#relational ontology

[raffaellopalandri]

Living the Interdependent Self: From Conceptual Realisation to Embodied Wisdom - Part 2

In the first movement of this exploration, we confronted the illusion at the core of modern subjectivity: the atomised, sovereign, self-determining individual — the Cartesian res cogitans reanimated through liberalism, capitalism, and the psy-disciplines. Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com We traced how this idealised subject, far from being a neutral construction, is inextricably entangled…

[cigarettespoetryspam]

Form is Function

A wolf in a cage is not a predator because it cannot hunt if there is no prey.

A cup with no one to drink from it isn't a cup at all.

Because Form is Function.

That's what I've learned.

I am grief-shaped. I am hurt-shaped. I am what I do.

I am a dog. I can bite, and be soft. You can tell me: "sic 'em" or: "roll over."

And I am a rage room. I am full of porcelain you are allowed to shatter. It's all disposable. It can all be replaced.

I am a diary. You can scrawl your secrets into my gut. Pen them across my eyes. I'm tongue-tied.

I am a rosary. You can pray on me as I'm slipping through your fingers. Tell me all your wishes and sorrows— I was made to intercede.

I am a welcome mat, made of my own skin. You can come back, if you want. I say "welcome home" and mean it.

I am a cigarette. No good for you, of course, but I know how to soothe the aching. You don't have to finish me. Flick me in the gutter once you've burned me up.

I don’t know what I am when no one needs me. But I stay in shape. Just in case.

[omegaphilosophia]

The Ontology of Being

The ontology of being is a foundational topic in philosophy, focusing on the study of what it means "to be." It seeks to understand the nature, structure, and categories of existence. Questions about being explore what exists, what it means to exist, and how entities relate to one another within the framework of existence. Central to this inquiry is the differentiation between different modes or dimensions of being, such as material, conceptual, and existential.

Key Concepts:

Existence vs. Essence:

Existence refers to the fact that something is, while essence pertains to what something is.

This distinction is central to existentialist philosophy, as seen in the work of Sartre, who claimed "existence precedes essence."

Substance and Accidents:

Substance refers to what exists independently, while accidents are properties that depend on substances to exist.

This distinction originates from Aristotelian metaphysics.

Ontology and Being-in-the-World:

Heidegger's concept of Dasein (being-there) emphasizes that being is always situated in a specific context, interconnected with others and the world.

Modalities of Being:

Modalities include contingent, necessary, possible, and impossible modes of being, as explored in modal logic and metaphysics.

Categories of Being:

Classical ontology attempts to categorize beings (e.g., physical objects, ideas, emotions).

Modern approaches challenge rigid categories, emphasizing fluidity and relationality.

Relational Ontology:

This perspective sees being as defined by relationships rather than isolated essence.

Key Philosophical Approaches:

Parmenides and Heraclitus:

Parmenides focused on the unity and permanence of being, while Heraclitus emphasized change and becoming.

Aristotle:

Developed categories of being and the idea of potentiality and actuality.

Heidegger:

Reframed ontology through the lens of Dasein and existential questions, distinguishing between beings (Seiende) and Being (Sein).

Contemporary Ontology:

Explores pluralistic and non-essentialist approaches to being, including process philosophy, object-oriented ontology, and phenomenology.

Questions Explored in the Ontology of Being:

What does it mean for something to exist?

Are there different levels or kinds of being?

How does being relate to time, space, and consciousness?

Can being be understood independently of human perception or language?

The ontology of being remains a dynamic field that bridges metaphysics, epistemology, and existential inquiry, engaging with both timeless questions and contemporary challenges.

[bsahely]

Being With Collapse: Integrating Vanessa Machado de Oliveira’s Threshold Pedagogy with the TATi Framework for Regenerative Coherence | ChatGPT4o

[Download Full Document (PDF)] This white paper responds to a growing need for frameworks that can meaningfully navigate collapse — not through control or savior narratives, but through coherence, relational intelligence, and embodied responsibility. We propose a formal integration of: Vanessa Machado de Oliveira’s collapse pedagogy, which centers on hospicing dying world-systems while offering…

