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Essays, Opinion, & Commentary |
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July 11, 2007
by Frank Martin DiMeglio
Memory integrates experience. In order for a superior integration and extension of experience to occur, the capacity for memory must be understood to have increased. New experiences may (and do) then occur. A reduction, contraction, and/or extension of experience is evident not only in dreams, but also in genius. (The thoughts of genius are relatively simplified, fundamental, compact, and yet extensive.) The dream and genius demonstrate that more must be forgotten in order for new experiences to obtain; but a superior integration and familiarity of experience serves as the basis (or substituted requirement) for this forgetfulness that involves this extension of experience. New experiences are necessarily based upon an improved capacity for understanding and memory that is reflected (or manifested) in the heightening of both the familiarity and integration of experience that occurs in both genius and the dream. With genius, the superior integration (i.e., comprehension) of what is a greater totality of experience constitutes an improvement (and expansion) of memory. Memory increases (or adds to) the extensiveness, desirability, predictability, and intentionality of experience. Due to what is a compression and extension of memory (and experience), memory may then be understood to be more extensively incorporated as part of an improved understanding, thereby increasing the totality of experience (and thought). Memory integrates experience and is necessary for the improved integration of a greater totality of experience. Here lies its connection with the advancement of consciousness and genius. There is less memory in the dream because experience is already better integrated and more familiar, and also because experience is less extensive. Memory, genius, and the dream make experience more extensive. The forgetfulness of genius and the dream involve increased capacity for memory (and understanding), and waking experience involves increased memory due to the relative extensiveness of experience. New experiences (as in the dream and genius) require an improvement or extension in the capacity (or workings) of memory in order to ultimately expand upon experience. Again, with genius, the superior integration (i.e., comprehension) of what is a greater totality of experience constitutes an improvement (and expansion) of memory. With genius, thought(s) and attention are more sustainable, consistent (or continuous), extensive, shifting (or variable), and narrow (or specific). A fundamental integration and spreading of being, desire, thought and experience is thus achieved; for the increased feeling or desire that further involves the unconscious improves the consistency and comprehensiveness of the self's thought, desire, attention, and memory and makes possible the creative and variable expressions or manifestations of the self's desire (such as language). In a relatively reduced state of consciousness (including that of the dream), there is a reduction in the totality (or extensiveness) of experience. Advanced consciousness involves the ability to experience a greater extensiveness and totality of experience, including the ability to experience more at once (in the experience of both desire and thought as well). Therefore, when examining dreams, ordinary consciousness, and the experience of genius, it is clear that man has increasingly extensive experience and variety (or range) of habitat because he is capable of greater understanding. The apes do not have to think as much as humans, since they are generally more familiar with their experience (i.e., habitat) as a result of being more comprehensively integrated therewith (as in the dream). They also, therefore, change more with their habitat. Memory is an aid with regard to the extensiveness of intentionality in regard to experience. The loss (or reduction) in both memory and the intentionality of experience that occurs in the dream helps to explain why we are basically (or significantly) without the use of our body therein. Given the successful and increased involvement of the unconscious, the self is able to increase consciousness by representing, forming, and experiencing more consistent, desirable, and extensive (or accurate) approximations of what is a greater totality of experience. Memory and attention are then improved, and this is how language becomes possible. During the relatively unconscious experience of the dream, a contraction (i.e., compression), extension, and creative reconfiguration of sensory (including visual) experience takes place. This is what art does, and it is often prized for how closely or accurately it approximates to (or describes) visual experience. In becoming "one with the music", the self represents and forms a comprehensive approximation of experience, thereby advancing consciousness. In fact, it is because there is a relatively narrow compression of what is emotional feeling in the dream that this associated (and narrow) range of feeling is also evident in the almost constant visual lighting therein. The reduction in the range of feeling that occurs during dream experience is associated with a reduction in both thought and experience in general. Language is a result of the consistency and comprehensiveness of both intention and concern across a relatively extended range of feeling. (Desire consists of both intention and concern.) Laughter and language are demonstrative of superior desire. The past is necessarily associated with a reduction in both consciousness and the totality of experience. For in the life of the species, individual, and in the highest (or ideal) form of genius, consciousness necessarily takes time to develop. Consciousness is delayed because it reduces the temporal reactivity of the self. The elevated and sustained desire that is associated with both courage and genius is connected with the advancement of consciousness. In fact, the emotional experience of the dream comprises (approximately) one third of the total time of experience (in general), because emotion is one part (or one third) of feeling, emotion, and thought. Consistent with this, both feeling and thought are proportionately reduced in the dream. Thoughts and emotions are differentiated feelings. When thought is extended (and takes place) at a higher and balanced level of feeling, consciousness may advance; as there can be an increase in the extensiveness of experience that is associated with a reduction in the transience (including temporal) of being and experience. Given such an increase (or elevation) in the range of feeling involving consciousness, thought may become more broadly and finely differentiated, thereby making new experiences possible; for the sustained (or elevated) desire of genius is then understood to be merged (or balanced) with higher feeling. Emotion that is balanced and comprehensive advances consciousness. Just as a little anxiety sharpens (or focuses) the mind and increases or accelerates desire, increased concern may add to the intentionality of experience. Memory, intuition, and the familiarity (or recognition) of experience may then be improved as well. Memory and truth are desirable and concerning; and, in connection with the unconscious, the truth is irresistible and irrepressible. The wonder that is involved with genius also involves heightened desire; more specifically, it involves an increase of both interest and concern as aspects of desire, thereby improving memory. Wonder involves heightened concern and begets an amplification or spreading of both intention and concern. Frank Martin DiMeglio lives in Maryland and is currently writing a book about philosophy. He has a Bachelor of Science degree (Honors, 1987) from Towson University in Geography and Environmental Planning.
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Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Book...
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Human
Being: Self, Desire, &
Consciousness
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