Philosophy is essentially the learning of particular intellectual movements. It is finding points of flexibility in how we understand things, on the whole and in each specific constituent fact. The positive content of philosophy, the facts the philosopher asserts as true, are not essential. They are, however, necessary for the actualization of philosophy. One cannot dispense with the facts, but also one cannot reduce philosophy to facts. Philosophy cannot be summarized.

*

The reader’s primary question is “how did the author understand?” The means to finding the answer is to ask “what did the author understand?” These seem to be two different questions, but they are inseparable and are answered together. When the reader understands the material – what the author understood – he necessarily understands how the author understood it. There is no other way to the How than the What.

Going through this process of acquiring new reveals the Why of philosophy in general. Nobody knows why prior to this revelation; they are only inclined toward or against undergoing its revelation.

*

When reality lacks a dimension, it manifests as the dimension not being missed. Reality is always self-complete. This is what is meant by horizon.

*

We don’t see the blind spots that exist in our immediate field of vision. We discover them through reflection, through mediation.

Is not-seeing a phenomenon? What kind of being does not-seeing have? Does not-seeing exist prior to the discovery of the fact of its existence?

According to vision, what isn’t seen is dark, and blindness doesn’t exist. Vision is half-aware when it sees, but vision is self-aware when it learns what blindness is. Knowledge is half-aware when it knows only facts.

(I’m digesting Hegel’s idea of negativity.)

*

If you have experienced and lived out the gap between what can be said and meant and heard and understood you’re in a better position to appreciate the history of religion. Full knowledge includes knowledge of ignorance.