Means to Message

By Stanley L. Jaki

Book Description

Stanley L. Jaki presents a profound examination of philosophy's fundamental challenge: how can any philosophical system truly account for its own existence? In "Means to Message," he explores the often-overlooked relationship between the physical reality that carries philosophical ideas and the ideas themselves.

At the heart of Jaki's inquiry lies a deceptively simple observation. Every philosophical message requires a tangible vehicle for its transmission, whether through written words, spoken language, or other material forms. Yet most philosophical systems fail to adequately explain the objective reality of these very means that make their communication possible. This oversight, Jaki contends, creates a cascade of intellectual inconsistencies that undermine philosophical coherence.

The author methodically addresses this gap by first establishing the necessity of acknowledging objective reality as philosophy's starting point. He demonstrates how neglecting this foundation leads to endless circular reasoning and philosophical misdirection. Jaki then turns his attention to common assumptions about clarity and scientific knowledge, revealing how science itself cannot fully explain the reality of the means through which it communicates its discoveries.

Through careful analysis spanning metaphysics, epistemology, and the theory of knowledge, this work offers readers a fresh perspective on age-old philosophical questions. Jaki's approach provides valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand the deeper foundations of human knowledge and the relationship between thought and reality.