Dynamic Empiricism: Second Edition

By Craig Leibfreid

Inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature and Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, Craig Leibfreid approaches faith, spirituality, and metaphysics from the opposite end of the spectrum than his inspirations in his spiritual philosophy book Dynamic Empiricism. Kant and Emerson were prominent philosophers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries respectively and presented evidence of a higher power through existentialism, rationalism, and idealism. In Dynamic Empiricism, author Craig Leibfreid provides insightful evidence of a higher power through empirical intelligibility or knowledge gained through experience. Principles of physics, chemistry, biology, and geology are used to support his argument. All of these compose a dynamic world that has the ability to connect and bring us closer to the Creator. Variations of identity within the self, object, and environment are observed with respect to spatial and temporal variety and dynamics. "Customs form in discrete locales about how we treat each other and how we treat the world around us. They are generated directly or indirectly by the environment in which we live. This is where the existence of spirit as a conscious energy becomes most evident." Though this work is deep, it is not too technical or elaborate for lighthearted readers to absorb and understand. The arguments within Dynamic Empiricism will help build your personal relationship with God and identify His Spirit working in your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098018399

Book preview

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Dynamic Empiricism

Second Edition

Craig Leibfreid

ISBN 978-1-0980-1838-2 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-1839-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2019 by Craig Leibfreid

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Part I - A Treatise of Spirit

Spirit

Components of Reality

Evolution of Spirit

Sensuality

The Use of Sensuality in the Principle World

Spirit and the Transcendental

Transcendentalism Part II

Of Pleasure and Pain

Experience is the Only Condition of an Object

Dynamic Empiricism

Part II - Other Essays

Strength

Faith

Respect

Gratitude

Humility

Activity

Experience

Community

Nature

Part I

A Treatise of Spirit

Table of Contents

Spirit 9

Components of Reality21

Evolution of Spirit27

Sensuality32

The Use of Sensuality in the Principle World 36

Spirit and the Transcendental 38

Transcendentalism Part II 40

Of Pleasure and Pain 42

Experience is the Only Condition of an Object 45

Dynamic Empiricism 49

Spirit

All matter is filled with spirit. I define spirit as the coupling of energy and consciousness. The two coexist within bodies and flow dynamically through systems. All matter is filled with energy and direction of energy or consciousness, if you will, which is best examined by observations of habit and/or character. Consciousness and energy are the two most general, least specialized, phenomena that exist conditionally. They are conditioned by each other. When they are coupled, they exist unconditionally. They exist as spirit. Spirit, in the unconditional, may propagate in many different directions at the same time with discrete units of energy or consciousness being captured where it is needed. This need is derived by some degree of form or habit of a body or system. The needs of a body might be internal, whereas the needs of a system might be external. From subatomic particles to the edaphics, plants, bugs, animals, and humans, all substances pass energy from substance to substance and object to object. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy within a ‘closed’ system cannot be created or destroyed but may only change from form to form. With close inspection of terrestrial and astronomical systems, it becomes apparent that the only truly closed system is our universe. That means energy is transferable within our world with few limits. It exists with few limits or conditions. The only condition of energy is its form, whether that be light energy, heat energy, kinetic energy, potential energy (energy of position), chemical energy, etc. Energy is conditioned by the habit of its form or its consciousness, if you will. The form of energy whether that be light, heat, etc. has traits that are characterized by its habit—an expression of conscious guidance or conditioning. When this turnover from one form to the next occurs, it usually occurs along the path of least resistance, such that it may produce the greatest total effect in effort to perpetuate itself, to carry momentum and continue what is. It may change in habit or evolve making it dynamic but is never lost, dead, or destroyed. All natural things attempt to maintain existence. We say such and such exists under favorable conditions. All things have an affinity to or detachment from energy of a particular form creating the argument that all things have favorable and unfavorable conditions. These conditions are roughly defined by some degree of consciousness, an element of habit, or environmental configuration. Consciousness is evident in self-aware beings such as humans, but it may exist along a scale ranging from simple to complex. Other animals besides humans have consciousness but may not be self-aware. Then there are living things that do not appear to have the internal consciousness of animals or humans but only exist under favorable conditions. Their consciousness may be more external and more apparent through a collection of individuals creating a system or community such as a forest or meadow. And then there are the edaphics like rocks, soils, and water that we do not consider living but still pass energy from body to body such as the atmosphere and oceans. They are best witnessed as unified collections across the expanse of our world. They have habit and condition the energy that moves through them while likewise becoming conditioned by the energy that moves through them. Consider this habit a degree of consciousness. Since all things have favorable and unfavorable conditions, they can therefore be considered spirited.

Which gave way to which—energy or consciousness? It is easier to conceive that energy gave way to consciousness; the simpler gave rise to the complex. And what do we commonly consider spirit? Spirit is the energy an object exerts on its environment. Consciousness is the ability to consider and validate how to distribute energy. Consciousness is the understanding of favorable and unfavorable conditions. Consciousness is an acknowledgement of differences in a system or environment. Objects as small and simple as atoms and molecules are capable of this. What should we consider, validate, understand, and acknowledge? Where should we put forth our efforts? What outcomes do we want to achieve? The two, spirit and consciousness, are the relationship that are bound by energy as it flows throughout the universe. Energy is the source; consciousness is the conditioner, and spirit is the product. As energy flows, it is guided along a desired path. That guidance is consciousness. Energy and consciousness are then coupled as spirit, which can have a definitive identity among various arrangements and phenomena. If all things have favorable and unfavorable conditions, that is they exist conditionally, then all things have the propensity to be affected by spirit. Spirit, the unification of energy and consciousness, might make an impact at any location in space and time. And as total energy is seen as a sum making it plausible that energy is continuous, in part, throughout a system (being that it may never be created or destroyed) it is also plausible that its habit or the consciousness governing its form(s) is continuous throughout the system. This unity or summation of total energy and total consciousness through a system proposes reasonable evidence that spirit exists continuously throughout all objects in the universe. There is unity between environments and systems that allows uninterrupted reaction and interaction of energy and the conditioning of energy. Energy governed by consciousness reacts to its environment. It is conditioned by its environment. The conditioning is performed by some form of consciousness. The consciousness holds continuity with the energy that flows through environments and systems. It is important not to limit consciousness to the form of that which exists in humans but must be considered as something more general and omniscient. Consciousness is a measure of awareness. Awareness of favorable and unfavorable conditions may be internal or external and can be observed through traits of habit and form, as habit and form of a body adapt to its surroundings. This awareness, internal or external, exists as a means of survival and perpetuation. As the causality of all that exists, spirit holds the possibility of creating an infinite number of results and only being limited by the conditioning of a governing consciousness. Energy is the causality of all relations. Universal consciousness guides energy as it passes through substances determining the outcome of a relationship. Energy is what is being shared. It is what is being passed on. Energy is how objects relate to each other. A relationship is the significance of one thing to another or an interaction between two or more objects. Significance is essentially the