Rob,
Don't you just get excited when pondering "relative vs absolute" ideals?
uh....no. it makes my teeth hurt
you're saying your "alcoholic mind" is not "das Ding an sich", is that right? (will that throw you? likely not...but now i'm having FUN!!)
but: why would my "alcoholic mind" not be synonymous with my alcoholism? or is, in your dictionary, alcoholism not equivalent to alcoholic mind? hm...you subscribe to dualism, so: do you see what you term "my alcoholism illness" as a more physical thing and your "alcoholic mind" as separate from that?
BTSO: why would i need string theory to really drive myself crazy when i'm already doing a fine job with just the stuff above?