Contingent or Incompleteness

Article No. 36
11/January/2020

Contingent means uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances. The physical world that we could know and understand through feeling and experience. The physical world is a contingent one i.e. there is no consistency and immortality. Matter in the physical world are always subject to continuous decay or weakening its qualitative and quantitative property. Property of contingent and incompleteness can be found in all physical world. Therefore, the physical world is not the only reality. If there is a contingent physical world, there will be something that non-contingent reality. A meaningful and purposeful life is based not just only on a contingent physical world, but also non-physical non-contingent reality. We, humans, are part of both physical as well as nonphysical reality. But ultimately, we are moving away from contingent to non-contingent.

It is a great understanding that centre of being is not consciousness or mind. Consciousness or mind can be treated as a secondary phenomenon emerging from something else. Considering consciousness or mind as the centre of being is based on modern scientific presupposition i.e. generally reductionist views and arguments. It is a perfectly reasonable hypothesis when limiting reality of everything in to understandable in five senses. But there is no real evidence for even mysterious consciousness. Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or imaginary.  

Non-contingent being

Life can construct in a non-contingent way by adjusting it into a meaningful and purposeful way rather than utilizing it in the sensual pleasure alone. It is good for a person to follow something meaningful rather than feeling happy or immediate gratification. It is easy to be live in contingent and having immediate gratification without meaning and purpose. But it is really hard and tuff to a person to lead a life in a meaningful. It requires strong decision and courage. Contingent life is always visible and observable to people, but a betrayal of action and behaviour make this contingent life to non-reality of experience. Behaving arrogantly and lying are the fundamental forms of betrayal. 

All that we can sense through five senses are contingent things. It cannot exist beyond a reasonable time. These things change over a time period without any consistency. But the thing that exists beyond time is the non-physical reality, which is non-contingent. It is really the centre of being. Truth, beauty and goodness are transcendentals in reality. 

Freewill in Contingent

Freewill is the choice based decision after complete consideration of outcome & consequences. People are basically limited in understanding to get complete consideration of outcome & consequences due to lake of experiences in their life, knowledge and wisdom. That is why laws from an ultimate and absolute source are so important to a meaningful, good and happy life.

The relevance of laws with respect to Freewill that law helps us to choose the right decision before complete consideration of outcome & consequences. It makes decision making very easy compared to based on Freewill with complete consideration of outcome & consequences. Both are based on reason and always right.

In this contingent and non-contingent life; our decisions can be three types: 1. Based on the "Nature" theory of human behaviour or Biology or Neurochemical reactions. It is basically due to some kind of external stimuli. For example reflex reaction. 2. Based on "Nurture" theory of human behaviour or Socialisation or Learning or others said. It is basically due to some kind of internal stimuli. 3. Based on "Free will". 

All our behaviour (i.e. responses) come from above stated three ways. But as a human with flesh & influences from this world will not be ideal due to pulling of "Nature" i.e. neurochemical influences or "Nurture" influences from our surrounding world. Therefore we need laws from an ultimate and absolute source. 

Therefore, having non-contingent life our decisions with Freewill must be rational as well as absolutely moral. 

God and Evil in the contingent world

Three unsolved problems of human are Evil, Suffering and Death. It impossible and implausible to solve these three problems in human life on this planet earth or any other planet that a man can reach. Technological and scientific development is incapable of dealing with these issues. It will not come under the ambit of scientific research. 

We cannot blame God for Evil exist in this world, because there are two kinds of evils:

1. Evil by nature

                                     i. E.g.: Earth quack, flood, diseases etc.

2. Evil by human

                                     i. E.g.: Murder, harassments etc.

Evil by nature: It can be evil when a standard is operating between evil and good.

That standard is based on God's moral. Otherwise, all are naturals. A non-believer in God cannot blame God for Evil by nature.

Evil by human: God is not responsible for evil by a human. Man is responsible for evil. 

If we set purpose in non-contingent life and meaning in a disciplined life, our path will be clear even in the midst of suffering. Thus, we could find individual duties and responsibilities in the world. 

Common sense for non-contingent life 

Common sense is a sound practical judgment. It is not based on feelings and emotions, but based on behaviours and actions. Common sense is a part of wisdom like insight. But the interesting part about common sense is that ‘Common sense is not common to all’. It develops through socialization from religious doctrines. Rational thinking and critical analysis play a major role in common sense formation. Intellectual Consciences and spirit of science make common sense applicable to all areas of life including different academic disciplines and developments in science and technology. It can be tested with fundamental theories and historical records. When we walk a life from contingent to non-contingent, common sense helps us to distinguish things. 

Meaning and purpose in life to minimise contingency in life 

Life has a definite meaning and purpose. The actualization of life can be experienced and achieved only by a meaningful and purposeful life. It is absolutely impossible without God in our life. Purpose of life can simply state that “Being more good to reach more order”. People born with chaos and vulnerabilities, but due to the socialization of religious study (Doctrine & Discipline) make them be more good. Meaning of life can simply state that "It's transcending in nature by Good, Right, Happy, Satisfied and Stable experiences as a human being". It is a fight between good and evil. We can either fight for good or evil. Noone can both. So fight for good with freewill. Effective life with meaning and purpose can be lead with rationality, morality and wisdom. Rationality is based on reason, morality based on religious doctrine and discipline, and wisdom from God. When people try to become more successful than good, it enhances chaos and eventually leads to a loss of purpose in life. Also when people see the physical world in limited nature of experiences by feelings and emotions, it further leads to a meaningless life. So God, Universe, Earth, Men & Women etc. have a cause, meaning and purpose.

By,

Nithin A F

Doing Post Graduation in Psychology

Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala.

Email : nithinaf@gmail.com

www.NithinAF.blogspot.com

11/January/2020