Essa é e sempre será a humanidade | Olavo de Carvalho

Summary

The speaker delves into the philosophical implications of universal human conditions imposed by the external universe, unrelated to subjective life. They discuss the inevitability of cycles, the concept of stages in temporal processes, and the importance of proportion and scale in human actions. The talk highlights how our intelligence and understanding are shaped by these cosmic conditions, rather than by our brains, challenging the focus on the subject in the history of philosophy and emphasizing the need to consider the broader framework of existence.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the impact of external universal structures on human cognition and thought, suggesting that our understanding is shaped by these overarching conditions rather than by our subjective experiences or brain functions alone.
• 🔄 The concept of cycles is highlighted as a fundamental aspect of human existence, with examples ranging from biological processes to agricultural practices, illustrating the inescapable nature of cyclical patterns in various facets of life.
• 🌗 The moon's phases are used to discuss how humans have come to understand and recognize patterns over time, even when they are not immediately apparent, such as the gradual changes in the moon's appearance.
• 📚 The speaker critiques the philosophical focus on the subjectivity of human experience, arguing that it diverts attention away from the objective universe and its influence on our thoughts and ideas.
• 🧠 A discussion on the limitations of studying neurophysiology in isolation, suggesting that it should be combined with the study of space-time structures to fully understand human cognition.
• ⏳ The idea of 'stages' or 'steps' in processes is presented as a natural human concept, derived from our physical condition on Earth and our inability to perceive continuous flows, thus leading to the creation of narratives and history divided into episodes.
• 📏 The importance of scale and proportion in human actions and understanding of the world is underlined, with every action requiring a proportional response to external conditions.
• 🔑 The speaker introduces the idea of 'signs' as essential to human perception and communication, where every perception is a sign of something else, reflecting the inherent structure of the universe.
• 🚫 The inescapable nature of impossibilities and limitations in human action and thought is discussed, with the physical world imposing a strict horizon of possibilities.
• 🔮 The notion of the 'known' and the 'unknown' is presented, with human knowledge existing within a circle of the known, surrounded by an undefined circle of the unknown, reflecting the limits of our understanding and experience.
• 👪 The imposition of structures such as family and community on humans as a natural condition, necessary for survival and reproduction, is highlighted, drawing parallels to animal behavior.

Q & A

What is the main subject discussed in the script?

The main subject discussed in the script is the philosophical exploration of various universal conditions that humans are subjected to, which are derived from the structure of the external universe and have nothing to do with our subjective life.

Why does the speaker believe that the focus on the subject in philosophy shifted during the Renaissance?

The speaker believes that the focus shifted from the objective universe to the subject, seeking to find explanations for our ideas about the external universe within the human brain, which is a material object subject to the same external conditions.

What is the significance of cycles in the context of the script?

Cycles are presented as a fundamental structure of human intelligence, illustrating the repetitive and mechanical series of events that cannot be escaped, such as the cycle of ingestion, digestion, and excretion, or the cycle of day and night.

How does the speaker view the concept of historical cycles?

The speaker views the concept of historical cycles as somewhat metaphorical rather than literal, since the subjects involved in historical events do not remain the same, making it not a proper cycle but a series of recurring patterns.

What is the role of the human brain in understanding the external conditions mentioned in the script?

The human brain's role is to perceive and adapt to these external conditions, not to create or invent them. It is a recording and processing organ that abstracts and retains the impressions of these conditions.

What is the relationship between the idea of stages or steps and the human condition?

The idea of stages or steps is inherent to the human condition because our continuous attention to any flow is interrupted, and we perceive processes in discrete episodes, which are imposed by our physical terrestrial condition.

How does the script relate the concept of scales and proportions to human actions?

The script relates scales and proportions to human actions by stating that every action involves some kind of proportion, such as the force needed to lift an object being proportional to its weight.

What is the speaker's view on the concept of quality and quantity?

The speaker views quality and quantity as interconnected, stating that every quality observed exists in a certain quantity and that qualities cannot exist without some quantity, although they are not identical to it.

How does the script discuss the idea of possibility and impossibility?

The script discusses the idea of possibility and impossibility as being imposed by the physical reality around us, with our capabilities and limitations being defined by the material conditions of our existence.

What is the significance of the concept of hierarchy in the script?

The concept of hierarchy is significant in the script as it is presented as a natural condition that imposes itself on humans and animals alike, with differences in power being a fundamental aspect of our terrestrial condition.

How does the speaker describe the role of the brain in the context of understanding the universe?

The speaker describes the role of the brain as minimal, stating that it is merely a recording device that registers, stores, and abstracts information about the external conditions, rather than creating or determining these conditions.