SELF-AFFIRMATION AND THE ULTIMATE GROUND OF KNOWLEDGE IN LONERGAN'S =SI-: AN INTERPRETATION A thesie submiitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Philosophy University of Toronto 0 Copyright by Matek Balinski 2000 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services senrices bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Weliiigtan Oriawa ON K1A ON1 OttawaON KlAW Canada canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence ailowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distn'bute or seil reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fih, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownersbip of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or odKNnse de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Dissertation Abstract The purpose of my dissertation is twofold- First of all, 1 seek to clarify Lonergan's argument for grounding the act of self-affirmation, This clarification in turn enables me to achieve the second purpose of my dissertation, namely, to strengthen the case for the soundness of the epistemic grounding, transformation, and unification of knowledge that Lonergan proposes in To most readers of Lonergan it is obvious that he finds the ultimate epistemic ground of knowledge in the act of a subject6s self-affirmation as a knower. This act has al1 the properties of a self-validating increment of knowledge, which leads many readers of Lonergan to believe that it should be used as the principle of a universal system of knowledge of a deductive type (something akin to Aristotelian and Cartesian ways of presenting theories). This interpretation would lead to difficulties, since a deductive justification would be required for every step of the process of grounding, transforming, and unifying knowledge within a single coherent system. In my dissertation, 1 propose an interpretation that takes the act of self-affirmation as just one of several possible examples upon which the method of critically grounding individual judgments can be based. This method can be used to ground different judgments, including al1 the judgments that constitute steps in the process of transforming and unifying knowledge. Hence, my interpretation of the act of self-affirmation as just one of several possible examples of a grounded judgment transforms Lonergan's philosophy from what some suppose to be a deductive system into a set of interrelated and undeniable solutions of epistemological problems, a set of solutions that may be used in turn to correct and harmonize metaphysics. the rest of philosophy, science. and common sense knowledge. On this interpretation. the problem of the deductive justification of different elements of Lonergan's epistemology becomes irrelevant. This strengthens the case for the soundness of Lonergan's attempt to unify knowledge within a single coherent pattern. General Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introductioi- - 1 Chapter 2 Preliminary Exposition of the Proceos of Grou~ding..--..-.-----25 2.1 Self-affimmtiot-- --_- 25 2.2 The Notion of Being..-..-- -- 4 O 2.3 The Notion of Obj ectivity---------------47 2.4 Three Baaic PositionsUIUUIIuuu.uIuuu.uI --- 58 2.5 Metaphysics -- .-. ~6 6 Chapter 3 Critical Interprrtation of the Ultimate Ground of Itnowledgs- 87 Chapter 4 Results of the Method of Grounding, Ctitical Interpretation--.--.-- 116 Chapter 5 Critical Assesoment -- . ..-.-.183 5.1 Objections against the Role of Self-affirmatio~__.__.__. ,, -.....--.--182 5.2 Asseasment of Two Other Intergretations of Self-affirmation ~~~,,.,.190 Appendix Some Philoeophicrl Comparisons- -220 1.1 A Comparimon with Ingarden 8 Wltimate around of Knowledg~-~--220 1.2 Lonergan8m Grounding of iCnowledge and Some Other Possible Groundingm-227 Detailed Table of Contents Chapter 1 1ntroduc tion---.--.------- 1 1 Traditions of Queetionhg Leadfng to fssuerr Prerretnted by Lonergan----l 2 Sources of Lonergaaf s Viewsl-----.----- 4 3 importance of Lonergan's ThoughL - 5 4 The Reason and the Sources for This Disuertation 6 1.5 The Relevant Part of Xna&& -8 1.6 The Issue Preuented in This Dismertatio~ - 15 1.7 The Meaning of the Term 'Qrounding' Used in this Dieeertatio~...--17 1.8 Organisation of This Diusertatio- 19 1.9 The Purpose of This Diasertatiot 23 1.10 A Note on Tadnology - -,23 Chapter 2 Preliminary Exposition of the Procemm of Grounding,--25 2.1.1 Introduction-..- ,,,.I--.,,-.,.-,ru-.r.r..w.2 5 2.1.2 Purpose of Chapter lL--__.--__._MI_MI ,,--..2 5 2.1.3 Consciousnem8 and its Levels- ,.,, -.,,,,,, -,,,-,----27 2.1.4 Unity of Coneciousnesa-.-.---- --.......... -.".----.---2 9 2.1.5 Attaiaarent of Self-affiza~atio~~-..--- -...-.. 3 1 2.1.6 Lonergan's Clarifications of Some ïmmediate Xmplicationi of Self- af f irmatio- --____.