I'm thinking here of a kind of philosophical grasping (Begriff, be-gripping, con-cept) as a practical moment of perception, as the clarification and objectification of what is given, the synthesis of sensation and idea into representation. This kind of grasping is a moment in the ascetic chain here, but it's clearly only a moment. I wonder how you'd characterize the non-grasping movements necessary to do philosophy.
Great question -- I think theōria / contemplation just is that activity wherein we try to let go of the project of grasping. And in letting go, we can let things be in their suchness, giving space for things to be given again in a different way.
Jeremy Johnson recommended your essay and his insights into your reflections on training ourselves to practice attention through meditation, somatic awareness and artistic training. Your reflections are deeply wise and resonant for me. I trained as an actor from a young age and while it was not my career path, it gave me essential practices: how to focus my attention, probe for deeper understanding, and take part in co-creating art. Because of these early experiences in the arts, I became an arts manager/fundraiser, implementing and supporting programs that gave all opportunities in the arts. The arts are such an opening. Thank you for your writing which opened me.
Thanks so much for your comments, Nancy. Your training as an actor is exactly the type of thing I think about when working out these kinds of philosophical questions. The arts are, indeed, such an opening. Thanks for reading.
Beautifully written, clear, and an account with which I strongly resonate. I'll be sure to pick up your book and give it a read.
Thanks for the kind words! Hope you get something good out of the book. 🙌
I'm thinking here of a kind of philosophical grasping (Begriff, be-gripping, con-cept) as a practical moment of perception, as the clarification and objectification of what is given, the synthesis of sensation and idea into representation. This kind of grasping is a moment in the ascetic chain here, but it's clearly only a moment. I wonder how you'd characterize the non-grasping movements necessary to do philosophy.
Great question -- I think theōria / contemplation just is that activity wherein we try to let go of the project of grasping. And in letting go, we can let things be in their suchness, giving space for things to be given again in a different way.
Jeremy Johnson recommended your essay and his insights into your reflections on training ourselves to practice attention through meditation, somatic awareness and artistic training. Your reflections are deeply wise and resonant for me. I trained as an actor from a young age and while it was not my career path, it gave me essential practices: how to focus my attention, probe for deeper understanding, and take part in co-creating art. Because of these early experiences in the arts, I became an arts manager/fundraiser, implementing and supporting programs that gave all opportunities in the arts. The arts are such an opening. Thank you for your writing which opened me.
Thanks so much for your comments, Nancy. Your training as an actor is exactly the type of thing I think about when working out these kinds of philosophical questions. The arts are, indeed, such an opening. Thanks for reading.