On the Nature of Things

The Physical realm and the Spiritual realm are separate and distinct, though each affects the other.  The scholarship of the Physical realm is Science; its nature is Order and its laws are stable and consistent. The scholarship of the Spiritual realm is Mysticism; its nature is Chaos and its laws are dependent and mutable.  Where the two realms overlap is the realm of Charlatanry, where resemblances are reality and opinions are facts.  The scholarship of the Charlatanous realm is called Research; its nature is Contrivance and its laws are contradictory.  The aims of the Scientist and the Mystic are to discover, learn and share.  The aims of the Charlatan are to invent, prove and convince.  The Charlatan poses as Scientist or Mystic, whichever convenience requires, but is neither.  The Mystic who denies the reality of the Physical realm, and the Scientist who denies the reality of the Spiritual realm, are not Charlatans, but fools.