This essay critiques the positivist emphasis on "facts" as a form of reductionism. Drawing on T. G. Masaryk’s perspective, the author argues that the mere statement of individual facts is insufficient without an interpretation of their meaning within broader contexts. The text explores the idea that "facts" are artificial abstractions and human constructs—etymologically "made" (factum)—that isolate specific aspects of reality from their infinite connections. While facts are often treated as fixed and finished entities, the author posits that true reality is a dynamic, ongoing process consisting of events and the active deeds of subjects. By distancing himself from a "realism" centered on static things (res), the author advocates for an understanding of reality as living movement. From this viewpoint, facts are merely relics or residues of past activities; they possess genuine meaning only when reconnected to the internal, active processes from which they emerged.
Skutečnost contra „fakta“
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◆ philosophical diary – record, Czech, origin: 20. 1. 2007
- This is a part of the original document:
- 2007