A New Critique of Theoretical Thought, Vol. III

Excerpt: It is undoubtedly true that in the pre-theoretical attitude we continue to experience the identity of a thing, while observing it to be susceptible to change. The tree in front of my house may change and vary in its visible form in the process of growing and with the various seasons; nevertheless, we are sure that it persists in being the same tree. The book in my hand is no longer new. Its cover is loose and its margins are filled with notes, yet in my experience, it is the same book I originally purchased.

Chemistry and biology give us theoretical understanding of the continual changes occurring in the molecular combinations of matter and in the cells and tissues of a living organism, but our knowledge of the things mentioned above is supplied by our naive experience, before we acquire theoretical insight into physico-chemical or bio-chemical changes. Naive experience may be deepened through this natural scientific knowledge, but cannot be destroyed by it.

There is, however, a limit to the amount of change that is: compatible with our experience of the identity of a thing. When I throw a book into a fire and it is consumed, the thing itself is consumed. Chemistry cannot teach anything concerning the annihilation of this thing, as such. For, as a special science, it must eliminate the things of naive experience from its theoretical field of vision, at least insofar as they are not qualified by a physical-chemical structure. Otherwise, it could not give theoretical insight into the functional coherence of events presenting themselves in the modal aspect of reality which it examines.

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A New Critique of Theoretical Thought, Vol III – H. Dooyeweerd.pdf