erraticwisdom

Comments

1. I’ve struggled to accept that life is basically pointless. At the day to day level, perhaps life is only a constant struggle for happiness. A cycle of endlessly expanding desires and their fulfilment until death. The best kind of happiness is the feeling of power over yourself.
   
   What is good? All that heightens the feeling of power in man, the will to power, power itself. What is bad? All that is born of weakness. What is happiness? The feeling that power is growing, that resistance is overcome. – Friedrich Nietzsche, The Antichrist, section 2
   
   But then its a human trait to search for purpose and judge importance. Purpose and Importance change with the frame of reference. They are useless, just like Logic.
   
   Quotes from Sartre’s Nausea
   
   Why do not do what we really want? Enter other people and society.
   If I had the means to earn enough money for decent living, I would do exactly what I wanted. No one would be allowed to judge my desires – because in the large scale of things, we’re only organisms. We will live. And die. No purpose. It just is. If so, why live exactly as another wants?
   
   No good or bad. Only choices that eliminate some possibilities and create others.
   
   Morality is herd instinct in the individual. – Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science, section 116
   
   The visionary lies to himself, the liar only to others. – Friedrich Nietzsche
   
   But right now, we are doing what we want. We want the perceived shelter of society. Shelter from what? poverty? We are choosing to give up other desires, but ultimately the stronger coalition of desires wins.

   tarun

   Jan 21, 12:07 AM #
2. “A life examined or unexamined will eventually end.”
   
   I think the purpose of examination is to see if one is worth living a life that leads to only one end, death. But, I always struggled with the idea because, the more you examine your life, the more depressing it is; thus, my point is, an unexamined life is superficial, stupid and short, and an thorougly examined life leads to depression and anger caused by the fact that you can’t make much influence in this world. I’d say, “I have not yet examined half of what I want to,” is probably the best idea.

   Tom

   Jan 21, 03:04 PM #
3. I’m a Christian, so most philosophy fades in the light of my belief in eternal life. However, when I look at philosophy, I try to look at it without the attachment of my belief system.
   
   I think what Socrates meant when he said “the unexamined life is not worth the living” is that man’s consciousness of being alive is essential for ‘existence’ to become ‘life’.
   
   If you go about your days merely eating, drinking and sleeping – that is existence. When you begin to wonder why you are here, what your purpose is, and what you should do with your life, that is when existence becomes life. At least that’s my interpretation of his quote. :)

   Mahangu

   Jan 21, 08:06 PM #
4. tarun:
   
   “Why do not do what we really want? Enter other people and society.
   If I had the means to earn enough money for decent living, I would do exactly what I wanted.”
   
   Yes, that really is the point of what I was trying to say. Then again, if my survival is linked to money, perhaps living a fiscally successful life can be considered successful.
   
   Tom:
   
   Hi. It probably is best to find a middle ground so that one does not completely lose hope. Believing that there is still a great deal to be examined (as you mentioned) is comforting regardless of any preceding results or conclusions.
   
   Mahangu:
   
   “When you begin to wonder why you are here, what your purpose is, and what you should do with your life, that is when existence becomes life.”
   
   You may have just sparked another article :D
   Who does not think about their life and purpose? Is it possible for someone to simply exist their entire life without once questioning their life?

   Thame

   Jan 21, 08:45 PM #
5. Thame:
   I understand your frustration. Despite the stigma surrounding questioning dependance on society, I am unable to accept a lack of choice. It makes me afraid of entrapment.
   
   Tom:
   The effects of examining something cannot always lead to sadness. I think that its not examination itself that causes sadness – its all about the context.
   The universal pointlessness and lack of any purpose to existence is depressing though.

   tarun

   Jan 24, 12:20 AM #
6. Thame,
   Sorry for the late, late reply, but yes, I do believe there are many people out there who just float through life without ever thinking about any of those questions. Look around you mate – many people in today’s world have no opinions or thoughts on anything. It’s all about getting ahead, getting ahead, getting ahead.
   
   At least that’s the way I see it.

   Mahangu

   Jan 31, 05:55 PM #
7. No problem Mahangu. I guess I am just naive then but I was hoping that people would question their existence, even if it were for just a moment.
   
   I think people who do push, and push will eventually get to the point where it is no longer satisfying and they might begin to question their end.

   Thame

   Jan 31, 06:40 PM #

8. If you want to understand what the point is — I suggest you contact www.metaphysical-journey.com.

   Believers and non-believers can enrich their knowledge through an actual soul journey.

   Paul S.

   Feb 8, 02:59 PM #