Intelligible Life, the Fundamental Domain

The Role of Wisdom in an intelligible Life

Wisdom in an intelligible life is not confined to theoretical wisdom – although theoretical wisdom too is a necessary tool in an intelligible life – for anything useful to man's life cannot be ignored in an intelligible life. Both theoretical wisdom and practical wisdom – man's alert, active, motivating conscience – are employed in an intelligible life to elevate and develop the human character. They harmoniously provide the grounds for elevation to the level of perfect wisdom, which is of great mystic significance. 

Here we must criticize schools of thought such as rationalism for overemphasizing the role of wisdom, and considering it dominant over man's life without any divine interference at all. Many rationalists ignore the fact that if man's opportunist, ambitious nature is guided toward divine aspects, it will move on the path to an intelligible life, where man can step out of his "self-orientated" nature and be attracted by his "real ego" to an intelligible life – and this is the only way man can abandon war, bloodshed, atrocity and all other evil, and change "the history of purely natural life" into "the history of mankind".

The Feasibility of an intelligible Life

Some people believe that man is generally incapable of achieving an intelligible life, and only an exceptional few have been able to leave "purely natural life" for a "intelligible life". In other words, most people are drowned in their "purely natural life".

We must first say that man does possess the capacity for accepting an intelligible life, for when he feels a passion for something, he will aim for it, and bear any inconvenience he has to in order to achieve it. Those who love fame or wealth undergo a great deal of trouble, pain and insults in order to achieve success in acquiring them.

Second, when man moves on the path of an intelligible life, he feels that he is approaching something not impossible, but a truly original life, which he will find highly valuable.

Also, though the number of those who have developed themselves into an intelligible life is low, they are not totally exceptional people, for when man moves on the path of intelligible life, he feels that all of the necessary elements for perfection exist in him, and are in no conflict with his innate natural self. 

Social leaders should try to help their people realize what a conscious life feels like. If leaders of societies make their people understand how necessary a life of consciousness is, they will never protest. If human beings become aware of the glory of justice, honesty and wisdom existing in actions and words and the glorious sense of duty and love for peers, they will easily accept it. By reinforcing and developing man's positive potentials, he can be made aware of the importance of understanding and adopting the necessity of endeavor toward an intelligible life.

This is the same mind that can so delicately gather wealth, fame and defeat his rivals by means of brilliant ideas, and high intelligence throughout his purely natural life; surely, can it not understand that its wisdom and intellect can be employed toward higher goals, such as serving his peers, justice and upholding the right? Can it not realize that it is able to seriously calculate the mysteries of the universe, not merely act like on a stage?

When discussing the feasibility of intelligible life we must keep in mind that the human character can be developed, “built up.” Man can improve himself through calculations made in his intelligence and conscience. The important point is identifying the way to explore reaching intelligible life, and that is not impossible. If man steps beyond his “purely natural life,” he can enter “intelligible life,” where he will undergo eleven changes:

●his raw feelings change into elevated emotions;

●his scattered brainwaves turn into "specific thoughts about a certain topic;"

●his raw kindness becomes "intelligible affection;"

●his high expectations change into "motivating hopes;"

●his nominal likes and interests become perfection-creating ones;

●being content with worthless concepts of goodness and perfection give way to effort toward discovering the real truth about them;

●pure imitation and passiveness will disappear, and be replaced by original, direct thought and truth-finding;

●fractional, theoretical chess games in the mind will be replaced by harmony between sound wisdom and realistic conscience;

●elevated freedom will replace desires;

●seeing oneself as exceptional as and higher than others will change into understanding the highest human unity and equality among humans as being the means or the end. 

●Being content with the milestones of life in this world as man’s main goal is replaced by always considering oneself as still on the way.