The core qualities of personal-development 2.0
photo by: TW Collins
In a comment on my previous post, Z. Hereford raised a very important point; defining the truth and beauty on which I want to build personal-development 2.0 on.
Differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth and beauty, how to define and identify them, whether they is subjective, relative, objective, or absolute, continue to be debated by professional philosophers and scholars. However, it is not my intention or desire to go into that direction as it would uselessly complicate things. Here is my simple clarification on what I mean by truth and beauty.
Truth
Aletheia (ἀλήθεια) is the Greek word for “truth” and like the English word it implies sincerity as well as factuality or reality.
In Classical Greek, Lethe (λήθη; lêthê) literally means “forgetfulness” or “concealment.” As you can see, a-lethe-ia is rooted in Lethe, and it translates into “un-forgetfulness” or “un-concealment.”
I don’t want, nor need, to define Truth. For the context, it suffices to say that the truth I am referring to implies all of the above; sincerity, factuality, reality, un-forgetfulness.
Beauty
As for beauty, another simple answer: the beauty that I am referring to implies distinction, excellence, merit and virtue.
The core ideas
Drawing from the above, personal-development 2.0 will be based on sincerity, factuality, reality, un-forgetfulness, distinction, excellence, merit and virtue.
Who’s prepared for the new?
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Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Creativity has an interesting relationship to both truth and beauty I think.
It is also implied by adaptability I think - an important core quality for our lives in my view.
I am glad that you are looking forward to its completion, Evan!
It is true that creativity has a relationship with truth and beauty, but it is a relationship of subordination. Truth and beauty, among many other things, produce creativity. However, the equation doesn’t work the other way around - creativity doesn’t produce truth and beauty; the exceptions that might exist are merely exceptions to the rule, enforcing it.
The same hierarchic approach applies to adaptability as well; there is something above it without which the adaptability idea can’t and doesn’t work. Can you see what that is?
Thankyou for your response.
Are you only interested in the ideas at the top of the hierarchy?
About beauty and creativity - I’m not so sure. If you pursue an art or craft we could examine this.
Evan
Good job Armand!
While you may not need to “define” truth, you do need to establish a point of reference in order for us to have a meaningful discussion and you’ve accomplished that.
@ Evan: I don’t know for sure whether at the top of the hierarchy are ideas or ideals. I believe they are ideals, and I am for the higher ones. If one aims too high, he might miss; if one aims low, he might miss, but it would not matter.
Your point on beauty and creativity misses one point in my initial idea - truth and beauty. But then of course, it really depends on what you understand by creativity.
@ Z: Each passing day makes me realize that we take too many things for granted, especially words. Your comment on my previous post definitely played a role in making me notice that phenomenon; thank you.
I’m glad that I’ve managed to establish the reference point that you asked for.
That’s great Armand!
I guess we really do take many things for granted. Being clear about what we’re talking about is always a good idea to establish.