• Mathematical negativity

The symbol works as a sort of mathematical minus sign, to be applied to other symbols in order to reverse their meaning. In fact, it could be expressed through the negative prefixes which are added to words so as to perform the function of negation : un-, im-, in-, il-, ir-, dis-, non-, de-, anti- and a-. As it can be seen, the symbol of “backslash” is graphically opposite to the slash symbol of ethical justifiable imperfection. Indeed, the “slash” negativity does have a moral significance whereas the “backslash” has nothing to do with ethics because it stands for a sort of “negative prefix” which is to be merely considered an instrument whereby one may build compound symbols.

• Human innate spirit

Graphically, this symbol is shaped by placing the symbol of mathematical negativity across that of ethical justifiable imperfection. More clearly, the backslash symbol of mathematical negativity is applied to the slash symbol of ethical justifiable mistake, in order to change its meaning into its opposite. Indeed, on this basis, we obtain the concept of “human spirit” as “perfection or unlimited part of human beings”.

It must be taken into account that the spirit here acquires a sense much wider than that implicit in the “point symbol” of human spirituality. In fact, the spirit in this case is meant to be considered not only in the context of human earthly life but also before life and after it. Finally, a basic facet which one must focus the attention on is the idea of rational potential whereby human beings succeed in defeating evil, which is implicit in the symbol.

• Time – Upward movement of the spirit – Spirit

The first meaning attributed to the symbol was “human time as a distinctive feature of mankind”. Afterwards, the symbol was to acquire an ethical significance, i.e. “upward movement of the spirit which is opposite to the gravitational downward force exerted on matter”. Starting from this consideration, one may easily understand the correspondence between this ethical meaning and the graphic form of the symbol. As a result, the symbol was to come to signify “spirit as something opposite to matter” and “spirit as power opposing the mechanistic negative force pushing human beings to commit ethically negative actions”.

• Oneiric activity

Even though the graphic sign x symbolizes “human perfection”, just the plain idea of “perfection” is taken into account in this analysis. As it can be seen, the symbol x is placed at the top right of the symbol of time to attest the fact that in this case the temporal perfection is not authentic, meaning that it does not actually exist even though it seems to. It is the case of dreams, where human beings seem to be in a situation of temporal perfection (in which time does not flow) while they are not, because time keeps on flowing.

• Divine temporal conception

This symbol designates the divine temporal conception. A tiny point is placed at the top right of that of “time” such that we obtain the concept of divine temporal perfection, i.e. a situation in which just an unchangeable present time exists (the so – called “ever-present”). Clearly, this “temporal perfection” has nothing to do with the human time, based upon the three dimensions belonging to human experience, that is to say the present, the past and the future.

More precisely, the symbol shows how God does have a distinctive “time”. Although the divine time is different from the human one, actually the former is obtained by turning the main features of the latter into its opposites, coming to be defined as “non – human”.

On this basis, my theology may be defined “negative” or “apophatic”, since it defines God as an entity having no human features. Besides human beings, it must be said that any being having a perception of time is to be taken into account in this analysis. In this sense, the starting point, from which the concept of God is inferred, is represented by all the features which could not belong to Him. It is clear that time represents a prominent feature in this analysis.

• Progression – Emphasis – Reinforcement

Expressing the ideas of progression, emphasis or reinforcement, this symbol is mainly used to emphasize other symbols, so as to produce highly original and deep concepts.

In particular, the first meaning of the symbol was “concentrating on one’s positive skills and attitudes when experiencing negative emotions, in order to avoid committing suicide”. The right arrow conveys the idea of “progressive forward force”. In light of this, the connection between the graphic form of the symbol and its meanings is justified.

• Activity – Willpower – Concentration

It is the symbol designating activity (as opposed to passivity), concentration and willpower, intended as self-discipline and control of the self for personal improvement. On the basis of these basic meanings, the symbol was to acquire the fundamental meaning of “human spirit” as “willpower defeating evil”.

Most importantly, the human spirit is here not considered outside earthly human life and evil is just set in the dimension of the present time.

• Distancing oneself from everyday life moral negativity

By blending the circle and the point into a unique symbol, we do not simply obtain the sum of its related meanings but we produce further concepts. It is clear that the symbol conveys the idea of opposition to ethical everyday life negativity, which may be rephrased by the expression “distancing oneself” from such a negativity.