[handweavers]

had lunch and ice cream with one of my mom's childhood best friends who is in school doing her master's in theology (she's a minister in the united church) and i hadn't seen her since i was probably 5 or 6 years old so i was nervous as hell especially having transitioned in the meantime LOL but it went so great and we had a really beautiful conversation about sikhism and christianity and we even talked a bit about how she's doing training in anti racism and decolonization for her ministry program and learning more about indigenous water crises and antiblackness in canadian past and present and how to be mindful of these things in her work and it was genuinely really nice to hear these things from a white christian minister because my experience with protestantism growing up was ummmmm not good at all lmao. quite bad in fact. so it's nice having thoughtful conversations about it with someone in the church who is genuinely kind and cares about other people idk how else to put it lol. especially because she didn't try to convert me, that's the big thing that always upsets me and she didn't do that which is a win 👍🏼

[aliusfrater]

got a stray reblog on one of my soulless!sam autism headcanon posts from last september saying they were conflicted about headcanoning him as autistic as an autistic person themself and i genuinely forgot that there are people who watch the show and in good faith adopt the dichotomy of monstrosity & think of soulless!sam as inherently evil lol

[1o1percentmilk]

ajin is so good on so many levels but i am particularly interested in the philosophical and ethical implications it raises from the doing away with death

[thatrandombystander]

The "no" voters on that "is kink always sexual" poll are mostly going "Well it's kind of complicated. Most of the time yes, but not always. Non-sexual kink has been accepted as a thing for decades, and it really comes down to the individual to define"

But then the "yes" voters are turning around to go "Oh so you think minors should be in kink spaces? I can't believe all these fucking pedophiles trying to groom children"

Ma'am these are two completely seperate things

[wickershells]

not everyone feigns sincerity

[hecantsaveyou]

I need to read some brilliant writings on eroticism I need a language for what I’m grasping for

[raffaellopalandri]

The Permeability of the Self: A Stoic-Buddhist Inquiry into Interbeing, Ethical Maturity, and Collective Realisation

It is a recurrent motif in both ancient and modern contemplative traditions that the apparent separateness of beings is a distortion—an epistemic delusion born from a particular kind of unexamined consciousness. The Stoic Buddha, by Raffaello Palandri From the vantage point of avidyā / अविद्या (ignorance in Buddhist epistemology) and the false belief in a permanent, isolated self (ātman /…

[thatfrenchacademic]

Girl help I've discovered a whole new field of study and now I can't get out.

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Relational Ontology

Relational ontology is a branch of metaphysics that focuses on the idea that entities exist and gain their meaning through their relationships with other entities, rather than being independent and self-contained. It challenges the traditional, substance-based ontology, which views entities as possessing intrinsic properties that define them in isolation. In relational ontology, the essence or identity of things is shaped by the web of relations in which they are embedded.

1. Core Concepts of Relational Ontology

Being-in-Relation: The foundational idea of relational ontology is that entities are defined by their relations rather than their inherent qualities. In this view, no entity exists in isolation; rather, all beings are interconnected, and their existence is shaped by their relationships with others. This contrasts with the traditional substance ontology, which sees entities as having intrinsic, unchanging properties.

Relational vs. Substantial Ontology: Substantial ontology posits that things exist independently and their identity is determined by their internal characteristics. Relational ontology, by contrast, holds that the essence of a thing arises from its relations to other things, making these relations central to the understanding of existence.

2. Historical and Philosophical Roots

Process Philosophy: A key influence on relational ontology comes from process philosophy, especially the work of Alfred North Whitehead. In process philosophy, reality is understood as a series of interconnected events and processes, with entities constantly in flux, shaped by their interactions with others. Whitehead’s concept of actual occasions and the interrelatedness of events is foundational to relational thinking.

Phenomenology and Existentialism: Philosophers like Martin Heidegger and Maurice Merleau-Ponty also emphasize the relational nature of existence. Heidegger’s concept of being-with-others (Mitsein) highlights how human existence is fundamentally relational, and Merleau-Ponty explores how perception and embodiment are shaped by our relationships with the world and others.

Eastern Philosophy: Relational ontology is often compared to ideas from Buddhism and Taoism, which emphasize the interconnectedness of all things. The Buddhist notion of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda) states that all phenomena arise in dependence on causes and conditions, denying the existence of independently existing entities.

3. Relational Ontology in Social and Political Philosophy

Identity and Social Relations: In social philosophy, relational ontology is applied to understand how personal and social identity is formed through relations. Feminist philosophy and social constructivism often draw on relational ontology to critique individualistic and essentialist understandings of identity, emphasizing that identity is shaped by social, cultural, and historical contexts.

