Perspectivity and a-Perspectivity
- DragonflyRider
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Perspectivity and a-Perspectivity
Analyzed basically, perspectives may be paradoxical, despite being honestly based on factual experiences from the same universe. This might be related to the Buddhist parable of the many blind men touching different parts of an elephant, and each defining the elephant based on the qualities of the body part they were touching, be it ear, leg, or trunk.
In 1985, Jean Gebser leans on a variety of other authors to propose the idea of an integral state of consciousness in his work "The Ever-Present Origin," in which one is not subject to the limitations of a single perspective. One analogy I like to use is one of a mind becoming more similar to a multi-faceted disco ball, as opposed to being a single mirror. In this a-perspectival (where the "a" does not work as a negation, but rather a liberation from the uni-perspectival mind into a broader and deeper mental state), one is not subject to the perception of time in an exclusively linear manner, among a variety of other effects.
The process through which a person would go through to acheive this change of perspectivity is described to be similar to a biological mutation, in its unpredictable manner.
Anyway, leaving Gebser aside (especially since I still haven't finished reading his book), I would like to see your opinions in relation to this matter. Is a-perspectivity possible? Has anyone here experienced an a-perspectival event, or is that your constant frame of mind? If not, why would your perspectival experiences include or exclude the possibility of this fenomenon occurring?
Thank you, I am looking forward to your ideas!
- LuckyR
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Re: Perspectivity and a-Perspectivity
- DragonflyRider
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Re: Perspectivity and a-Perspectivity
I will not go into excessive depth, but I have had a sober experience, about two years ago, that seems to fall in line with this idea of an integral, a-perspectival state of consciousness, in which the range of what my cognition was absorbing from my surroundings expanded, and I was aware of things outside of my field of view. All reptilian experience of fear was gone, and I felt that I was perceiving the world from a broader, non-linear mindframe. Similarly to Gebser's ideas, this shift in perspective came about spontaneously and unexpectedly, very much like a mutation.
It was a truly odd experience, and I don't expect it to have its validity determined here on this forum, but I do think it might contribute to the debate.
I am open to the idea that this was merely a chemical anomaly in my brain, but am curious to hear your input, and how all this could be interpreted.
- LuckyR
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Re: Perspectivity and a-Perspectivity
Congrats on expanding your mind/perspective. To me there are three levels. The common one is the self (and family/friends) perspective. >90% of thought is in this realm. I referred to expanding perspective to the other known players (opponents, NPCs etc). However you may be meaning perspectives of other (perhaps nonHuman, non-biological or even non-physical) players.DragonflyRider wrote: ↑September 11th, 2018, 11:48 pm Excellent point. I agree that having a fluid perspective --one that is open to potential variation-- is entirely possible, and even imperative for anyone who desires to think critically. This still isn't quite a-perspectivity, though, from what I understand.
I will not go into excessive depth, but I have had a sober experience, about two years ago, that seems to fall in line with this idea of an integral, a-perspectival state of consciousness, in which the range of what my cognition was absorbing from my surroundings expanded, and I was aware of things outside of my field of view. All reptilian experience of fear was gone, and I felt that I was perceiving the world from a broader, non-linear mindframe. Similarly to Gebser's ideas, this shift in perspective came about spontaneously and unexpectedly, very much like a mutation.
It was a truly odd experience, and I don't expect it to have its validity determined here on this forum, but I do think it might contribute to the debate.
I am open to the idea that this was merely a chemical anomaly in my brain, but am curious to hear your input, and how all this could be interpreted.
- DragonflyRider
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Re: Perspectivity and a-Perspectivity
Interesting division. Yes, I think that what I was describing includes your third category, although it simultaneously included the first. One did not outweigh the other at that moment, though, or if one did, the predominant one was actually something like the third level you described. It was as if I was having the experience of observing the same space on the dunes from many different positions and having simultaneous feedback from all of them, even though I was not moving much.
The reason why I bring this up, is because it felt uncomparable to other real experiences, and irrational to a certain degree, but it was concrete and undeniable. It would be fascinating to find a way to dissect this experience, but I guess it is hard to use the tools of one perspective to analyze another.
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