____. 33 2.1.7 The Role of Self-affixmation in Cognitional Theory-,.--38 2.1.8 Conclusio~~.~.. ----13 9 Section 2.2 The Notion of Being---- W......- W..LI-- 40 2.2.1 Lntroductioh-.---.,,4 O 2 .2 -2 The Purpose of Chapter 12--p-----Li -4 O 2.2.3 Notion of Being au It Relrtes to the Procese of Knowiag --.... 4 2 2.2.4 Some Charrcteristicm of the Notion of Being.---.------.--,,- 44 2.2.5 Conclusio- --- ....-.-----4 6 Section 2.3 The Notion of Obj ec tivity.--~.-.-~.----47 2.3.1 Ixatroductf on...--k-.-----------.-.-------------- 47 2.3.2 The Purpome of Chapter 13,---,---,~-___m_.___m_..Idi.i.i.i.47 2.3.3 The Principal Notion of Obj ectivity..--..- -.,.,.,-. ----....--48 2.3.4 Other Ampects of the Notion of Objectivity~,,,--------53 2.3.5 Conclu~io~~--~- -56 Section 2.4 Three Basic Pomitions 58 2.4.1 Introductioa.----- -- 58 2.4.2 Exposition of the Problem Underlying Philosophical Disa~eements~58 2.4.3 The Place of Basic Positions within Philoaophy 60 2.4.4 The Role and the Formulation of the Basic Poeitions --60 2.4.5 Conclusioa~~~.------------------- 63 Section 2.5 Metaphyeicsm------ 66 2.5.1 Intxoductio~~66 2.5.2 The Role of Metaphynice in the Orounding of Itnowledge.. ,-6 7 2.5.3 ïmplicit bbetap&yrni~a..---------.~-.-------.--.-.-73 2.5.4 Enplicit Metaphysics..-.-. -W....- - 75 2.5.5 Method of Metaphysica.-.-.-- -.--.---------80 2.5.6 Conclusion.------- -85 Chapter 3 Critical Intrrpretation of the Ultimate Qround of Knowledg~., -87 Section 3.1 Self -aff izmation of a Itnower-.....--- 3.1.1 Introductio~.--87 3.1.2 Clarification of the Role of the Judgaient of Self-affirniatio~88 3.1.3 Judgment of Self-Affirmation as a Conclueion of a Reasoning.,,,,.-94 3.1.4 What ie Presuppoaed by Lonerganln Preaentation of the Cortrectnees of Preliminary Judgmenta-Pd p.,--,-" 10 O 3.1.5 Lonerganlm Argir~aexxt about the Undeniability of the Preliminary JudgmentsI~---~.----~10 5 3.1.6 Interpretation of the ïmposeibility of Revieion of the Statement kaowarl.---IO8 1 .III a kaowarl.---IO8 3.1.7 Concluuiom.... 1112 Chapter 4 Resulte of the Method of Grouading, Critical Interpretatio------Il6 Section 4.1 The Notion of ~eing- -Y---...l16 4.1.1 Introductiori-----.-.-.- -.....- -116 4.1.2 Place of the Notion of Being in Cognitional Theory---.-----.---ll7 4.1.3 Preliminaqr Charrcterinticn of the Pure Damire to iCaow-----,--l18 4.1.4 The Notion of Being an an Ultlmately Grounded Increment of Knowledgel20 4.1.5 The Method of Inquiry and Some Further Propertiee of the Notion of Being--. ~,,~-..m....Hul..12 2 4.1.6 Unremtrictednemn of Being and the Deaire to Know~-.-....- 129 4.1.7 The Notion of Baing as Spont8neous ,131 4.1.8 The Notion of Being as the Source of 1Cno~ing-,,,,.-,,,.~~~~~~~~133 4.1.9 Con~lusioa--.------------------.~ ,,,. ,135 vii Section 4.2 The Notion of Objectivity v137 4.2 -1 Introductio~ . 137 4.2.2 The Notion of Objectivity Within Lonergin'i Cognitional Theory..--.....-137 4.2.3 Relations Batween Objectivity, Xnowledge, and Being.-.----p138 4.2.4 The Grounding of the Notion of Ob jectivity--,---.~l40 4.2.5 Partial Ampects of Obje~tivity..-----~- 142 4.2.6 Condition8 to be Pulfilled by Objective Knowledg~.-.-144 4 .2.7 Conclueio~~- -,14 6 Section 4.3 Positions - 148 Introductio~~ -.---.--*148 Attending to the Pure Deeire to Kaow as a Solution of Philouophical Problemu -..--.----149 Three Baiic Poiitions in the Procesm of Orouading.-..-..l50 The Grounding of the Basic Position8 U3.~151 The Role of the Three Baaic Poeitioni in Cognitional Theory 153 Clarification of the Baiic Poiitions by Contraet to Basic Couaterpoii tioni-- 155 The Structure urd the Role of Cognitional Theory in Philoeophy~159 Concluiio~~ ....--.--.-.-162 Section 4.4 Metaphysics ).-....WIIU-....MIII.u.MI..L---..I-- --..A64 Introduction----,,---- ..--.--,~.-.~-.-.-,-,164 Metaphysica and Other Domaine of Knowledga-,.-----.----165 Metaphyaics ae a Heurie tic Structurn..-.----.-166 Metaphysicr as r Thaory ,~-.-.-.-,~~-,,168 The Method of Attaining Explici t Metaphyei~e..~--.-.-----l71 Transformation and Unification of ~owledg~174 ,....--, Transition from Latent to Explicit Metaphyeice,....--, 17 6 Conclueion ----l8 1 Section 5.1 Ob j ec tione againo t the Role of Self -aff i~tio&-.-~183 5 .1.1 Introd~ctiori....~ -,.183 5-1.2 The Posaible Redundancy of Chapter 11 of ~.u.,,rrrrm.r.u.183 5.1.3 Inadequacy of the Retortion Argument for ïmpoiaibility of Reviiion of the Judgment of Self -aff imtion..-.-.-.184 Section 5.2 Aaseesment of 'Rro Other Interpretations of Self -aff ixmation --.--.-----"190 5.2.1 Introductio~.,,~.-p -.-- --.--.----.-----.190 5.2.2 Self affinnation Xnterpreted as Beetowing Correctneai on Other Incr4pDeate of ICnowledga --,--------------.~--190 5.2.3.