Abstract:

This groundbreaking exploration intertwines the enigmatic realms of consciousness and civilization. Authored by G.R. Tomaini, this compelling philosophical treatise invites readers to delve into the depths of the human psyche, unveiling the profound connections between individual awareness and the evolution of society.

Tomaini deploys the term Tractatus (Latin for “treatise”) to evoke images of prominent philosophical works such as Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. Tractatus Perfectio-Philosophicus (Treatise on Philosophical Perfection) demonstrates its philosophical lineage by adopting a similar title, aspiring towards the goal of a philosophical framework that lays the foundations for the betterment of civilization.

Following on from G.R. Tomaini’s Encyclopedia of American Idealism and influenced by renowned academics such Cornel West, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Slavoj Žižek, and Gary Dorrien — a student of John Rawls — Tractatus Perfectio-Philosophicus invites the reader to undertake an exploration of civilization’s journey towards harmony. Building upon Derek Parfit’s groundbreaking insights, Tomaini delves into the ethical thought of Kant, Hegel, Rawls, and Parfit, offering a transformative vision of Leibnizian dialectical harmonism that transcends dialectical materialism.

At the heart of this thought-provoking narrative lies a bold proposition: the shaping of consciousness through philosophy can catalyze a paradigm shift in the zeitgeist, leading to the emergence of a genuinely ethical civilization. Delving into the philosophical currents that have shaped our understanding of existence, the book skillfully navigates the interplay between individual awareness and the collective consciousness that defines civilization. Furthermore, the phenomenologies of John Keats, the Marquis de Sade, and Lord Byron are psychoanalyzed to yield a theory of the fashionable consciousness, shedding light on civilization’s odyssey towards international harmony and its eventual embrace of the democratic consciousness.

However, the zeitgeist does not automatically lead to the benefic consciousness required for an optimal civilization. The concept of benefic consciousness (similar to the Greek notion of eudaimonia) reveals the democratic consciousness, understood as the summation of ethical rights embodied by a single modality of consciousness. From this, a new ethical civilization emerges revolving around core principles of morality.

Tractatus Perfectio-Philosophicus beckons scholars, philosophers, and seekers alike to reevaluate their perceptions of consciousness urging them to recognize the pivotal role philosophy plays in sculpting the collective ethos. In a world yearning for ethical guidance, this book stands as a beacon, illuminating the path toward a moral civilization that beckons us all. Prepare to be captivated, enlightened, and inspired to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and societal transformation.

Grade:

“Greg, congratulations on completing your astute, high-flying, encyclopedic, and in the end, very Leibnizian thesis on the science of love, exploring what is perfect to know, what is perfect to do, and what is perfect to aspire to. You make a splendid and persuasive case for Martin Luther King Jr. as the knight of faith and paragon of love who passed Kierkegaardian tests for both. You register a valid caveat about the odd lack of a strategic calculus in the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” which launches a Grand Tour in your signature fashion of Kant, Kohlberg, Hegel, Goldman, Sosa, Rawls, West, Nussbaum, and Fukuyama on what is perfect to know. Your succeeding reflection on civilization, social justice, Leibnizian harmony, Kantian subjectivity, and God covers a mighty waterfront on what is perfect to do, and splendidly prepares the reader for the Leibnizian dialectical harmony you espouse, a vision of reconciliation transcending the dialectical materialism of Marx and, as you contend, Hegel. You have scoured the landscape of Western philosophy to develop a just world theory that draws cogently upon Kant’s world federalist vision of perpetual peace, the dialectical “harmonism” that you take from Leibniz, and an appreciative word for a contemporary with a similarly synoptic vision, Jürgen Habermas. You have a pronounced tendency to feed thinkers into a blender that some resist, but you recognize that some thinkers you otherwise admire, such as Marx and Rosa Luxembourg, cannot be so blended. For you, the utopian impulse is not to be denigrated, including utopian speculation about the destiny of the human race. Congrats on completing your ambitious teleological genealogy of international harmony, a construct even more ambitiously deduced from your calculation of need—Marx’s test of a worthwhile endeavor, and in your case, a thesis deserving Credit with Distinction."

With all good wishes,

Dr. Gary Dorrien
The Reinhold Niebuhr Chair
Union Theological Seminary