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Abstract

9d13">As the thing in itself cannot be known, we are left with patterns of rationality as the only relevant reality (idealism). These patterns of intelligibility structure reality, and like living things they can develop towards more rational states. The name for this kind of extended mind in German is Geist, meaning a combination of mind and spirit.The development of Geist is driven by two processes: differentiation / articulation, and integration. Together, they comprise the systematization of the world itself. This autonomous system gradually evolves as it synthesizes opposing ideas through the dialectical process. In this way, rationality (and thereby reality) realizes itself, ultimately becoming self-aware in the form of the World Spirit (or God).One of the consequences is that God, as the self-organizing principle of reality, is again seen as rational, and we can again access the divine through rational reflection. Hegel is effectively translating religion into philosophy.While popular in his time, Hegel’s ideas faced critiques on numerous front

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s:<ul><li>Schopenhauer (and later Nietzsche) considered the intelligibility patterns to be driven by will (Will to Live, Will to Power), making them fundamentally irrational and arbitrary.</li><li>Kierkegaard criticized Hegel’s philosophy for being a purely intellectual system lacking in the participatory knowledge needed to cultivate wisdom. From the Kierkegaardian perspective, our attempts to realize the divine have been severed from personal transformation (they do not compel us to take the “leap of faith”).</li><li>Marx saw religion as an opium distracting us from the reality of how socioeconomic forces shape history through conflict. The participation that Hegel inherently lacked, Marx provided through a call to political and economic revolution.</li></ul><a href="https://readmedium.com/summary-of-awakening-from-the-meaning-crisis-by-john-vervaeke-chapter-23-romanticism-0ded8b29cb29">Previous chapter: Romanticism</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/summary-of-awakening-from-the-meaning-crisis-by-john-vervaeke-chapter-25-the-clash-a8ea65710b2d">Next chapter: The Clash</a></article></body>

Interview With an Oak Tree

While it is well established within the carefully constructed fictional universe of the Mill that I can talk to animals, I’m not sure that I have ever made it clear that I can talk to plants also. You see, most of my “World Building” occurs when I am in meetings on things like fire safety and how to stop an active shooter (scream!). It’s easy for me to create inconsistencies, especially when the “rules” of my fantasy world, Mushamaguntic, run 2000 pages of teeny-tiny notes written in the margins of handouts on workplace harassment and health insurance documentation.

Anyway, I can talk to plants, so I thought I would interview an oak tree in my yard.

Gutbloom: Is it true that trees can communicate?

Oak Tree: I’m talking to you now, aren’t I?

Gutbloom: I should have expected that. I mean, outside the confines of this goofy blog, can trees communicate?

Oak Tree: Yes, of course, but there is almost no way of describing it to you in a way that makes sense. You will invariably anthropomorphize whatever I say. If I used the term like “forest wisdom”, you’re going to wonder if trees have self-help books.

Gutbloom: Do they? I think “Ten Tips for a Better Acorn Crop” might be a winner here on Medium. Lots of claps. Shekels!

Oak Tree: Please don’t refer to acorns as “crops”. Those are my babies.

Gutbloom: I bet you hate squirrels, huh? Who do you hate more, humans or squirrels?

Oak Tree: Why would I hate squirrels? A squirrel is just trying to get a nut. Their scatter hoarding is a great help. I mean, I think they’re incredibly fucking stupid, and I could do without them running around playing grab-ass all day, but I don’t hate squirrels. Squirrels, I might point out, don’t cut down trees and cover the ground with macadam.

Gutbloom: Macadam?

Oak Tree: Sorry, asphalt. You have to remember, I’m a 110 years old.

Gutbloom: You look very good for 110.

Oak Tree: Thank you. Remember, trees become stronger and more fertile the older they get. It’s as if all the guys in the NFL were 80 and women who were 70 had six kids a year.

Gutbloom: As I get older, that seems more and more appealing. Are you saying that you have more sex at 110 than you did when you were 20.

Oak Tree: Yes, definitely.

Gutbloom: What’s sex for an oak tree like?

Oak Tree: Well, oaks are monoecious, so there are two types of sex. One is where I feel the pollen from other trees rain down on my female flowers like a golden shower. The other is when I wait for the right puff of wind to scream “I’m cuuuuuuming” through the forest floor and let all my pollen fly.

Gutbloom: I’m kind of sorry I asked. Do you self-identify as more female or male?

Oak Tree: That’s a really dumb question. The world is a big place, Gutbloom. You should get out more.

Gutbloom: How about this; When I go out with my chainsaw and start cutting down trees, are you screaming “Noooooooo” and “Danger, Will Robinson” through the forest floor, or are you more like, “Yes, kill that fucking beech bitch”? After all, you are competing with other trees, right?

Oak Tree: Well, first of all, beeches are cousins of mine and although I hate them, I don’t wish the steel death on them. I’ll admit, there are some cherries to whom I have said, “I’ll be happy when they cut your ass apart,” and when you cleared out some of the big white pines I was all for it, because those old fuckers were insufferable. They used to sing, “We blocked your sun, we blocked your sun” every fucking morning, but, in general, whenever we hear the sound of the Dolmar we are traumatized.

Gutblom: It’s better to see your friends slowly eaten by ash borers and carpenter ants than cut down?

Oak Tree: Carpenter ants rarely kill trees.

Gutbloom: So, you guys hate me.

Oak Tree: Yes.

Gutbloom: What about the use of acorns and oak leaves on my stationery? Does that help my case?

Oak Tree: Why would appropriation make us fonder of our oppressor?

Gutbloom: Fuck, I guess I should watch my back.

Oak Tree: You’re one microburst away from having two hemlocks and a moose maple take out your living room.

Gutbloom: The white pine that came down on the deck?

Oak Tree: A warning, motherfucker.

Gutbloom: Well, thanks for talking. I hope we can do this again some time.

Oak Tree: I’ll be right here.

Others in This Series:

Interview With Athena Interview With a Dragon Interview With a Cuttlefish Interview With a Pig An Interview With Procrustes An Interview With the Minotaur