Richard Schain Knihy

SCULPTING SENTENTIAE An Art Form of Independent Philosophy contains 406 original "sententiae" (statements) plus a preface discussing why the author considers this type of philosophical writing to be an art form. It represents a radical departure from the contemporary university approach to philosophy as a scholarly discipline. Unlike discursive prose, sententiae do not entertain or support the reader on a flowing current of language. Here the mind does not analyze, it apprehends, it sees. If the ultimate purpose of art is the awakening of consciousness, the significance of a sententia is to be found in its ability to produce this awakening not only in the reader but in the writer as well. The sententiae in this work have been grouped in five categories: Philosophy and Religion; Philosophy Among the Ancient Greeks; Bourgeois Existence Today; The Philosopher as Artist; Bywork. An appendix with translations of the foreign language phrases is provided. The three essays included at the end were originally published in the electronic journal Philosophy Pathways. These are: Significance of the Sense of Holiness; The Problem and Promise of Consciousness; Fame - The Last Infirmity of the Noble Mind. These essays present in discursive prose many of the ideas that are more directly and succinctly expressed by the sententiae.

A philosopher retreats to the forest for deep contemplation, grappling with his metaphysical intuitions about the soul. Through his intellectual journey, he engages with and expands upon the ideas of influential thinkers such as Berdyaev, Emerson, William James, Pessoa, Senancour, Thoreau, and Nietzsche. This exploration not only reflects his personal struggles but also offers a rich dialogue with established philosophical traditions, illuminating the intersection of nature and existential thought.

The book defends the existence of the human soul against the backdrop of contemporary scientism, arguing that the soul exists in a distinct dimension separate from the physical brain. It explores the historical evolution of beliefs about the soul, consciousness, and creativity, and critiques the societal implications of denying spiritual entities. Key philosophical influences are examined, culminating in a discussion on the "death of God" and its relationship to the diminishing belief in an inner self. Mystical experiences and intuitive consciousness are presented as interconnected aspects of understanding the soul.

The central thesis of Souls Exist is since the idea of God has lost credibility in much of contemporary society, the idea of the soul has suffered a similar fate. In the modern world, the concept of soul is not a meaningful reality for most individuals. The author emphasizes the dehumanizing consequences for those who are not conscious of the existence of their soul and the need for its development. Discussion of the soul's importance is founded on existential realities, not religious myths. The epigraph of Souls Exist is a quotation from St. Augustine in his capacity as a philosopher: "There are only two questions for philosophy; the soul and God." In Souls Exist, this short list is reduced to one. Souls Exist is a metaphysical work and assumes metaphysical consciousness on the part of the readers. The author is an independent philosopher; consequently, the orientation of his writing is neither religious nor academic, but free-spirited and subjective. The issues raised in this work are of great importance for contemporary culture. The initial edition of Souls Exist was published in 1988. This second edition has been extensively revised with an added epilogue that reconsiders the question of God for philosophy.