Q&A with Douglas E. Frame

[close] The predominant problem in the west lies in the confusion between metaphysics and epistemology. Metaphysics deals with the nature of reality while epistemology is involved in finding theories of knowledge. What we know and what there is can be very different things. What we know (e.g., epistemology) is useful but what is (e.g., metaphysics) is not necessarily known. In western society there is some confusion between these two aspects of western thought. Scientists often identify that which is known with that which is real. The gist seems to be that that which is real is only that which can be known. Only things that can be known can be considered when talking about the world, and if we don't know something or can't describe it then this is considered nonsense. Unfortunately this results in a very myopic view of the world.
If being myopic were the only sin of modern western thought then this would be something that we could all live with. But this perspective has some profound ramifications which are discussed at length within my book "The Yoga Party: Philosophical Writings". Ultimately the way we see ourselves determines the way we see the world. A cultures bias is largely determined by their creation myths.
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