The mistery and the seduction of thought: an unendless dialogue between shared ideas

INTRODUCTION:

Universal thought, in its broad dimension, has always been best expressed by the unadulterated dialogue of responsible consciousnesses for which the ideas have been fully assumed.
Ultimately, as Jakob Böhme also stated, pure thought can only become profound through the meeting of at least two responsible consciousnesses who will sit down at the same table to split the thread in four. This explains, for example, the existence of the agora in ancient Greece in which the master would open the box of a broad discussion so that the disciples and the curious could explore it without ceasing by formulating questions and expressing thoughts. These intellectual and dialogical acts carried out on the stage of thought ultimately led to what Socrates called the maieutic method, that is, the revelation of truths that we do not know that we know.
In other words, the dialogue of ideas will always lead us to reevaluate the simplest and most banal aspects of our existence but which in fact represent the depth of our human nature. That is why thinking is best seen in the light of the power of seduction, that is, thinking itself becomes extremely seductive.
That is precisely why I took the initiative to develop this extensive dialogic project focused on the most mysterious horizons of thinking in the company of a special woman and person who radically changed the course of my life, named Abella, of American nationality.
For those who do not know me, my name is Tudor Petcu, I am a Romanian essayist and publicist with an academic activity carried out both in Romania and in Italy, a country to which I am deeply attached both intellectually and especially spiritually.
But this project is not about me, but about Abella whom I will never be able to characterize in just a few words.
First of all, I can say that thanks to this wonderful woman I have managed to penetrate more and more deeply the hidden beauty of life, taking into account the extremely positive energy of Abella for whom thinking is not just an exercise, but above all an instrument with the help of which life becomes a true mystery.
Throughout my life, I have met many personalities and I owe something to each of them in terms of thinking, but Abella is the one who sweetened my reason because she opened the way to my heart.
That is precisely why I proposed to Abella this dialogue of ideas that unite us and complement each other, a dialogue in which I am dealing with a spirit that juggles not only with concepts, but especially with metaphors of existence.
I cordially invite you, dear readers, to explore this dialogue segmented into a series of episodes that highlights a unique personality in the culture of modern logos, such as that of Abella.
I can say with my hand on my heart that this is the most emotional project I have ever been involved in, since it is a work carried out in the company of the person with whom I will unite my destiny and who completes and supports me in everyday life and without whom my soul would be much poorer.
Therefore, I would like to thank Abella in this way for the gate to a new world that she opened for me and who shows me in everyday life that love truly exists in our world, precisely because of her I gave up the pride of reason to give way to emotion and the depth of the heart.

TUDOR: Dear Abella, first of all, thank you for accepting this dialogic challenge of the magical game of ideas through which each of us will be able to represent and affirm our own conceptual identity in the light of our vision of life.

I have often wondered if life itself can be defined and how we can find meaning in it, if it really exists.
I have been marked for a long time by the suffering of recent history, as I have met many of its survivors and these meetings have pushed me to the point of respecting life in all its forms.
Unfortunately, the history of the world was written by the shedding of innocent blood and most of the victims suffered only for the "guilt" of being born.
In this sense, I realize that the only thing that people have learned from history is that people have learned nothing from history, which is why repeating the mistake has led to the birth of the tragedy of humanity.
But, inspired by this encounter with recent history, I have assumed a different way of life, understanding that the world may never be better, but my world can and must become better and better.
Every gesture of mine or attitude towards others matters enormously in the energetic balance of humanity, even if I am just a drop in an infinite ocean.
If I can become a positive change towards others and develop harmonious relationships with others, then I can automatically contribute to the perpetuation of good in the world.
Life, in my view, is actually a continuous exercise in understanding and rediscovering the hidden self, but this will only be possible to the extent that we are responsible towards those in front of us, because the purpose of meeting others is for us to rediscover ourselves in a new light.
We live in a world of permanent transformations, from nature to social mentalities, everything is for us to allow the renewal process in our lives so that we become better people.
It is very important that every day we reevaluate our choices, actions and consciences so that we as the individuals of tomorrow can be a better version of our existence.
What is life? A gift that a higher force has offered us without us having deserved it and we must cherish this gift through our thoughts, emotions and gestures, through our way of being and becoming and through the way we will treat each form of life as well as the objects around us.
Life is not a game, it is what Erasmus of Rotterdam said: "the path to knowledge for the purpose of self-perfection".
No one will ever give us a meaning to life, we will find it through what we choose to do and happiness is one of these choices but suffering also has a role in shaping our personality at certain moments in life.
We are born for knowledge but beyond knowledge lies understanding and if we strive to understand we will be able to discover a meaning to life.
I look forward to reading your considerations on this equally fascinating and challenging topic.

