1:2 PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy as Concept-Formation

Human beings form concepts by their inherent, inborn mental nature. Human concept formation, however, may proceed essentially automatically and unconsciously, or it may proceed under the direction of intentional, conscious guidance. Completely reality-based, intentional, conscious concept formation requires disciplined, honest mental effort.

A philosophy is a set of concepts and beliefs which provides a framework for understanding the world and one's relationship to it, and for guiding one's activity within it. All human beings have some sort of philosophy, because human beings form concepts by their inherent, inborn nature. One's philosophy may be integrated, reality-based and rational or it may be non-integrated, non-reality-based and irrational; this is largely dependent upon whether one allows one's concept formation to proceed essentially automatically and unconsciously, or under the direction of intentional, conscious guidance. Even the choice not to make this or that philosophical choice is itself a philosophical choice. Philosophy, like concept formation itself, is an inescapable part of human existence.

Philosophy is often regarded as a mere intellectual curiosity, more concerned with playing games with language and arguments than with the practical and effective guidance of thought, belief, and activity. This view results in a sterile and essentially unproductive approach, more concerned with studying the works of previous “authorities” – and perhaps tweaking them to some degree – than with studying the only authorities that matters: reason and reality.

The more that one's philosophy is firmly anchored in reason and reality, the more effectively and accurately will it guide one's understanding of the world, one's relationship to it, and one's activities within it. Reason and reality must serve as the bedrock foundation of all valid philosophy, and thus it is the bedrock foundation of Scionics, and the constant guiding principles of the Scionics Institute.