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Self-understandingUnderstanding, Metaphysics, and Morals

If an actual self-understanding is authentic only if certain metaphysical beliefs metaphysical beliefs are true, the truth of these metaphysical beliefs in no way implies any actual any actual self-understanding. Their truth implies only that a certain selfunderstanding self­-understanding is possible and that it alone is an authentic self-understanding. It

Similarly,

It But, again, it is one thing to perform certain just moral actionsbelieve certain true metaphysical beliefs, and thereby to attest to attest implicitly that a certain self-understanding is both possible and alone authenticalone authentic; but it is something else again to actualize the this possibility of such self-understanding by actually understanding by actually understanding oneself accordingly. To do the first is to dowhat faith implicitly doesbelieve what faith implicitly believes, with or without having such faith; to do the second is to have the have the faith that implicitly performs such just moral actions.28 June 1980; rev. 4 August 2002believes such true metaphysical beliefs. 

Similarly, if an actual self-understanding is authentic only if certain moral actions are just, the justice of these moral actions in no way implies any actual self-understanding. Their justice implies only that a certain self-understanding is possible and that it alone is an authentic self-understanding. 

But, again, it is one thing to believe certain true metaphysical beliefs, and thereby perform certain just moral actions, and thereby to attest implicitly that a certain self-understanding is both possible and alone and alone authentic; but it is something else again to actualize this the possibility of such self-understanding by actually understanding oneself accordingly. To do the first is first is to believe do what faith implicitly believesdoes, with or without having such faith; to do the second the second is to have the faith that implicitly believes such true metaphysical beliefs. if an actual self-understanding is authentic only if certain moral actions are just, the justice of these moral actions in no way implies any actual self-understanding. Their justice implies only that a certain self-understanding is possible and that it alone is an authentic self-understanding. performs such just moral actions.

28 June 1980; rev. 4 August 2002