Go metaphysical

THAT is, if you want to go all the way in your knowledge of things. That is, if you want to know not just many things, but rather all things. Or at least to keep you always open to know all things.

That is, if you want to know all things not just in some particular way, but rather in their ultimate causes, in their deepest roots -- in what make them what they are, why they are the way they are, etc.

This is what metaphysics is and does, the science of sciences. It offers you the window to see the whole of reality, including the not-so-obvious, like the spiritual and supernatural realities.

It goes beyond seeking knowledge just for the practical use it may have. It studies the very essence of things, a prerequisite before we can know the purpose of things and the designs of the universe.

In other words, it studies things in a holistic and universal way, not in a partial or a particular way. It is what links reason with faith, the material with the spiritual, the temporal with the eternal, the natural with the supernatural.

Metaphysics brings you to the extreme of human knowledge. It uses reason without ever neglecting the senses, but brings reason together with the senses to their ultimate exercise.

It, in short, transcends the subjective to go to the objective. This is the beauty of metaphysics. It brings man to the ultimate dimensions of his power of knowing.

It's not true that metaphysics is purely an intellectual thing. I believe it involves the whole man, with all his organs, senses and faculties, but all in their proper order and place.

The big problem we have now is that we are neglecting the study of metaphysics. Or we are not allowing it to give its due contribution to our daily play of things, in the personal or social level.

One educator has these relevant things to say recently:

"There is a separation between instruction and education. That means that little by little we are substituting our interest for the person in his globality with an interest only in giving some specific information. The consequence is the fragmentation of culture."

Of course, many people, lost in their mundane and immediate affairs, fail to realize the importance of this observation. In fact, many twit it as being too abstract, or not immediately relevant, etc.

But let's continue with the educator's argument. "Fragmentation," he said, "means having a very deep interest in particular issues without having a vision of the whole of reality.

"There is so much emphasis on positive sciences, and more and more of these sciences are only emphasizing a particular field of specialization. But we are losing the broader context of knowledge in which also the sciences can be understood in their particular contribution to the human condition."

I am afraid, of course, that these words will just be ignored by many, dismissed and thrown to the winds. In fact, I would not be surprised. To be appreciated, metaphysics requires a certain attitude and capability that may not be found in many -- as of yet, hopefully.

But the objective contribution of metaphysics to our affairs and lives cannot be denied. There has, of course, to be some plan to make it more familiar to as many people as possible. Otherwise, we can say that our culture would be greatly handicapped.

Without metaphysics, we will only have a shallow and partial view of things, prone to having a reductionist and simplistic grasp of reality. We cannot understand concepts like absolute values, intrinsic evil, and the like.

Without metaphysics, democracy will simply be a matter of popularity, without its proper foundation in some absolute law. Its ultimate law would simply be some consensus of the people, a highly subjective thing that can be at variance with the objective truth. The common good would be jeopardized.

In fact, this is what is happening these days, especially with regard to moral issues like contraception, divorce, reproductive health, sex education, etc. Many of its questions are resolved only through surveys and consensus, and not anymore on whether they are objectively right or wrong, good or evil.

A culture without its metaphysical element cannot help but drift into decadence and death, since it cannot sustain its life, it could not have the proper light and means to direct and develop itself properly.

We have to go metaphysical. Not all of us may have to be directly involved in its study, but our society should have it in its proper place and degree. Otherwise we only have danger in many forms, like terrorism, to face everyday.

Cancer that has metastasized?

IN an effort to sweeten their untenable position, some pro-choice advocates, or those in favor of indiscriminate family planning, claim that they are actually pro-life because they are still against abortion, and are simply promoting contraception, sterilization and other reproductive health means.

Those in favor of House Bill 4110 or the Reproductive Health Bill, for example, say this, with some air of righteousness and now with pained amazement at being excluded from some Catholic Church recognition given to some congressmen.

Don't you think we are pro-life, they ask, since we are actually protecting mothers' lives and health by pushing contraception, blah, blah, blah? As if the Catholic Church is not interested in protecting mothers' lives and health!

The thick-headedness reminds me of a cancer that has metastasized. It seems incurable and irreversible. It seems bent to go all the way in the systemic logic of its error. Why, they have even branded the Catholic Church as wrong, and themselves as being infallible.

The line is well known. It's already a cliché, an empty slogan mouthed almost mindlessly. The argument simply ignores what the Catholic Church has always wanted to tell them to consider also.

And that is the moral angle. They just stay away from that consideration. Or worse, they start defining what true morality is. This usually means using solely the criteria of practicality and popularity.

They refuse to enter into an objective and dispassionate discussion of what is right and what is wrong, of good and evil.

Instead of knowing the truth and the essence of things, they just go by the shifting general social impression of people. Instead of encouraging virtues and sense of responsibility, they just go by what is convenient to do.

In other words, what is moral is what is simply practical and popular, what can be agreed upon by at least some majority of the people. No mention about some absolute natural moral law, much less, about church teaching.

Some even have the nerve to call the Catholic Church outdated, irrelevant, anti-women, and anti-life.

They then start to make surveys and do a frenzied advocacy work, organizing a very complex network of agencies and allies, in order to bend public opinion to their favor. As if morality is a matter of public opinion!

It's a thick-headedness that, I'm afraid, is generated by the same evil spirit behind contraception, which is actually the same evil spirit behind abortion, euthanasia, divorce and other stupidities of what is now known as the culture of death.

It's the spirit of the devil, and everything related to him -- falsehood, lies, deceit, hypocrisy, arrogance, self-righteousness, etc.

Now they are saying that opinion polls and surveys indicate Filipino Catholics don't actually pay attention to the church and are in a great majority in favor of contraception, etc. They say that the so-called Catholic vote is non-existent.

Ergo, why not go full steam with the campaigns for family planning and just don't mind the toothless and powerless Church hierarchy! They are just aging and senile ecclesiastics who are out of touch with reality.

For example, a recent study says more and more Filipino youths are becoming very sexually active and are in some precocious situation. To these pro-choice, family planning people, the solution would be to distribute more condoms and to teach safe sex.

They taunt the Catholic Church, which is actually to be expected. The church's life, in conformity with Christ's, cannot be exempt from these insults and jeering. But those with faith know these are the elements that would fortify it even more.

Okay, the Catholic Church seems helpless now. No problem. We'll just see what happens these coming years.

The story is very familiar, and very sad. If we go on like this, or if we allow this noisy pocket of manipulators to do their maneuverings, what will become of us?

Forget about a certain utopia they seem to promise. What clearly will happen would be a systematic and massive corruption of consciences, the warping of values that would be the breeding ground for worse atrocities to come.

True, there is poverty and all sorts of scandalous human miseries around us. Do we solve them by changing truths, allowing ignorance, confusion and error to fester? Do we solve them by not giving the people the proper values?

If it's now okay to be unchaste, to violate the sanctity of marital act, etc., what will prevent us from going to abortion, euthanasia, divorce, and terrorism?