Various Philosophical Tools and Techniques
For the Critical Philosopher

N.K.Tointon, 2008

Dedicated to:

Francesco Amati
 
Various Philosophical Tools and Techniques
For the Critical Philosopher*

Pre-Introduction

	In this brief text I look at two philosophical concepts; deriving the second from the first; and, from both, a number of other philosophical strategies are also derived. Technical terms are in italics. Headings are noted in bold and key philosophical tools are in bold italics. (i)

	Demarcation theory invokes the concept that in a relationship significance is created through contrast, but, that too much contrast is productive of no significance, whereas, on the other hand, too little contrast realizes nothing to be signified (see dia. A). As a result there is a dialectical space between too much contrasting distance and a lack of contrastive distance. Thence these polarizations can only be idealities. (ii)

	Applying this theory to an intentional field and invoking ideas from gestalt psychology, I perceive this type of dialectical contrast taking place between foreground and background levels of attentive thematization. Treating this interaction as ‘horizontal’ and invoking a similar relationship between a ‘vertical’ subjective sense of self and its observation of this horizontal relationship gives us three ideal dialectical moments of Object (as the intentional object-state or intentional objective), Ego (intentional subject) and World (as an intentional field). From this archetypal tri-modal interaction an intentional philosophy is enriched through a number of complementary frames of reference. From this mix a number of philosophical strategies are delineated. (iii)

0.   Introduction

	Various philosophical tools and techniques, presented in an integrated fashion, for the disentangling of philosophical and non-philosophical discourses by the critical philosopher are arranged under the headings of demarcation, tri-modal ideality and other implications and consequences derived from the same. (0)

1.   Demarcational Theory

	Given the gestalt nature of intentional fields, intentional significance is realized through the relationship between an intentional object(ive) and its associated intentional field in such a manner that a certain, limited degree of contrast be able to be arrived at. (1)

	Wherein, too much contrast is not productive of significance, and, too little contrast  does not produce something to be signified! (2)

*Latest version of text: www.homestead.com/noelshomepage/noelshomepage3.html
	Metaphorically, against this intentional field, the intentional object(ive) is foregrounded in such a manner that in being given too much contrast (from the intentional field) and excessively focused upon the intentional object(ive) realizes no intentional significance whilst, conversely, the lack of an adequate degree of contrast also is productive of no intentional significance (in so far as foreground and background then cannot be delineated and differentiated). (3)

	Thence the dialectical nature of all intentional formation since an absolute contrast between the oppositely contrasted field and the intentional object(ive) cannot be drawn.. (4)

	But all phenomena for-us are constituted in intentional consciousness thence the dialectical nature of all phenomena-for-us. (5)

	This phenomenal constitution is exposed through applying an overall transcendental suspension wherein this dialectical contrast between intentional object(ive) and its associated intentional field is re-revealed. (6)

	And our ‘vertical’ appreciation of intentional organization (hierarchical stratification and sedimentation, etc.) on this ‘horizontal’ axis of the intentional object(ive) in its associated intentional field demands the co-presence of their associated sense/s of an intentional subject. (7)

	Just as neither the intentional object(ive) nor the intentional field can be absolutely arrived at (through their limited relationship of contrast) in like fashion all absolute senses of an intentional subject equally cannot be arrived at. (8)

Thence the transcendental ideality of this tri-modal configuration of the intentional (in effect, a three dimensional noetic-noematic-like correlativity a Husserl). (9)

‘Transcendental’ by virtue of its trans-intentional appreciation of the intentional qua phenomenal. (10)

Consequently no absolute object can be (epistemologically) recognized nor (ontologically) encountered thence the philosophical non-viability of realism! (11)

Consequently no absolute intentional field can be (epistemologically) recognized nor (ontologically) encountered thence the philosophical non-viability of idealism! (12)

Consequently no absolute subject can be (epistemologically) recognized nor (ontologically) encountered thence the philosophical non-viability of pure agency in any form (be it non-theologically oriented or theologically oriented)! (13)
	
That the sense of the transcendental, as the trans-intentional, is realized through an overall transcendental suspension wherein the tri-modal ideality of intentional constitution is revealed through this ideal dialectical interaction between these moments of Object (intentional objective), Ego (intentional subject) and World (intentional field). (14)

	The ‘intentional’ having a horizontal sense of an intending towards an intentional object(ive) and a vertical sense of purposeful intention in so far as agency appears to select the intentional topic under examination for a certain relatively simple reason or set of relatively complex reasons. (15)

	The intentional ‘object’ being either an object (say the conductor of an orchestra) or a certain state (such as music produced by that orchestra), etc; concrete/abstract objects and/or states being subsumed under the expression ‘objectives’. (16)

Thus demarcational theory states that significance is derived through relational contrast between these three ideal moments (of Object, Ego and World) in such a manner that there be neither no contrast (through absolute separation) nor a lack of contrast (through absolute non-separation). (17)

	Thence the transcendental unity of the Life-World as a World-of-Life by virtue of this tri-modal ideality whether treated subjectively or inter-subjectively or treated epistemologically or ontologically! (18)

A: Diagrammatical Representation of Demarcational Theory

                       ++
+		++
+…………….++
       +                      ++
                        ++

Foreground  versus  Background
Adequate degree of contrast – Significant Themtization

                       ++
                     +++
                      +++
                      +++
                       +++
                         ++

Foreground = Background
No thing/nothing to be contrasted – No thing/Nothing Signified

                       ++
+											 ++
+.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    .    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   ++
+	                                                                                                                         ++
 ++   	
Foreground ‘separated from’ Background
Too much contrast – No Significance
2.   Tri-Modal Ideality

	This archetypal tri-modal ideality can be read through an infinite number of lenses or fames of reference, e.g., intentional formation, phenomenological examination, gestalt function, types of suspension, types of repetition, as a hermeneutic circle, temporality, harmonic theory, textuality, economic function, ordered analysis (and its demonstration of six distinctive forms of judgmental value), value in general, etc. (18)

Moreover, through processes of relative privileging and/or relative de-privileging of these three moments of Object, Ego and World various phenomenal-phenomenological forms of value are allowed to present/re-present themselves. (19)

Although, in contrast to the apparent, the same transcendental machinery, so to speak, underlies all forms of phenomenal (re)presentation whether discerned as relatively simple or relatively complex in its thematized formation in consciousness. (20)

	Thence the potential commensurability of all varieties of intentionally formed phenomena; so let us briefly examine these tri-modal readings in the order as noted above. Refer to dia. B. (21)

	Intentional formation archetypally demands and intentional objective in its associated intentional field of presentation, and, an intentional sense of subjectivity in keeping with the nature of that intentional formation (so that, e.g., a visual object in a visual field necessitates a visual perceiver, etc., and v.v). (23)

	Phenomenological examination describes the total phenomenal field (in its epistemological organization) from the correlativity of the intentional objective/s, the intentional field/s and/or the intentional subject/s through, respectively, retained analytically-oriented retrospectivity, protentional synthetically-oriented prospectivity or re-constitution, and, a balance of the former (along with a total, ongoing, balanced suspension of all three moments (of the overall transcendental suspension). (24)

	Through the gestalt moments of object, field and ego-oriented appreciation of the relationship between the former. (25)

	Through three suspensions, namely, a metaphorical suspension of the conjunctive suspension (of both ‘like’ and ‘not-like’), through a rhetorical suspension of the dis-conjunctive suspension (of the either/or), and, a balanced existential suspension of the former (all within the overall balance and suspension of the overall transcendental suspension). (26)

	As reflected through repetitive processes, namely in sheer repetition (that has a dissonant edge), mere repetition (that forms a consonant background), and a balanced product of the former (wherein a process of harmonic resolution is put in place between the relatively dissonant and the relatively consonant in a repetition of trope, hence in a bare repetition of that same trope or similar). (27)

	As a hermeneutic circle treated tri-modally: between relative analysis (and metaphor), relative synthesis or reconstitution (and rhetorical tropes) and the relative balance between the former (at all levels or facets of textual examination). (28)

	Through temporal orientation as either retrospective, prospective or current (whether existentially present in the spontaneity of the ‘eternal moment’ or historically present as merely present). (29)

	Through harmonic theory where a relationship is entered into through the ongoing resolution of focused dissonance and background consonance. (30)

	In terms of textuality where the text is focused upon, through the meta-textual adoption and adaptation of genre, with the harmonic formation of the non-textual spontaneity of reading (all within the not-textual orientation of the overall transcendental suspension). (31)

	In and through three economies of an ascriptively-oriented content, a superlatively-oriented process, and, a comparatively-oriented balance of process-and-content (all within the overall economy of the hermeneutic circle). (32)

	As pertains to an ordered analysis (as defined by myself) in and through their formation of six relatively distinctive types of value, namely, pre-essential, aesthetical-essential, deontological, pragmatical, hermeneutical and factual; with the pre-essential centered on Object, deontological being centered on Ego and the hermeneutical being centered on World; all six distinctive forms of value arising though the relativity of a privileging/de-privileging of these three archetypal idealities of Object, etc… Refer to dia D. (33)

	Through an appreciation of value in general through sense (of location in our psychic mapping of the world), meaning (in a hermeneutic, meta-textual sense), and, an existential sense of meaningfulness (in the spontaneity of the non-textual). (34)

	Thus our collective understanding is enriched through these paralleled varieties of phenomenological, hermeneutical and(/or) existential perspectives. (35)

	Hence transformations between different readings, operations as transformations within distinctive orders of value or distinct genres of activity, accommodations between different orders and/or genres (productive of distinctive strands of discourse formation), etc. (36)

	Hence the critical exercise of a transformation philosophy as a treatment-re-treatment philosophy when we note initial pre-transformational products (as logical subjects or states), distinctive transformational-treatment pathways, the formation of distinctive transformational products, distinctive transformational-re-treatment pathways, and, distinctive re-treated products (since normally [through re-normalization] final products are re-treated on the same meta-textual level of discourse as initial products. In other words, the textual treatment of a text is meta-textual in orientation, but, our treatment of it on par with the initial text is through re-treatment. (37)

3.   Implications and Consequences of Demarcation and Tri-Modalism

	For the critical philosopher numerous implications and consequences flow from this complexity of tri-modal reading/s. (38)	

	That phenomena can be read through an infinity of lenses. (39)

	That difference moments can be cross-linked with their corresponding moments through mere equation, e.g., text with analysis with retrospectivity, etc. (40)

	Through the unity of the Life-World there can be neither real external worlds nor real internal worlds. (41)

	That phenomenal reality examined in depth reveals an inescapable dialectical nature in its phenomenological formation (and thence the ongoing qualification of the relatively ‘real’). (42)

	Through tri-modal ideality there can only be that which is simulated and constituted through intentional formation. (43)

	Never the pre-simulated, and, neither simulation in an internal world nor in an external world thence an insistence on the primacy of the Life-World! (44)

	That all forms of complex value can be accommodated on this basis of the hermeneutic circle and engaged through the overall transcendental suspension. (45)

	Thence the demarcation of distinctive strands of discourse be they of the same order or not of the same order; hence complex examination. (46)

	And distinctive strands can be disentangled through an observance of the distinctive presence of genres found to be meta-textually self-evident in that complex (or relatively simple) text. (47)

	Thence the critical task of the philosopher to be aware of demarcational theory and its dialectical consequences, and, tri-modal readings of phenomenal-phenomenological simulation/s of engaged reality as that-reality-there-for-us. (48)

	Be aware of (and beware) tri-modal readings of the text, meta-textual performance or non-textual tradition (especially when overseen, conflated, etc.). (49)

	Thence arrive at a relatively systematic dialectically open reading that is relevant to the task-to-hand and productive of a considerable surplus of apposite value in the discharge of our intentions! (50)
							    Noël Tointon, Sydney, 18.1.08. 
B: Tri-Modal Readings in Columnar Form

Archetypal Moments:   Object		Ego			World

Intentional formation:      In. objective	In. subject		In. field

Phenomenological: 	     Retention		Attention		Protention

Gestalt function:	     Foreground		‘Midground’	          	Background

Types of suspension: 	     Conjunctive	 Dis- + Conj		Dis-Conjunctive
			     (Metaphorical)	Existential		(Rhetorical)
Types of repetition:	     Sheer rep.		Bare rep.		Mere Rep.