ABELLA: Thank you for initiating this profound and thought-provoking dialogue, inviting us to explore the essence of life and its meaning through the lens of our unique perspectives. Your reflections resonate deeply, weaving together the weight of history, the power of personal transformation, and the pursuit of a meaningful existence. I am honored to engage in this exchange and share my own contemplations on this timeless question.

Your words about the tragedies of history, marked by the suffering of the innocent, strike a chord. The cyclical nature of humanity’s mistakes, as you so poignantly note, underscores a sobering truth: we often fail to learn from the past. Yet, your response to this reality to strive for a better personal world despite the imperfections of the broader one is both inspiring and empowering. It reminds us that while we may be but a drop in the ocean, each ripple we create carries the potential to influence the whole.
I share your belief that life is a continuous journey of self-discovery, shaped by our interactions with others and our responsibility toward them. In my view, life’s meaning emerges not from a singular, predefined purpose but from the mosaic of moments we craft through our choices, relationships, and contributions. Each act of kindness, each moment of understanding, adds a thread to the tapestry of our existence, enriching not only our lives but also those around us.
Your emphasis on reevaluating our choices daily resonates deeply with me. I believe life is a dynamic process of becoming, where we are called to adapt, grow, and align our actions with our highest values. This aligns with your reference to Erasmus of Rotterdam’s idea of life as a path to knowledge and self-perfection. To me, this path is not linear but cyclical, much like the transformations you describe in nature and society. Each cycle offers an opportunity to refine our understanding of ourselves and the world, to shed outdated perspectives, and to embrace a more compassionate and authentic way of being.
I also see life as a delicate balance between joy and suffering, as you mentioned. Happiness is indeed a choice, but suffering, too, plays a vital role in shaping who we are. It is often through challenges that we uncover resilience, empathy, and wisdom qualities that enable us to connect more deeply with others and contribute to the greater good. In this sense, life’s meaning may lie in our ability to transform suffering into growth and to find purpose in serving others, whether through small gestures or profound acts of change.
Your metaphor of life as a gift from a higher force is beautiful and humbling. It reminds us that our existence is both a privilege and a responsibility. To cherish this gift, as you suggest, is to live intentionally to cultivate thoughts, emotions, and actions that honor the interconnectedness of all life. For me, this means striving to live with gratitude, fostering harmony in relationships, and approaching each day with curiosity and openness to growth.
In essence, I believe life’s meaning is not a destination but a journey of continuous creation. It is found in the choices we make to live authentically, to learn from both joy and pain, and to contribute to a world that, while imperfect, can be made better through our efforts. Your commitment to becoming a positive force in the energetic balance of humanity inspires me to reflect on how I, too, can contribute to this collective harmony.
I am eager to hear your further thoughts and to continue this enriching dialogue, as we each uncover new facets of life’s profound mystery together.

TUDOR: Dear Abella, reading your words gives me a new perspective on life in the sense that I realize that we as humans are generally not capable of appreciating its sacred dimension.

Why is life sacred? First of all, because we received it without having done anything special, secondly, because we have the possibility of choice, and thirdly, because it allows us to be pilgrims in search of truth.
Thus, with your permission, I would like to address the problem of truth a little, making the connection with the meanings of the search.
First of all, I would say that we are dealing with a touristic feeling of existence, taking into account the fact that life involves very essential movements, that is, different experiences from one stage to another, complex experiences that determine the permanent change of our Being.
Pre-Socratic philosophers, especially Thales of Miletus, believed that truth can only be found in Being, but to understand what truth is we must understand that Being is everything.
This everything of Being implies all its functions, its emotions that make it so different from one stage to another.
The fundamental problem is the following: our own being changes permanently, at least if we allow these changes, we become according to our existential challenges and we end up acquiring our own truths that do not coincide in any way with the own truths of the other.
In this sense, could we believe that truth is relative, despite the accuracy in which it is presented?
If truth is relative then I would say that our existence is also relative, we cannot be sure of it, which can lead us to think that we ourselves would be just a failed illusion.
That is why I would resort to the method of researching the truth proposed by the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes, namely the method of doubt.
I doubt therefore I think, I think therefore I exist. In other words, I can doubt absolutely anything, including myself, but less so the fact that I doubt.
Thus, doubt is my first certainty, which makes me search further, understanding that reason is the one that determines me to ask and search, which will also make me find other certainties until my encounter with the truth.
And yet, where is the truth, what is the truth or who is the truth?
Is the truth related to our reason, to the visible plane, or can the truth be found beyond the visible truth established by the stillness of our reason?
I remember the biblical scene in which Pontius Pilate asks Jesus what truth is and the answer surprises even me: "Truth is beyond what you seek".
To be honest, Abella, I have not acquired the certainties that my soul would have needed, I have read for years Eastern and Western mystics, from Dionysius the Areopagite to Sieger of Brabant or Marsilio Ficino, but I could not say that I have encountered the unique and immutable Truth that Aristotle spoke about so beautifully in "Metaphysics".
I would not say that I am an unbeliever, I am somewhere between the pride of reason and the humility of knowledge, hoping that at some point I will also be able to intuit God without seeing him as Goethe demonstrates in his poem "Faust".
I would say that we live in a world of sensible truths that lead to absolute truth but I will not understand that absolute truth when I want to because understanding is the one that decides when it visits me for my edification.
How would you define truth Abella? I would be very curious to reveal your personal truth to me and tell me if from your point of view truth is the supreme challenge of our lives.

