The Dogma of Modern Objectivity

The Dogma of Modern Objectivity

Our supposedly enlightened society prides itself on objectivity and rational thought. We champion our science as open-minded, eagerly welcoming divergent thinking. We firmly believe our views are grounded in irrefutable evidence, our ideas thoroughly validated by experience, and our scientific understanding the product of a steady, cumulative process of discovery. Yet, we must pause and ask a critical question: is this deeply held conviction merely another dogma of our current era? We find ourselves living within a cultural tradition that insists on rejecting all preconceived values, viewing them as biases inherited from an imperfect past. However, this very act of rejection, in its constant dismissal of what came before, paradoxically creates a new bias, a new tradition of dismissal, which in turn must itself be rejected. This unending cycle, this constant tearing down of established thought without building lasting alternatives, risks leading us towards a never-ending tide of nihilism, leaving us adrift in meaninglessness.

Western society has indeed been profoundly grounded in the tradition of the scientific method. This rigorous approach typically follows five fundamental steps: we define a problem, formulate a hypothesis as a potential solution, rigorously test that hypothesis through experimentation, determine if the results support our initial conclusion, assess if the original problem has been resolved, and then reevaluate the problem itself in light of the new data obtained. Throughout this meticulous process, we firmly believe that we are operating with pure objectivity. And undeniably, this commitment to the scientific method has led to many truly wonderful and profoundly positive results. We have achieved feats unimaginable to our ancestors: we have landed humankind on the moon, meticulously dissected the atom to unlock its secrets, and rapidly advanced the information era, transforming global communication. Yet, with all these monumental achievements, with all our objective data and technological prowess, we have never truly solved the enduring riddle of human happiness. This fundamental aspect of our existence often remains untouched by our scientific advancements.

Walled in by what has become the dogma of a postmodern society, we are perpetually looking for a new answer, desperately searching in places no one has ever looked before. There's a pervasive sense that, perhaps, a singular creative spark or a revolutionary insight lies just around the corner, and if only we could just "reinvent the wheel" in some entirely novel way, we might finally discover it. This constant striving for radical newness can be exhausting and unproductive. Perhaps, then, it is truly time to shift our perspective, to actively seek out and adopt a profoundly different direction for understanding the world.

In ancient times, before our modern paradigms took hold, the world was often profoundly understood and represented as a mandala – a sacred geometric figure representing the cosmos and the self. This holistic view provided a comprehensive framework for existence. We can observe similar principles in the conceptual elements of the Five Rings, a framework found in various spiritual and martial traditions. These elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and the Void – do not merely represent physical substances; rather, they correspond to distinct and powerful ways of seeing the world, modes of thought, and approaches to reality. It is by understanding and integrating these perspectives that we can, perhaps, escape the limiting prison of the singular paradigm that surrounds us today.

• Earth: A series of thought. This aligns with the Incarnation of Fate, where all actions are predetermined. Starting from the beginning and following through to the end, it is the body of the book of strategy. Here we see the outline of all that is to follow. Within this foundational element, we can discern principles embodied by four archetypal professions: The farmer who surveys the circle of life; the merchant who values commerce; the artisan who builds; and the warrior, whose nature is twofold – the path of the sword, and the path of the pen.

• Water: Parallel thought, the spirit. This is the element of science. This can be likened to the Incarnation of Time, ever adapting to the changing needs of the moment, flowing through existence. It is perhaps the most powerful of the elements, and yet it is limited in force. It is forever tied to the paradigm of what is known, and what is believed. As such it is subject to all the forces that surround it.

• Fire: Creative thought, divergent thought, not limited to context. This is the book of fighting. This element can represent the Incarnation of War, which brings both destruction and the catalyst for new creation. To master it requires research, daily practice. Through discipline one becomes free from the self. What is big is easy to perceive, what is small is difficult to perceive.

• Wind: Schizoid thought. Going round and round without going anywhere. This is the realm of tradition, akin to the Incarnation of Death, where cycles of life and demise dictate patterns. This constant cycling, while grounding, can also lead to stagnation if not balanced. How can one know themselves, if they do not know others? To see the future, one must see the past.

• Void: Intuition, the sudden jump to a conclusion. No beginning or end. This is the way of nature, much like the Incarnation of God, representing the ultimate, boundless reality. If what seems correct is not the way of nature, then it departs from the way. Know the spirit and the foundation.