Beyond Truth and Illusion

📖 The Scoop

Unlike 'Between Truth and Illusion' (1977), which was primarily aphoristic and dialoguistic in its dualistic approach to philosophy, 'Beyond Truth and Illusion', dating from 2007, has been described by the author as a volume of aphoristic essays, which is to be taken to mean material of an aphoristic character which has titles above rather than at the side. In the latter case, John O'Loughlin would have described it as being a volume of essayistic aphorisms, and that, in turn, would have connoted with the way he tended to shape the contents of the aforementioned 'Between Truth and Illusion' way back at the start of his philosophical journey. However, it could be said that, with this title, Mr O'Loughlin has come if not exactly full-circle, then to a contrary position from how he began; though he doesn't necessarily regard aphoristic essays as being in any way superior to essayistic aphorisms, especially since he has spent the greater part of the past thirty years penning either essays or, when he was philosophically advanced enough, aphorisms, the latter of which constitute for him a kind of ne plus ultra of philosophical presentation best suited to the context of metaphysics and thus, in effect, to both theology and theosophy.

The weblog templates and structures that John O'Loughlin has used in connection with the bulk of this material tended to encourage titles above and separate from the main text, and therefore he was obliged to revert to an essay-like presentation of ideas that has always seemed to him somewhat regressive when compared, or perhaps one should say contrasted, to the late aphoristic works of his pre-weblog writings. Nevertheless, even if that is the case, he has done his best to ensure that the subject-matter remains as radical and theoretically cogent as before, and we think we can confidently say that the results often transcend what was achieved more aphoristically in the past, so much so ... that our author can confidently claim to have reached the goal of his life’s endeavour and to be at or near the peak of his philosophical pursuit of truth, a peak which is effectively beyond truth and illusion, and thus a cause, we believe, of joyful celebration! - A Centretruths Editorial

Genre: Philosophy / Essays (fancy, right?)