Rip it out and put it in a bottle, then it's of no interest, unless you're a pathologist — Wayfarer
Definition of "Unspeakable"
1. not able to be expressed in words.
"I felt an unspeakable tenderness towards her"
Similar: indescribable; beyond words; beyond description; inexpressible; unutterable; indefinable; beggaring description; ineffable; unimaginable; inconceivable; unthinkable; unheard of; marvellous; wonderful
2. too bad or horrific to express in words.
"a piece of unspeakable abuse"
Similar: dreadful; awful; appalling; horrific; horrifying; horrible; terrible; horrendous; atrocious; insufferable; abominable; abhorrent; repellent; repulsive; repugnant; revolting; sickening; frightful; fearful; shocking; hideous; ghastly; grim; dire; hateful; odious; loathsome; gruesome; monstrous; outrageous; heinous; deplorable; despicable; contemptible
Gnosticism is heresy! — TheMadFool
Assuming that the Gnostics were (and still are) "onto something important" with the role of Gnosis in their perception of life, can it be considered legitimate wisdom? In other words, can personally revealed wisdom be considered truthful and authoritative? — Bret Bernhoft
To be the good, thoughtful, as real and realistic as possible man. So should we all.my singular pursuit in life is the method of science, and the aim of spirituality. That intersection is important to me. — Bret Bernhoft
Good that you defined "wisdom". But I think the key word and "unknown" here is "legitimate". It mainly means conforming to the law or to rules. Letting aside laws, what kind of rules do you have in mind? That is, legitimate for whom?can it be considered legitimate wisdom? — Bret Bernhoft
Again, truthful and authoritative for whom?can personally revealed wisdom be considered truthful and authoritative? — Bret Bernhoft
Defending the truth was bred into me, as I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian church. We learned to be critical of other religions' erroneous beliefs -- most based on ancient revelations -- but not so much of our own baseline beliefs. As I matured though, I learned to be objective & analytical toward my own beliefs, and eventually left the church. Since then I have been constructing a belief system (worldview) of my own. It gives me a new baseline for critiquing suspicious "facts". But I don't make any absolute-Truth claims for it.I perceive, not just in your post but in others in this thread, a certain defensiveness in the need for clarification about charlatans, or those so-called "gnostics" who pretend to superiority or secret. I don't know where that comes from, since it's as easy as breathing for me to spot the pretenders. — James Riley
Do you accept Jewish, or Christian, or Sufi gnosis as truth? Is their "Truth" the same as yours? Or do you go your own way, with your own personal relationship with God? — Gnomon
It also seems relevant to mention that I do believe that personally revealed Gnosis is legitimate wisdom. And that it is able to be validated by science. — Bret Bernhoft
I understand your problem with being perceived as sanctimonious. But that's to be expected on a philosophy forum. Greek Philosophy, and its offspring empirical Science, are not in the business of private beliefs, or secret wisdom. Instead, they are attempts to shine a light on beliefs hidden in the darkness of subjectivity. So, they have developed a variety of methods to reveal those inner truths to public scrutiny, in order to share any validated wisdom therein. Of course, I'm no scientist, so I am limited to the ancient philosophical tools of reasoning, as a way to test any proposed truths, before I add them to my personal collection.I do not have a monopoly on how one arrives at that which I know-but-cannot-articulate. . . .my understanding of why a person who knows might appear sanctimonious to those who don't, only arose when I see what I perceive (mistakenly?) as a prevalent pre-emptive defensiveness to the idea that another might know something which they can't explain — James Riley
I feel your pain. You feel the need to somehow share your private wisdom, but analytical & empirical Western Philosophy does not accept your pointing & gesturing as a legitimate argument. Eastern Philosophy may have been somewhat more accepting of personal confidence as evidence of truth, but that won't fly on this forum. Of course, there's a variety of alternative Eastern and New Age forums to choose from on FaceBook, where alternative truths are acceptable. :cool:I think knowing the one thing that can't be articulated may be enough. Maybe "A". Nevertheless, western philosophy has it's hooks in me, so I struggle anyway. — James Riley
Unfortunately for you, Philosophy & Science make it mandatory to defend your own beliefs in a public forum. — Gnomon
Unlike you, though, as a scientist, he doesn't expect his peers to take his word for the new "wisdom" — Gnomon
So, he is not offended, but content to take his time to compile supporting evidence, which is hard to come by. — Gnomon
My purpose in responding to your post is not to ridicule your beliefs, but to make you aware that, on a public philosophical forum, you are expected to defend your assertions. — Gnomon
So, explaining that your secret wisdom "cannot be articulated" will not gain you much sympathy here. — Gnomon
I "know" that first hand, because some of my feeble attempts at articulation of un-orthodox ideas are also meet with defensive disbelief. — Gnomon
You feel the need to somehow share your private wisdom, but analytical & empirical Western Philosophy does not accept your pointing & gesturing as a legitimate argument. — Gnomon
Of course, there's a variety of alternative Eastern and New Age forums to choose from on FaceBook, where alternative truths are acceptable. :cool: — Gnomon
sophistry is cunning, sometimes manifested as trickery. — Gnomon
Note -- Sophistry is a sort of Gnosis that is over-articulated, in an attempt to give the impression of logical argument. — Gnomon
It also seems relevant to mention that I do believe that personally revealed Gnosis is legitimate wisdom. And that it is able to be validated by science. — Bret Bernhoft
My private experiences have led me to conclude that personally revealed Gnosis is quite real and valid. — Bret Bernhoft
These are only suppositions, but I'm convinced there is something to it all. — Bret Bernhoft
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.