Moreover, I also defined this idea as “independence”, in order to emphasize the fact that moral negativity is something we must break free from. More precisely, the point symbol expresses the opposition activity whereas the circle refers to the cyclical daily repetitive offences.

Finally, a further element should be taken into account in this explanation, that is to say the “contemplative state”. In fact, “distancing from everyday life negativity” or “independence from daily evil” takes place through meditation. In other words and more straightforwardly, we first think of daily repetitive evil and then we consider it as something we must distance ourselves from.

• Temporal fusion between the past and the present

The very first meaning of the symbol was “temporal fusion between the past and the present, through a sensation that we experience in a particular moment of the present through the five senses”. Such a sensation allows us to recall past events related to it. The major example of the “madeleine scene” in Proust’s “De côté de chez Swann” shows how such a temporal fusion takes place in our mind.

Starting from this basic idea, the symbol acquired later on a specific nuance in the ethical field. In other words, in this ethical context, the fusion between the present and the past was seen as “fusion between the child and the adult”. In particular, this fusion occurs when the adult recalls his own infantile positive qualities, such as modesty, plainness and sincerity.

The point placed at the top right of the circle is set in that position, so as to show that the total “independence” from adult’s tyranny and pride cannot be reached because adults can never reproduce entirely all those positive features which belonged to their childhood. In other words, adults might never come back to their childhood. All said this, in a metaphorical sense, one may assert that adults come back to their childhood every time they reject pride, tyranny and their a priori superiority over children.

• Thought – Philosophy

This image conveys the general idea of “thought”. In more detail, the symbol reveals various meanings related to the concept of thought, the most important of which is philosophy, intended as embracing two areas in particular, that is to say ethics and metaphysics. The symbol of the straight line emphasizes the fact that ethical and metaphysical principles are to be considered unchangeable and solid. On this basis, the link between the graphic form of the symbol and its proper meaning may be easily understood.

• The linguistic, symbolic and allegoric interpretation

The symbol describes what happens in our mind when we translate a text from one language into another. Hence, it concerns the process of interpretation. Not only are translations of texts related to everyday life to be taken into account but also symbols and some forms of writing such as allegories, which can be seen in a certain sense as extended metaphors.

Here I propound a personal perspective of the concept of interpretation. More precisely, from my personal point of view, the process of interpretation consists of “putting into brackets” not only our personal philosophy but also prejudices concerning the word (or symbol, poem, allegory, myth) we are interpreting. It is clear that, in this context, “to put into brackets our philosophy” means “not to take into account our thought in our interpretation process, even though it is kept in our mind”.

Let us analyze the graphic form of the symbol. In this case, the straight line symbolizes our general life philosophy plus personal ideas and prejudices concerning the text we are translating; the point placed at the top right of the straight line signals that our thought must “be put into brackets”, that is to say considered as non existing, which is essential for the interpretation process. After “putting into brackets our thought”, we have to use just our reason, in order to deduce and then understand the basic essence of the text.

• The human world – Ethical balance

The symbol embodies two basic meanings which are both related to its graphic form.

In more detail, this symbol corresponds to a symbolic fusion consisting of two symbols, that is to say the symbol of space and that of time intended as peculiar human features. Now it is clear that what we obtain by unifying the two symbols is the concept of human world as something which is perceived in such a way that is distinctive of human beings. On this basis, we draw the conclusion that, without taking into account the existence of mankind on our Earth, the world would not be as it appears to us in our everyday life. In a certain sense, this discussion may evoke Kant’s conception of phenomenon, even though space and time should not be intended as a priori categories which are innate in our mind, from my personal philosophical view.

Now let us move on to analyzing the second fundamental meaning of the symbol. If we consider the two arrows forming the symbol from the ethical point of view, it is easier to understand the second basic meaning of the symbol. It is important to keep in mind that the downward arrow also refers to “a mechanistic negative force which pushes human beings to commit negative actions” and, on the other hand, the upward arrow symbolizes the spirit as “a power opposing this mechanistic force”. In virtue of this, it is clear that the double arrow symbol signifies “ethical balance state which is reached through the opposing force of spirit which successfully defeats evil”. This second meaning of the symbol represents a key concept within the psychological field of my philosophy.