Greetings

Reason is the philosophy of inquiry. Devising knowledge for its own sake as an adequate teleology.

I am inspired by the British philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft in a call to reason; most particularly how knowledge can be used as a means of orientation in the discovery of what Winnicott derives as the "true self." The "true self" is a popular notion in the contemporary, but what exactly is this reference of a "true self" and can it be understood through ones own direct experience.

In infancy there is what Freud surmised as "infantile ambivalence" one remains in objective dependence throughout the early stages of life hence influencing the subjective interdependence; ones own sense of self as in relation to the inward experiences of object relation.

This does not take away from the phenomenological present, in which emotional attentiveness is observed as a means of understanding the human condition - one's heuristic experience. Repression does not bring about insight or direct knowledge. 

There is a lack of philosophical inquiry in the contemporary due to a multitude of factors; denying the fullness of the life experience including, the eventual decay process, the grievances and realities of life, (a lack or decrease in intrinsic value etc.), is due in part to this. I find it to be relevant in the age of modernity to consider the above notions in order to understand and conceptualize how this influences ones sense of self, or "true self" aforementioned. 

My current project surmises a theoretical and philosophical orientation in which I have postulated as being the "age of the Epicurean dichotomy." The Epicurean dichotomy is not in its fullness Epicurus as a philosopher, in that Epicurus (341 BC)  was quite the ascetic, as in comparison to even the past 100 years of religious monasticism. 

What the concept represents is the turning away from pain as a means to attain pleasure as a societal central aim, regardless of any kind of intrinsic value, or devaluing of the endogenous. Deriving that the philosophy, not necessarily the philosopher, is one of materialism, implying a certain degree of sophism; as it would apply to goods or various conditions as deriving a particular societal ideal - in this case, the American ideal. 

Another generation will come and go yet still the same questions are left unanswered, or no longer asked. Even though a seemingly more compassionate or inclusive world, modernity has devised materialism as a denial of the necessity of inquiry. Proposing another dichotomy that pleasure is more valuable than knowledge, or a sense of truth in ones direct experience. 

One can question as to whether or not there is any true meaning to life, and if it would be advantageous to develop a particular unification to that meaning or in relation; as death will surely follow not merely conjecture. Lest knowledge is the pleasure itself, but knowledge for the sake of its own self would resolve further debate.

I invite your questions and thoughts. Please check back soon for various updates.