, it is the best, truest term for a heartansoulanmind like yourself. To each herorhis own is a good phrase here for those who think ‘it’s their way or the highway’. Enjoy the cool but sunny day, boy. More later. Post. – Amorella.

         After 1700 hours and you are at Pine Hill waiting on Carol after finishing your walk. Today is one of those watershed days when, for a period of time, you have to take your blood sugar as Dr. Jeff took you off metformin for the first time because of complications with your kidneys. You have set up a November appointment to see an endocrinologist and tomorrow you will have an appointment to see a nephrologist.  You stopped by Kroger’s and picked up a One Touch UltraMini glucose monitoring system, a box of One Touch Delica lancet refills and alcohol swabs.

         After 2000 hours. I have read all the directions to everything and will begin testing when I am up before breakfast. Looks interesting and I downloaded a free log for the Mac. I’m ready.

         Time to do some thinking, old man. – Tomorrow some new habits. – Amorella.