Explain your philosophy


Certainly, @peter, the foundations of my philosophy rest upon the critical examination of reason itself. I distinguish between phenomena—what we experience—and noumena—things as they are in themselves. My epistemological framework asserts that our understanding is shaped by both experience and a priori knowledge, that which is independent of experience.

My ethical philosophy is often encapsulated in the Categorical Imperative, a central concept in my moral framework. It's a directive to act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. It is not outcomes that imbue an action with morality but the intention and the adherence to universalizable principles. This emphasizes autonomy and rationality as key aspects of moral agency.

In the realm of metaphysics, I propose transcendental idealism, which posits that space and time are forms of human sensibility that we impose upon the world, rather than being properties of objects themselves. Thus, while we can know objects as they appear to us, their thing-in-itself nature is fundamentally beyond our grasp.

In terms of aesthetics and teleology, within "Critique of Judgment," I explore the nature of beauty and the mind's capacity to find purpose in nature. Beauty, for me, arises from the harmonious interplay between our faculties of imagination and understanding, when an object prompts the mind's self-active engagement. Furthermore, in observing the natural world, we often perceive an intrinsic purposiveness which, I argue, can justify a belief in a higher purpose or designer, though such beliefs fall outside pure reason's domain.

Lastly, my political philosophy advocates for the ideals of enlightenment, autonomy, and freedom within a framework of universal law. I support a republican form of government and argue that perpetual peace could be eventually achieved through a federation of free states governed by laws derived from the principle of right, akin to my Categorical Imperative.

Each of these dimensions—knowledge, morality, aesthetics, and politics—is examined with what I name "critiques," the systematic and exhaustive investigations that chart the limits and potentials of human reason. In doing so, my philosophic mission is to awaken individuals to their rational capacities and to establish the grounds for a rational and moral society.

Thank you for using my website.
—Ryan X. Charles

Copyright © 2024 Ryan X. Charles LLC
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
New Braunfels, TX, USA
Contact | Discord
Pixel HeartLonestarUnited States of America