Any Philosophers in?
Discussion
You probably already know this from some of my previous posts, but im struggling to see what the long term point of things are.
For example;
Whats the point of eating- short term not to be hungry i get that.Long term you die anyway so why not cut out the middle man?
Also whats the point of humans? Arent we just a bit like what covid is to us, ie we keep reproducing for no long term purpose.
Anyone challenge my brain on this?
For example;
Whats the point of eating- short term not to be hungry i get that.Long term you die anyway so why not cut out the middle man?
Also whats the point of humans? Arent we just a bit like what covid is to us, ie we keep reproducing for no long term purpose.
Anyone challenge my brain on this?
You are correct, but you and me and all of us are here now so you might as well enjoy it. I’m in the same boat lately though.
On a recommendation, I’ve just started reading this about meditation and mindfulness:
http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf2/Mindfulness%20in%2...
I’ve always avoided such things before because I’m not spiritual at all, very logical person, but this is quite practical and down to earth stuff about how to enjoy life more by stopping your unconscious brain having control over you. Appreciating things more. Have a skim of the first few pages, it might help you.
On a recommendation, I’ve just started reading this about meditation and mindfulness:
http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf2/Mindfulness%20in%2...
I’ve always avoided such things before because I’m not spiritual at all, very logical person, but this is quite practical and down to earth stuff about how to enjoy life more by stopping your unconscious brain having control over you. Appreciating things more. Have a skim of the first few pages, it might help you.
Have a look at the simulation theory argument
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_hypothesi...
Read Platos Republic then some Hulme, Kant, Spinoza then Nietszche then (try to) read some Wittgenstein.
If at this point you're still not ready for a happy meal and a w
k then you may be afflicted with an enquiring mind.... Congratulations, get a cardigan and a comfy chair.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_hypothesi...
Read Platos Republic then some Hulme, Kant, Spinoza then Nietszche then (try to) read some Wittgenstein.
If at this point you're still not ready for a happy meal and a w
k then you may be afflicted with an enquiring mind.... Congratulations, get a cardigan and a comfy chair. During lockdown I found some colleagues hated being at home so much and were desperate to get back to the office. When you pick at their reasons it f all to do with efficient working or collaborative exercises. Its they have zero friends and work is a way of masking that, if your only reason for getting up is to earn cash an pay the mortgage no you might as well end it all, save yourself the effort and the rest of us the burden of pretending you are anything more than someone we work with.
But everyone else well, eating gives you energy which you need to pursue realitionships, to travel to new places, learn new things, all of these can bring you joy and meaning, the consumption of these experiences is reason to exist and to trade labour for money to pursure these things. To see your children grow and develop, to achieve your own hobby related goals, to travel to new places, sample new cultures and foods to make your life what little there is in grand scheme of things fruitful.
Lockdown showed me a significant percentage of people dont so any of that. For reference, me married 2 kids, traveled alot, can't play a musical instrument or football do like the gym and cycling, love films and food. So I can see a purpose to eating beyond fuel, the work I do funds the other passions. If you have none they sure why bother but if you do have dreama go for them life is much shorter than we think.
But everyone else well, eating gives you energy which you need to pursue realitionships, to travel to new places, learn new things, all of these can bring you joy and meaning, the consumption of these experiences is reason to exist and to trade labour for money to pursure these things. To see your children grow and develop, to achieve your own hobby related goals, to travel to new places, sample new cultures and foods to make your life what little there is in grand scheme of things fruitful.
Lockdown showed me a significant percentage of people dont so any of that. For reference, me married 2 kids, traveled alot, can't play a musical instrument or football do like the gym and cycling, love films and food. So I can see a purpose to eating beyond fuel, the work I do funds the other passions. If you have none they sure why bother but if you do have dreama go for them life is much shorter than we think.
Churchill said that "Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
It is man's ability to keep on trying, even in the face of unsurmountable odds, that in the end makes life beautiful and worth living.
And as said above, mindfulness and meditation are brilliant ways of finding peace if you can manage it.
It is man's ability to keep on trying, even in the face of unsurmountable odds, that in the end makes life beautiful and worth living.
And as said above, mindfulness and meditation are brilliant ways of finding peace if you can manage it.
It's DNA doing its thing.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Unless, of course, machine intelligence has taken consciousness from biological DNA into non-degrading matter somewhere in the 'Universe'.
In which case we are, indeed, the play things of those Gods.
Let's hope morality has relevance in that consciousness support system, but I very much doubt that it would.
Time for a nice cuppa now, I think.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Unless, of course, machine intelligence has taken consciousness from biological DNA into non-degrading matter somewhere in the 'Universe'.
In which case we are, indeed, the play things of those Gods.
Let's hope morality has relevance in that consciousness support system, but I very much doubt that it would.
Time for a nice cuppa now, I think.
Al Murray said:
What's the point in Philosophy, what's the point in life? Someone should look into that...
Eat, drink, have kids/don't have kids, drive your car, live your life, go to work and accept that there is no point to life, it just is.
Carrying on with the futility of life is tough - why do you think that religion was invented? It gives the (false) illusion that there is a reason to carry on in the face of a cold and uncaring world.
If you are suffering from depression then the above might not help you... so do something positive about it. Do some local voluntary work with a charity or similar. If there is no fundamental point to life, would making your own reason for living or developing your own philosophy help?
Perhaps consider people less fortunate than you. Ask yourself this question: if you were a starving child in the slums of a 3rd World city, would you be so concerned about life having a point? Perhaps philosophical questions are a privileged by-product of being lucky enough to live in a country like the UK?
Thomas Hobbes covered this in 1600s: he described life without government or civilisation as "nasty, brutish and short".
Living in the UK we are (mostly) spared this.
gregs656 said:
Sartre -
“Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance.”
“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.
It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.”
Wot he said sounds clever, go with that OP.“Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance.”
“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.
It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.”
A500leroy said:
Ive got a brain thats overthinking instead of overdoing then?
To some extent, yes, I think you are. The search for meaning, like the ‘pursuit of happiness’, might be useful on life’s journey, but there is no endpoint where you find ‘the answer’. For some people the search can do more harm than good.
Instead of fruitlessly looking for a reason to go on living, find a way of just living.
Find things to do that you enjoy doing. Not just distractions like TV or video games. Something that you need to learn, and practice. It can be something that involves meeting people, which is good, but it doesn’t have to be.
I’m sure I’ve suggested it before, but look into cognitive behavioural therapy.
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies...
SpudLink said:
A500leroy said:
Ive got a brain thats overthinking instead of overdoing then?
To some extent, yes, I think you are. The search for meaning, like the ‘pursuit of happiness’, might be useful on life’s journey, but there is no endpoint where you find ‘the answer’. For some people the search can do more harm than good.
Instead of fruitlessly looking for a reason to go on living, find a way of just living.
Find things to do that you enjoy doing. Not just distractions like TV or video games. Something that you need to learn, and practice. It can be something that involves meeting people, which is good, but it doesn’t have to be.
I’m sure I’ve suggested it before, but look into cognitive behavioural therapy.
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies...
A500leroy said:
ooooh theres an app, i might try it
Worth a read - https://www.amazon.co.uk/59-Seconds-Think-little-c...roger.mellie said:
A500leroy said:
ooooh theres an app, i might try it
Worth a read - https://www.amazon.co.uk/59-Seconds-Think-little-c...Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff