The Quest for Permanence
Table of contents
The Quest for Permanence
The pursuit of something enduring and unchanging has been a fundamental drive behind human inquiry into the nature of existence. This instinctual desire for permanence arises from the need for stability and security in an uncertain world, particularly among individuals whose lives are marked by exposure to adversity.
Context In the Western philosophical tradition, the concept of permanence has been explored within various contexts, including metaphysics, theology, and ethics. The ancient Greeks, such as Plato and Aristotle, grappled with the nature of being and change. In the Middle Ages, Christian theologians like Thomas Aquinas sought to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy with biblical teachings on God’s immutability.
Timeline
- Ancient Greek Philosophy: Philosophers like Parmenides and Heraclitus begin to explore the concept of permanence in relation to being and change.
- Plato’s Theory of Forms: In his theory of forms, Plato posits that abstract entities such as justice and beauty are eternal and unchanging.
- Aristotle’s Metaphysics: Aristotle develops a concept of substance (ousia) that is characterized by its permanent essence.
- Medieval Theology: Christian theologians like Thomas Aquinas argue for God’s immutability and the doctrine of divine simplicity.
- Kantian Critique: Immanuel Kant critiques traditional metaphysics, arguing that human knowledge is limited to experience and the understanding.
- German Idealism: Philosophers like Hegel and Schelling explore the concept of absolute spirit or absolute unity as a potential source of permanence.
Key Terms and Concepts
1. Permanence
Permanence refers to the quality of being enduring, stable, or unchanging over time.
In various contexts, permanence can be understood as an essential attribute of abstract entities (e.g., Plato’s theory of forms), divine beings (e.g., God in Christian theology), or even human values and principles.
2. Eternity
Eternity is often associated with the concept of timelessness, implying a state that exists outside the constraints of temporality.
In philosophical debates, eternity has been linked to questions about the nature of being, change, and the relationship between God and the world.
3. Immutability
Immutability refers to the quality of being unchanged or unalterable over time.
This concept is often applied to divine beings in theology, where immutability is seen as a fundamental attribute of God’s nature.
4. Progress
Progress implies a direction or movement towards an end goal, often characterized by improvement or advancement.
In modern liberal theology, the idea of progress in heaven and evolution in the Godhead reflects a shift away from static conceptions of permanence.
5. Static Conceptions
Static conceptions refer to views that emphasize stability, fixity, or unchangeability as essential characteristics of reality or the divine.
Examples include Plato’s theory of forms, Aristotelian metaphysics, and traditional Christian theology on God’s immutability.
6. Teleology
Teleology is the study of ends or goals in nature or human affairs.
This concept has been used to understand the purpose or direction of progress in various contexts, including modern liberal theology.
7. Evolution
Evolution implies change or development over time, often characterized by adaptation and improvement.
In modern liberal theology, evolution in the Godhead reflects a shift towards dynamic and relational conceptions of the divine.
Key Figures and Groups
1. Plato
Plato’s theory of forms posits that abstract entities such as justice and beauty are eternal and unchanging.
2. Aristotle
Aristotle develops a concept of substance (ousia) characterized by its permanent essence.
3. Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas argues for God’s immutability and the doctrine of divine simplicity in his Summa Theologica.
4. Immanuel Kant
Kant critiques traditional metaphysics, arguing that human knowledge is limited to experience and the understanding.
Mechanisms and Processes
The main argument can be broken down into several steps:
- Humans have an instinctual desire for permanence due to their need for stability and security.
- This desire leads them to seek out abstract entities or divine beings that are characterized by their unchanging nature (e.g., Plato’s theory of forms, God in Christian theology).
- Modern liberal theology seeks to reconcile traditional conceptions of permanence with a more dynamic understanding of the world (e.g., progress in heaven and evolution in the Godhead).
- The concept of progress itself becomes a source of permanence in modern liberal theology.
Deep Background
The concept of permanence has been explored within various intellectual movements, including:
- Ancient Greek Philosophy: Philosophers like Parmenides and Heraclitus grappled with the nature of being and change.
- Medieval Theology: Christian theologians like Thomas Aquinas argued for God’s immutability and the doctrine of divine simplicity.
- German Idealism: Philosophers like Hegel and Schelling explored the concept of absolute spirit or absolute unity as a potential source of permanence.
Explanation and Importance
The quest for permanence is a fundamental drive behind human inquiry into the nature of existence. This desire arises from the need for stability and security in an uncertain world. The concept of permanence has been explored within various contexts, including metaphysics, theology, and ethics.
Comparative Insight
A similar concept can be found in Eastern philosophical traditions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, which emphasize the impermanence (anitya) of all phenomena.
Extended Analysis
1. The Nature of Permanence
Permanence can be understood as an essential attribute of abstract entities or divine beings. However, this raises questions about the nature of change and the relationship between being and becoming.
2. Modern Liberal Theology
Modern liberal theology seeks to reconcile traditional conceptions of permanence with a more dynamic understanding of the world. This reflects a shift towards relational and contextual conceptions of the divine.
3. Human Values and Principles
Human values and principles, such as justice and beauty, can be seen as enduring and unchanging over time. However, this raises questions about their relationship to abstract entities or divine beings.
Quiz
Open Thinking Questions
- What are the implications of the quest for permanence on human values and principles?
- How do modern liberal theology’s conceptions of God and evolution in the Godhead reflect a shift towards dynamic and relational understandings of the divine?
- In what ways can the concept of permanence be applied to abstract entities or natural phenomena?
Conclusion
The quest for permanence is a fundamental drive behind human inquiry into the nature of existence. This desire arises from the need for stability and security in an uncertain world. The concept of permanence has been explored within various contexts, including metaphysics, theology, and ethics.