Hermeneutic circle: 	     Analysis		Anal. + Syn.		Synthesis

Temporality:		     Past			Present			Future

Harmonic theory: 	     Dissonance		Resolution		Consonance

Textuality:		     Text			Non-text		Meta-text

Economic function: 	     Ascriptive		Comparative		Superlative

Ordered analysis:	     1o Pre-essential	3o Deontological	5o Hermeneutical
				  2o Aesthetical	4o Pragmatical             6o Factual
Value in general:               Sense		Meaningfulness	Meaning
			      Phenomenological   Existential		Hermeneutical
			      Ontological	(Trans)-On.-Epist.	Epistemological

C: Diagrammatical Representation of Transformational 
Treatment/Re-Treatment

(Treatment/re-treatment being either analytical/synthetical and/or identificational      [through an ascriptive/superlative and/or comparative based economy respectively])

				3. Treatment products 
  (e.g. ‘relational house’)
					      ^	
					^	^
				^			^
2. Transformational treatment pathways         4. Trans. re-treatment pathways
			^					^
		^							^
	^									^
1. Initial products					       5. Final re-treatment products
        (e.g., bricks)						       (e.g., material house)
D: Diagrammatical Representation of the Orders

3o Deontological Value
(E+)

EGO

 2o Essential-Aesthetical Value				4o Pragmatical Value
(O+, E+/-W)					      (E+,W+/-O)
*
Psychic centre of hermeneutic circle
(approached through an overall transcendental suspension)

       OBJECT  							  WORLD
1o Pre-essential Value						5o Hermeneutical Value
(O+/-E,-W)							      (W+/-E,-O)

6o Factual Value
(O+, W+/-E)

1o   E.g., square-circle can only exist as a non-integrated thought or concept…
2o   Whereas a red-square can exist as an integrated thought or concept
3o   The conceptual state allows me to conceive of or remember a red-square
4o   The perceptual state that allows me to envisage or perceive a red-square
5o    The hermeneutic state of evaluating possibility (of a general/particular red square)
6o   The post-hermeneutic state of evaluating actuality (of a specific red-square)

1o, 2o, 5o, 6o are subsistents, ahistorical process-content
3o, 4o	         are existents, historical processes (respectively conceptual/perceptual in orientation).
5o,6o	         are factuals dealing respectively with potentiality and actuality.

Refer also to the following papers:
www.homestead.com/noelshomepage/noelsintro.html 

1.   W.r.t. treatment/re-treatment philosophy: Transformational-Treatment-Retreatment Philosophy… (treatment.rtf) Recent Papers in Philosophy Page 2. 
2.   Overlooking the Non-Textual Dimension of the Text… (Nontext.rtf) Recent Papers in Philosophy Page 1. 
3.   An Open Letter Discussing Some of My Latest Thinking on the Subject of Truth (examining an ordered analysis), also a Second Letter… openlett.rtf/Defins.rtf Recent Papers 1
4.   W.r.t. the overall transcendental suspension: Skepticism and the Transcendental Attitude… Part III (Performance of the Overall Transcendental Suspension) (Skepticisms3) Recent Papers 3. Also the second paper in that series… (Skepticisms2.rtf)
5.   W.r.t complex value theory: An Integrated Understanding of the Phenomenon of Egological value (ecological.rtf). Recent Papers 3.
6.   W.r.t. the hermeneutic circle: A Criticism of ‘Modernism’ and ‘Postmodernism’: An Understanding of Textual Engagement (paper96ab.rtf). Recent Papers 1.
7.   Various references to the above strategies (their formulation/re-formulation), often more recent, can also be referred to in my Theology, Volumes I and II.