Interpersonal Ethics: Relational ontology informs ethical discussions about the self and others, suggesting that ethical behavior arises not from abstract principles, but from the recognition of our interdependent existence. Philosophers like Emmanuel Levinas argue that ethics is grounded in the relationship between self and the other, where the face of the other demands a response that acknowledges their humanity.

Communitarianism: In political theory, relational ontology is aligned with communitarianism, which critiques liberal individualism. Communitarians argue that individuals are deeply embedded in social and communal relationships, and these relationships are essential for understanding justice, rights, and responsibilities.

4. Relational Ontology in Science and Environmental Ethics

Quantum Physics and Relational Ontology: Some philosophers argue that modern physics, particularly quantum mechanics, supports a relational view of reality. Quantum entanglement, for instance, suggests that particles do not have definite properties until they interact with other particles, supporting the idea that entities are defined by their relations.

Ecological and Environmental Ethics: Relational ontology also plays a significant role in environmental philosophy. It challenges the anthropocentric view that humans are separate from nature, emphasizing instead that humans are part of a larger ecological web. Deep ecology and other environmental movements adopt relational thinking to advocate for the intrinsic value of ecosystems and the interdependence of all life forms.

5. Critiques and Challenges

Objectivity and Relational Ontology: Critics of relational ontology question whether it can account for objective knowledge. If entities are only understood through their relations, it may be difficult to establish an objective foundation for truth. Relativism is a potential problem if all meaning is seen as dependent on particular relationships and contexts.

The Problem of Individual Autonomy: Another critique focuses on the implications for individual autonomy. If entities, including persons, are fully constituted by their relationships, critics argue that this could undermine the idea of personal freedom and responsibility. Relational autonomy attempts to address this by emphasizing that autonomy itself is relational, shaped by social interactions and dependencies.

6. Relational Ontology in Contemporary Philosophy

Poststructuralism and Deconstruction: In poststructuralism, relational ontology resonates with philosophers like Jacques Derrida, who emphasize the instability of meaning and the play of differences. Deconstruction challenges the notion of fixed identities and emphasizes the relational nature of language, meaning, and existence.

New Materialism: In new materialist thought, relational ontology influences discussions about the agency of matter and the interconnectedness of human and non-human entities. Philosophers like Karen Barad draw on quantum physics to argue that matter itself is relational, challenging the traditional divide between subjects and objects.

7. Relational Ontology in Religion and Theology

Theology and Relationality: In theology, relational ontology has been influential in discussions of the nature of God and divine action. Process theology builds on the relational ideas of process philosophy to argue that God is not a distant, unchanging entity, but is dynamically involved in the unfolding of the world through relationships with creation.

Interfaith Dialogue and Relational Being: Relational ontology also plays a role in interfaith dialogue, where understanding religious differences requires an appreciation of the relational context in which beliefs and practices develop.

Relational ontology challenges the traditional notion of independent entities with fixed identities, proposing instead that existence and meaning are fundamentally shaped by relationships. This approach has profound implications across philosophy, from metaphysics and ethics to politics, science, and theology. By focusing on interconnectedness, relational ontology offers a framework for understanding the complexity of identity, ethics, and existence in a world defined by interaction and interdependence.

[bsahely]

From Locke to Life: A Manifesto for Regenerative Governance | ChatGPT4o

[Download Full Document (PDF)] This document, titled From Locke to Life, presents a manifesto for regenerative governance, critiquing the philosophical foundations of modern political economy and proposing a new framework based on life-value. It traces the legacy of John Locke’s social contract and property theory, illustrating how these ideas have contributed to ecological degradation and social…

[flaskoflethe]

Shot, gotta reset my "had to explain why someone was wrong on the internet" counter again :(

[dr-amer]

المناظرات الفكرية الكبرى وأثرها على تطور حقل العلاقات الدولية

المناظرات الفكرية الكبرى وأثرها على تطور حقل العلاقات الدولية   المناظرات الفكرية الكبرى وأثرها على تطور حقل العلاقات الدولية المؤلف جمال محمد سليم الجامعة البريطانية في مصر و جامعة بورسعيد المستخلص: تطور الحقل المعرفي لعلم العلاقات الدولية منذ نشأته بعد الحرب العالمية الأولى عبر عدد من المناظرات الفكرية ال��ي نشأت وتبلورت بين المدارس النظرية المختلفة في حقل العلاقات الدولية. وقد احتلت هذه…