Justin Carmien: Metaphysics of the Aletheyein
Philosophy
ISBN 978-13-990253-3-0,
280Pages, 13 x 20 cm, Paperback. €19,90
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The subject matter of modern philosophy has gone by various names: the cogito sum, transcendental subject, da sein, or the dividual. However, these descriptions do not merely refer to subject matter for philosophers, but are a description of a “subiectum” which is prior to the world and which accounts for its being. Throughout modern philosophical research, these subiectum have been expressed by “I” or, as in the case of da sein, “mine”. As such, these metaphysics can collectively be called subjectivist. The reason for this is that, in each case, the subject matter is human being—whether that being is described in terms of mental faculties or whether it can be exemplified by the social commerce of the human animal. In subjectivist metaphysics, reality is conditioned in objectivity and, in turn, objectivity in human subjectivity. However, this form of description no longer speaks towards our phenomenal experience. It only seems to obstruct solutions to our personal, social, or political concerns.
Today, what separates us from our modern predecessors is not the peculiarity of the “I” or the “mine”, but the “we”. The nation-form which Aristotle, G.W.F. Hegel, and Martin Heidegger lived, for example, can no longer be identified. “We, the People...” is a phrase which makes no sense. Not only does the “we” no longer refer to those human animals who are present with us, and who represent “our people”, but the “we is not exhausted by the phenomenon of human morphology. This follows the various advances in machine learning and the “we” should include even non-human animals, as well. Insofar as the “we” is constituted by whatever is shared in an economy of thriving and flourishing together, a problem must be made of this pronoun.
This study takes for granted that a sense of the common, shared, and objective is only possible when the individuals feel secure to disclose the truth. Only through their disclosure can we experience an interpersonal commerce characterized by a sense of thriving and flourishing together. Only then can we confront the actual and authentic “we”. However, if we are to recognize anything like an actual and authentic “we”, when and where it manifests, and speak intelligently about “our economy”, then possession of an idea of the “we” is necessary. Therefore, while this study takes as its goal the identification of an idea of the “we”, it does so merely as a catalyst. The realist metaphysics which describes the “we” not only satisfies our want for description, but prescription as well.
Metaphysics of the Aletheyein: The Foundation of the Metamodern Paradigm follows the metaphysical tradition which began with Immanuel Kant. It traces the history of metaphysics up to the present moment, where it remains stagnant. During the period of postmodernist thought, metaphysics had been abandoned. Today, we demand a richer description of subjectivity. In this moment of history, a novel subiectum announces itself—the αληθευειν.
Justin Carmien grew up in Northern Indiana, where his family has local roots. His great-grandfather, John Raber, ran for Congress in Indiana’s Second District in 1964, losing to then–House Minority Leader Charles Halleck. After the campaign, Raber founded Raber Golf, an 18-hole course outside Bristol, Indiana, which remains family-run to this day.
As an adult, Justin began his career as an entrepreneur, founding a publishing company in the United States before relocating to Denmark to pursue work in product design and marketing. While in Denmark, he partnered with Spinderihallerne—a municipal cultural and innovation hub in the town of Vejle—where he hosted salons on philosophy in collaboration with international community developers.
In 2017, Justin launched a YouTube channel exploring Scandinavian political philosophy, with a focus on the emerging metamodern movement. His videos gained recognition for their thought-provoking insights and original reflections on contemporary thinkers such as the Russian political strategist, Aleksandr Dugin.
Justin’s current studies continue to develop ideas from within the metamodern paradigm through what he calls “first economics philosophy.” Drawing from Martin Heidegger’s interpretations of Aristotle, this approach examines metaphysics as a foundation for value creation—one that encompasses both the artist phenomenon as well as the politician. He positions this philosophy as a “thinking space”, offering metaphysics as a response to the challenges of public life—particularly in the pursuit of truth and authenticity through policy and governance.
Justin currently serves as president of his neighborhood association in Edgewater, Chicago, and works as a designer for the Government Finance Officers Association, a local government think tank based in Chicago.