The Pillars of Personal Philosophy: What I Believe and Why

Part 1. Metaphysics Or We're Fuc*ed

Roughly 10 years ago I was in a YouTube university rabbit hole, listening attentively to Dr. Phil Valentine, one of my favorite lecturers at the time. I don’t remember the exact topic but it had something to do with decoding the esoteric messages in the bible. During the preamble Dr. Valentine made a statement that stuck with me more than anything else he said in the entire lecture. The exact quote is  “Metaphysics is going to have to be the quote unquote religion of tomorrow. If it isn’t, you’re fucked. Totally and absolutely.” The uncharacteristic use of profanity was funny and unexpected, but it made the words stand out a little more. As the video progressed I noticed that the sound byte was lingering and replaying in my head. 

Although I wasn’t deeply familiar with the area of study, I had definitely heard the term metaphysics before. Being a big etymology nerd, I had a pretty basic understanding of what the word meant, but the intrigue had taken hold and I immediately wanted to know more. Without even being sure of what I just heard, it felt true. To be honest, I think I had completely accepted the premise before I did any actual research, but this is the nature of eternal truth. When you encounter it, it feels more like remembering than learning.

First, Metaphysics is defined as “the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space.” It is a framework for looking deeper than physical appearances to find the fundamental connective fabric. A system for unifying and expanding the fragmented consciousness. Metaphysics is pre scientific, so it isn’t bound by the same methodology used for observing and measuring the outside world. This space immediately felt like a perfect fit for me because it does not offer anything that needs to be appeased or petitioned, no punishments, rewards or quid pro quo transactions. Everything I was learning confirmed that I was much more suited for philosophy than most of the spiritual systems that I had been introduced to at the time.

I spent my teens as an avid reader/street corner debater, and a good portion of my young adult life fervently trying to dismantle people's beliefs on message boards. So I was well aware that if you’re going to do thorough research, you can’t just listen to the proponents, you have to spend some time with the detractors. One thing I noticed about the critics of metaphysics is that they often refer to it as being “empty”, which is ironically a perfect observation, even if they don’t realize it. 2400 years ago Lao-tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way)  In chapter 11 he states 

“. . . We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that we use.

We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it livable.

We work with being, but non being is what we use”

The difference between this field of study and everything I had previously visited, is that metaphysics brought me closer to stillness. It wasn't just me collecting intellectual weapons to use as offense and defense against other people. The more I learned the less I felt compelled to debate, argue, or give unsolicited advice. Maybe the most important things are not meant to be externally proven, only internally accepted. Eventually I came to the conclusion that exploring the unknown is a substitute for exploring the knower. What if all that data collection and memorization was never about deciphering the world, but an attempt to figure out who I am and what role I play in it. Just to be clear, I don’t think everyone should drop whatever they're doing to study metaphysics. You should be able to identify whatever improves your experience and follow those threads wherever they lead. This is just me sharing an account of my journey so far.

MOWF Art

MOWF is one of the most significant concepts that I’ve incorporated into my ideology. It’s become something that I can confidently defer to whenever I find myself in conversations about the state of the world. The truth is I have completely abandoned the idea that our three dimensional problem has a three dimensional solution. From antiquity to modernity, not many of our external advancements have truly addressed our internal dilemma, and maybe it’s not the responsibility of the machine to decipher our existential crisis. 

I understand that this may or may not lead to the answers so many of us are looking for, but it has definitely helped me establish a list of topics that I consider complete and total dead ends that no longer require my engagement. I think humans need to evolve on a cellular level if we intend to occupy a truly livable future. Us in our current configuration does not imply longevity. We continue to organize ourselves under arbitrary tribalism. We engineer scarcity to protect value, only to fight over a perceived lack of resources. What we need most can’t be compelled or legislated, and it probably wont ever make sense to the bottom line of a corporation. We have dug ourselves into a deep hole and bedazzled the walls. 

So, yeah, Metaphysics or we’re fucked.

In closing, the only significant thing I can think of doing is to identify an alternative way of being and embody it, and that requires me to turn the critique inward. Thank you for being with me on this journey.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” - Rumi