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A great definition of faith

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SW-User
It is a good quote and can be related even to a non-theistic perspective. The philosopher Kant has been called one who saw the human being as the "one who can ask questions that cannot be answered". The [i]meaning of life[/i]. Wittgenstein, one of our greatest modern philosophers has developed this, recognising that strict logic as such is simply a succession of tautologies, self enclosed. He said "Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent”.

Some have developed this by making the claim that all metaphysical questions are therefore meaningless, then progressing into Scientism, where the logic appropriate to the development of science is deemed all encompassing. This is not what Wittgenstein meant. He did not deem questions of [i]meaning[/i] meaningless, but that they can only be answered in ways beyond logic, in the actual [i]living[/i] of life.

Wittgenstein, in speaking to a friend, O.K. Bouwsma, thought that his teaching had done more harm than good, that people did not know how to use it soberly. "Do you understand?" he asked. "Oh yes", Bouwsma replied,"they had found a formula." "Exactly" was Wittgensteins reply.

There are no formulas for finding, knowing, realising "truth" and Wittgenstein insisted that an expression has meaning only in the stream of life. Therefore "truth" (our truth) can only be [i]lived[/i], not [i]thought[/i].

At a fundamental level, to think on these things, as I see it we must not equate Faith with Belief. They are opposites. Faith has its place, that our own true path, time and place can be found, realised, and known. Beliefs, unfounded, will simply divide us.