Fiction dramatizes the philosophical mind-body question although usually we do not notice this because usually we do not philosophize. In Poul Anderson's "The Problem of Pain," the first person narrator informs us that the planet Lucifer has long days - an objective fact - and also that he and his colleague had toiled, sweated, itched, stunk and become grimy and weary through one of those days - a subjective experience.
One objective condition, e.g., the application of heat to a liquid, causes another objective condition, the boiling of the liquid into steam. We observe both conditions. Another objective condition, a neural interaction, causes a subjective event, a sensation. In this case, we can observe the objective condition but not the subjective event. We know of the subjective event because we experience sensations and detect them in others. Someone winces when pricked with a pin. But we do not observe his sensation because that is subjective, not objective.
Philosophers enquire about the relationship between objectivity and subjectivity, two aspects of reality.
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
If Julius Caesar had lived longer and died of natural causes and was succeeded by a chosen heir, he might well had been counted as the first Roman Emperor. That did not happen because he angered the Senatorial aristocracy so much that he was assassinated. The complicated post assassination politics forced Octavian, his grandnephew/adopted son, to maneuver, intrigue, and fight for 13 years before he finally became master of the Roman world. Also, being wiser in that respect than Julius, Octavian Augustus did not insist too much about assuming the more ostentatious symbols of power-- he spooned out soothing bunkum about "restoring the Republic." Because Augustus understood the value, need, and uses of hypocrisy and face saving in matters of state and politics.
I was reminded of Chapter Fifteen of Stirling's T0 TURN THE TIDE, where we see Marcus Aurelius conferring with his comites (cabinet). I would have liked it Anderson had shown us one of his Terran Emperors presiding over a meeting of the Policy Board.
Ad astra! Sean
Kaor, Paul!
Here's a bit from Chapter XV of THE REBEL WORLDS, reminiscent of what I said about Augustus, where Flandry was explaining to the rebel leader McCormac how and why the course he had chosen was so bad: "Among your many ignorances, McCormac, is that you don't appreciate how essential a social lubricant hypocrisy is." Something Octavian would agree with!
Ad astra! Sean
Caesar didn't establish a line of succession -- the civil wars of the late Republic continued after him.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, and that's why Julius Caesar is not regarded as the first Roman Emperor. He failed to establish a regime with a line of succession which survived him.
Ad astra! Sean
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