In this Episode of Living outside the Matrix, Nigel Howitt discusses the importance of holding a world view based on the Primacy of existence. But he points out that currently our culture is dominated by the opposite idea called the primacy of consciousness. The former leads to human flourishment, the latter to tyranny and human suffering!

Ideas are powerful, they motivate us and affect our choice of values as well as morality and behaviour. The more fundamental ideas are the more influence they exert. And the most fundamental ones exert the most influence. These days our culture dis-values truth by implication. Where ever we look, whatever the issue, it seems that assertions and unfounded claims are taken as truth. Tyranny is on the horizon and marching towards us – few seem to notice the signs.

The Primacy of Existence

In this weeks Podcast I discuss this most fundamental and most important idea, and look at the its implications. Its the idea that reality is an objective absolute, existing independently of any consciousness, human, divine, or both. This idea is contrasted with its opposite – that reality is created by consciousness. These two ideas are known in philosophy as the primacy of existence and the primacy of consciousness. All philosophical schools of thought fall on one side or the other of this issue, and there are only two positions that can be taken. Unfortunately, our current western culture is dominated by the wrong one!

Primacy of Consciousness

When we hold a world view dominated by the primacy of existence all goes well and human flourishment is possible. When we hold a world view dominated by the opposite idea it always leads to human suffering. Nigel sets out a clear explanation of  the fact that the wrong one of these two options dominates our present culture!

In the podcast I delve into…

* Assumptions and assumed premises

* Implicit and explicit premises

* The primacy of existence

* The positive implications of the primacy of existence

* The standard of truth

* The primacy of consciousness

* The destruction of truth

* The many negative implications of the primacy of consciousness

* Religions subscribe to the primacy of consciousness by implication

* Integrating or dis-integrating our minds and our thinking

There is a lot packed into this Episode. I sincerely hope you get value from it, and as always please feel free to join the debate and comment below. I am always interested in your views.

I can also be emailed at [email protected]

Nigel Howitt, January 2022

As an additional resource this video presentation by Dr David Kelley may provide some extra helpful insights