Consciousness Weekly 7 - Three Perspectives: Ontology, Psychology, Morality

This week we would like you to consider the difference between morality, psychology and ontology.

What is a “moralizing” perspective?
Moralizing: Refers to issues of right and wrong. Making the importance of everything about being good or bad, right or wrong, founded on a scale of personal values and a desired self-image.

What is a “psychological” perspective?
Psychological: Giving personal meaning to everything and reacting to how it affects you; assuming that every reaction is caused by circumstance; the activity of justifying or excusing one’s actions based upon personal beliefs and emotional dispositions. 

What is an ontological, factual, or existential perspective?
Ontology: Dealing with the nature of being, what exists as itself.

Factual: Concerned with what is actually the case rather than interpretations of or reactions to it.

Existential: Of or relating to existence.
Living in relationship to what is rather than in relationship to your reactions,  excuses, or justifications. Reacting to, justifying, or excusing why you did or didn’t do something isn’t a powerful or effective way of relating to your actions. What you did or didn’t do is what you did or didn’t do, end of story. The consequences of that are the consequences of that. Noticing the relationship and make correction, without justifying failure or making excuses, is a much more effective way of being.

Contemplate during the week:
Look at situations in your daily life and distinguish moralizing, psychological and ontological perspectives. Contemplate an experience of living in relationship to what is rather than in relationship to your reactions.