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                          %NATURALISTIC METAPHYSICS 860908

     When  scientists  are  behaving  scientifically  they
approach  each situation in the I-It mode rather  than the
I-Thou mode.   The I-It mode takes for granted an observer
separated  from  the  object  of  observation,   analysis,
understanding,  prediction and control.    The I-Thou mode
anticipates  fulfillment in  participation  with other  as
part of the whole which transcends both.

     Scientists   systematically  avoid  consideration  of
objects  and relationships which are essentially personal,
spiritual, in the I-Thou mode.   Scientists systematically
approach  all objects and  relationships in the I-It mode,
ignoring  all  I-Thou  aspects  since  they  can  not   be
apprehended  by  an observer separated from the object  of
observation,  analysis,   understanding,   prediction  and
control.    Those realities and relationships which are in
the I-Thou mode are not real to scientists as scientists.

     Scientists attempt to analyze, understand, predict an
control  persons as if they did  not participate in I-Thou
relationships with  each  other  or  with other realities.
Scientists focus  their  attention upon impersonal objects
as devoid of spirit,  and upon relationships among objects
which  are   devoid   of consciousness,  emotion,  memory,
intention,  anticipation,  etc.  Analysis,  understanding,
prediction  and  control are made  possible  by  carefully
selection  situations  in  which they are  possible,   and
avoiding situations in which they are not possible.

     Scientists  understand  every whole in  terms of  its
constituent parts,  not in terms of that of which it is  a
part.    Thus analysis  leads through the chain of smaller
and smaller parts: mixtures, compounds, molecules,  atoms,
electrons & nuclei,  protons and neutrons with their mason
fields,  quarks,  strings, etc.   The analysis can not  be
complete because each part must be analyzed.   In the I-It
mode no I-Thou relationships can be discovered.  I-Thou is
never a part of an object.  I-Thou relationships transcend
all  I-It  approaches to  elements of reality as  separate
objects which are not essentially related to the observer.

     Scientists as persons affirm beliefs, presuppositions
assumptions,   approaches,  ideals,   values,   goals  and
priorities  which  are  out   of  bounds   to   scientific
analysis;which  therefore  are  not subjected to  critical
appraisal  within  a  wholistic  context within which they
might be understood with integrity.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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