The unspeakable level is Korzybski's term for that swirl of events language cannot fully capture. It is all that 'is.' Our abstractions-names, descriptions, etc.-often hide and
obscure this unspeakable level. In this volume, the author looks at various ways to get behind these abstractions. Korzybski's Razor is one such tool, which knocks many lofty sounding terms off their pedestals. Another chapter explores the nature of polarities, drawing on insights from Meister Eckhart, Pseudo-Dionysius, Carl Jung and many others. Subsequent chapters, through the lens of Korzybski's general semantics, explore various ways of revealing; insights from dreams, Indian sages, Hermes Trismegistus, Christian mystics, Gurdjieff, alchemy, tarot and more. This brisk volume boldly pushes you to explore the boundaries of language, reach that unspeakable level and see the world with fresh eyes.
oreword xi
Preface xii
CHAPTER ONE: Korzybski's Razor 1
CHAPTER TWO: Interlude: Dreams 41
CHAPTER THREE: Polarities 61
CHAPTER FOUR: Who Is This "I"? 87
CHAPTER FIVE: Interlude: Shadows 115
CHAPTER SIX: The World 'Out There' 137
CHAPTER SEVEN: Hermes Trismegistus 163
CHAPTER EIGHT: Reflections: Beyond Polarities, Beyond concepts 179
CHAPTER NINE: Mutus Liber: By Way of a Conclusion and a Way Forward 203
Bibliography 225
Index 231
Autorentext
Christopher W. Mayer is an independent scholar and founder of Woodlock House Family Capital, a private investment partnership. He is also the author of How Do You Know? which received the S.I. Hayakawa Book Award from the Institute of General Semantics in 2019 and Dear Fellow Time-Binder, published by the Institute in 2022.