From: jimruttshow8596
The philosophical development of metaphysics, as explored by Forrest Landry, is based on two core ideas: foundational triplication and type isomorphism [03:43:10]. These concepts help to understand the nature of reality and the relationships between concepts within different fields of study [03:43:10].
Foundational Triplication
Foundational triplication posits that every domain, or field of study, is founded upon at least three essential concepts [03:55:00]. These concepts are:
- Inseparable: No single concept can be fully understood without implying the other two [02:54:00].
- Mutually Distinct: Each concept maintains its unique identity [02:54:00].
- Non-interchangeable: Their roles within the domain are specific and cannot be swapped [02:54:00].
This pattern suggests that there are always at least three primal concepts necessary to form the basis of any domain [04:17:00].
Examples of Foundational Triplication
Various domains demonstrate this triadic structure:
- Universe: Can be understood through the concepts of creation, existence, and interaction [02:29:10]. Knowing everything about these three subsumes knowing everything about the universe [02:37:10].
- Language: Its primal concepts are statements, semantics, and syntax [04:41:10]. Understanding these three is essential to grasp language as a field of study [04:47:10].
- Music: Its fundamental concepts are intensity, pattern (melody/harmony), and tonality (instrument sound/pitch) [04:35:10]. If any of these are completely absent, the others are also absent [04:29:10].
- The “Real”: Defined by choice, change, and causation [00:59:00].
- Perception: Involves the perceiver, the perceived, and the act of perceiving [07:19:10].
Type Isomorphism
Type isomorphism builds on foundational triplication by stating that the patterns of relationships between these foundational concepts are consistent across different domains [04:52:10]. This means that a template pattern underlies the definitional relationships of primal concepts in various fields of study [04:52:10].
By analyzing the semantic structure of a domain and identifying its most primal concepts, it becomes apparent that the patterns of how these concepts relate to each other are repeatable [04:59:10]. This allows for the identification of “types” for individual concepts [04:59:10], similar to data types in computer science (e.g., integer, string) [04:54:10].
Modalities: The Types of Primal Concepts
The metaphysics identifies three fundamental modalities (types) that these primal concepts can manifest as:
- Imminent: Characterized by direct, immediate, first-person processes. It often represents the relationship between two other concepts [01:02:00].
- Omniscient: Represents a concept viewed from one framework removed, like a static pattern or a theoretical perspective [01:02:24].
- Transcendent: Represents a concept that is further removed, crossing over domains of context, or referring to an abstract, unmeasurable aspect [01:03:48].
These modalities are not mere labels but define the role and relationship of a concept within its triadic structure.
Modal Correspondences Across Domains
When applying the modalities to the primal concepts of different domains, consistent patterns emerge:
| Domain | Imminent | Omniscient | Transcendent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universe | Interaction | Existence | Creation |
| Language | Statement | Syntax | Semantics |
| ”Real” | Change | Causation | Choice |
| Perception | Perceiving | Perceived | Perceiver |
| Language (Perspectives) | First Person | Third Person | Second Person |
| Experience | Time | Space | Possibility |
These correspondences allow for a deeper understanding of any topic by modeling it through the established relationships in other, better-understood domains [05:56:00].
Axioms and Modalities
The axioms of this metaphysics formally describe the patterns of relationships between these modalities [04:18:10].
- Axiom 1 (Omniscient Nature): The imminent is more fundamental than the omniscient and/or the transcendent; the omniscient and the transcendent are conjugate [01:11:03]. This axiom describes the theoretical structure and relationships of concepts, analogous to a third-person perspective [01:42:21].
- Axiom 2 (Imminent Nature): A class of the transcendent precedes an instance of the imminent; a class of the imminent precedes an instance of the omniscient; and a class of the omniscient precedes an instance of the transcendent [01:19:12]. This axiom describes the dynamic processes and transformations, experienced from a first-person perspective [01:23:29].
- Axiom 3 (Transcendent Nature): The classes/instances of the imminent, omniscient, and transcendent are distinct, inseparable, and non-interchangeable [01:19:12], [01:37:16]. This axiom establishes the fundamental peerage and mutual necessity of these concepts, representing a second-person or inter-domain relationship [01:45:34].
Through the interrelation of foundational triplication, type isomorphism, and the axioms, the metaphysics can be self-describing, and even describe the process of its own description, incorporating both the describer and the described [01:38:40]. This offers a deeply integrated understanding of reality that transcends traditional dualistic views like realism and idealism [03:09:10].