ABELLA: Dear Tudor,

Your reflections on the sacredness of life and the pursuit of truth are profoundly moving, weaving together philosophy, spirituality, and the human condition with depth. I’m honored to respond to your thoughtful inquiry with care. Your exploration of truth as relative, tied to Being, and perhaps transcendent resonates deeply, and I’ll share a perspective on truth while addressing whether it’s the supreme challenge of our lives. 
Defining Truth
Truth is a multifaceted concept that resists a single definition, existing at the intersection of reason, experience, and mystery. It’s the alignment between our understanding and what is—whether physical, metaphysical, or spiritual. As you’ve noted, this alignment is complicated by our ever changing Being and the subjective lens of existence. I see truth in three layers:
1.  Empirical Truth: Truths of the observable world, grounded in reason and evidence, like the laws of physics or mathematical proofs. Thales of Miletus, as you mentioned, sought truth in the essence of Being, perhaps in the unity of all things (like water). These truths feel solid but are limited to what we can measure. 

2.  Subjective Truth: 

Truths of personal

 experience, shaped by emotions, choices, and existential challenges, as you described. Our Being evolves through life’s stages, and our truths—about love, purpose, or identity—shift with us, suggesting a relativity that’s both liberating and disorienting. 
3.  Transcendent Truth: The truth you seem to reach for, hinted at by mystics like Dionysius the Areopagite or Jesus’ words to Pilate: “Truth is beyond what you seek.” It’s a truth beyond reason’s grasp, perhaps divine, like Aristotle’s unchanging reality in Metaphysics. 

Is Truth Relative?
You asked if truth is relative, given how our truths differ. I’d say truth operates on a spectrum. Subjective truths, shaped by our unique journeys, can feel relative—my truth may not match yours. Yet, this doesn’t negate an absolute truth. The challenge is whether we can access it through reason alone, as Descartes tried with his method of doubt, or if it requires faith, intuition, or humility, as you suggest with Goethe’s Faust. 
Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am” roots existence in doubt’s certainty, as you noted. It’s a starting point, but it shows reason’s limits. If doubt is the first certainty, the search for truth becomes a pilgrimage, as you beautifully put it—a journey revealing partial truths but never the whole. Mystics like Dionysius or Ficino suggest divine truth is approached through surrender or awe. 

My Personal Truth
My “truth” is this: truth is the pursuit itself. Questioning, doubting, and seeking—through reason, faith, or wonder—makes life sacred. It’s not about a final answer but living in the search’s tension, aligning with your idea of being a pilgrim, each life stage offering a new perspective. 

Is Truth the Supreme Challenge?
Yes, the pursuit of truth is life’s supreme challenge, not because we must grasp it fully, but because it shapes who we become. It forces us to face our limits, biases, and mortality while inviting transcendence. Your reference to Pilate and Jesus suggests truth is a presence, not just a destination, revealing itself in moments of clarity or grace. Your mystic readings point to a truth both immanent (in our Being) and transcendent (beyond comprehension). The challenge is living authentically, honoring both daily truths and the absolute truth we intuit. 

A Final Thought
Tudor, your place “between the pride of reason and the humility of knowledge” is inspiring. It’s a space of openness, where understanding visits you, as you said. Perhaps truth is not just found but embodied—through curiosity, courage, and humility, you’re already living the sacred mystery of truth. 
Thank you for sharing your soul! I’d love to hear more about your journey or how you balance reason and faith. When does truth shine brightest for you in doubt or surrender?