You don’t ask the big questions, to all the wrong people. You aren’t asking anything to anyone. You aren’t pushing the mold. You aren’t adding to humanity or human knowledge. You’re sitting and waiting, for something to happen, for somebody else to do all the hard work for you. You just want to sit back, watch, and be entertained. That’s not how reality works. In reality, the obligation is on you, and nobody else, to philosophize. But you aren’t. You’re doing nothing. Why? Why do persist to claim that you enjoy philosophy, that you are interested in philosophy, to the slightest degree, when you’re as far away from it as everybody else? You’re lying. You’re not interested in philosophy. You don’t love philosophy. You don’t even like philosophy.
You only like the idea of philosophy. You like your false impression of it, your idealistic vision of things. You don’t like philosophy as it actually is. You don’t like doing the work, which involves a lot of questioning and answering. Sometimes people get hurt from questions and answers. But that’s life. How can you live without philosophy, without questions and answers? How can you live without knowledge?
Why do you continue to do nothing? How long must existence exist, before you start doing and thinking? How long will the universe continue, in the meantime, you never even once began to philosophize?
Others are not going to do this for you. You can’t depend on others to do all the work. You need to contribute.
Challenging one’s own beliefs or even having them challenged presents the perception of threat and thus is avoided, often, very often, to the degree that the subconscious doesn’t even allow the conscious to think such thoughts nor read them without attacking the author.
These days people feel discomfort and insecurity and thus, even though wanting resolution, fear any significant change. It is all they can do to hold onto the little confidence they have. Having to leap into new territory without certain reward is not appealing to those who suffer too much chaos as it is already. Although interestingly, they often propose more chaos as their resolution to the problem, but that is only because they aren’t feeling the effects that it would bring… yet.
Most people merely want to know that their authority figures have approved of whatever thought is being proposed. That makes them feel safer. They don’t really care if it is true or wise as long as it doesn’t hurt too much to have to suffer it. Thus they are willing to go along to get along, and that sometimes means fighting anyone who is arguing against the proclaimed norm by whatever means seems to work; “Burn the Heretic or at least ignore him”.
Philosophy is work, and you can reap the same apparent rewards without doing that work. If all you’re after is intellectual satisfaction, actually doing philosophy is a bit like climbing a set of stairs right next to an escalator.
I think it’s a mistake to assume that someone isn’t doing philosophy just because you haven’t seen it.
This post actually hit close to home because I have been accused multiple times of having no interest in philosophy because I don’t jump in on a lot of the “serious” threads around here, but what the people who make those accusations aren’t aware of is how much reading I do here, and where I take my conversations to. I’ve found private messages to be a lot more useful than the boards when I really want to get serious with someone, and there are a few people in my real life who are much more interesting to argue and discuss with than anything I might read here.
I mean, can a person actually go their entire life without doing philosophy? I don’t think that’s even possible, everyone wonders about life and tries to find answers to their questions. It’s like philosophy lite, being a human and having a brain that works pretty much guarantees some kind of philosophical discourse going through your head throughout your day-to-day life. You can poo-poo the thoughts and efforts of intellectually inferior people as not valuable or valid, but that just kind of makes you a pretentious asshole. Your time is better spent pursuing your interests with those on the same level as you and, you know, not making grand assumptions about what’s going through the minds of other people.
To my mind, the people who try to lift up philosophy as some hard-won skill are the people who don’t like the reality of what philosophy is. Surely a person can become better at it, a deep thinker will ponder questions that won’t occur to the average person, but how is philosophy really anything other than questioning our existence and all it entails? Everyone does this. Philosophy belongs to everyone.
When I was younger, I was waiting for solutions and support to come to me.
Why?
I had no faith in myself. I felt powerless and had no idea of the right direction. I knew what I didn’t like, but didn’t comprehend what I did; what had value, or ought have value.
The process of being alive drained me and I had no energy to overcome my shackles. I knew I wanted to break my shackles, but I resigned to the fact that without support I couldn’t, and I didn’t have support.
I was looking for support, and I was lucky enough to find it in the shape of a strong ideology and love.
With that support, I began to break my shackles and the shackles of the people around me. The momentum has perpetuated to this day, and I am the happier and healthier for it.
If someone is drowning, they can’t contribute to others.
I feel a lot of self-excusing going on here. For some of you, excuses are not enough. I need more.
You need to validate your lack of participation and progress. And I also don’t buy the “you’re not thinking as I want” counterargument. This is a philosophy forum, is it not? Yes, that means my position is valid. Your position is invalid. By the very presence and context of this atmosphere, somebody ought to be producing philosophical content. Now it becomes pretty obvious which participants are more or less capable than others. However, even if you’re not a very smart person, then this still doesn’t excuse you. This is still no excuse.
Whether you are intelligent or not, why do you refuse to philosophize? Is that not why you are here, specifically?
The obligation and responsibility shouldn’t only befall the most capable, the highest intelligent, and the most profound wisdom.
So I don’t want to hear any more excuses. Become honest with yourselves, what is holding you back? Maybe lack of intelligence is one of the most convincing reasons. Maybe you’re not “smart enough”, maybe you are. How do you know, unless you try? Most of you don’t even try, don’t even attempt. And that is the pathetic part. That is the inexcusable part. You don’t ask questions. What are you waiting for? Death? Another 1000 years to figure things out? No, now is the time! Now is the opportunity. It is time, now, to answer all those great questions and mysteries. Now is the time, to philosophize. And you’re pissing all this time away.
The obligation shouldn’t just fall on the shoulders of one, and only, alone. This should be more of a team effort. And most of you are just waiting and watching, for something to happen. That’s irresponsible of you. It’s up to you.
Now, what is the nature of a question, and an answer?
To ask a question, implies that you lack knowledge, that you have self-doubt, doesn’t it? Yes.
Secondly, to whom are you posing your question? Are you asking tough questions to smart or stupid people, to a wise person or to a fool? Those are the two parts to every question. The first is the question itself, what is this question? What is its nature? The second is the personage, the community? Who is the asker and answerer? The proper philosopher does both. She asks and answers her own questions first, a dozen times, before bringing them to light, and sharing them to a forum for an example.
Every question a philosopher asks, she should already have 1000 answers ready off-hand. If you can’t do this, then why even come here?
Excuse? Validation?
I don’t owe you an excuse, and I am not obligated to philosophise in front of you. I am not required to validate my philosophical conversations with you. My participation in this forum does not hinge on your opinions. You don’t know who is asking questions or what questions they’re asking unless they choose to make you privvy to that information. That goes for everyone here.
I think you really need to get over yourself, the world doesn’t start and end with you and it’s highly improbable that anyone around here really gives a shit about you or your philosophies. You need to realize that, and accept it.
And since when is lack of knowledge and self-doubt inherently negative? Everyone lacks knowledge, everyone doubts themselves from time to time, and those who are wise use it as motivation. Do you consider the real world when you say stuff like that?
I can only conclude that you are very young and inexperienced. I don’t mean to insult you and I’m not trying to judge you, but the more I read you the more it seems like that must be the case, and it’s hard to ignore when it’s staring me right in the face. Children have this mindset and engage in this kind of behavior – “The world revolves around me and nothing happens without my express say-so. Furthermore, I know everything about everything that does happen, even if I didn’t see it happen.” It’s a common attitude among kids because they don’t know any better. I really hope that’s the only reason you’re acting this way.
What is philosophy about anyway, and how should one ‘properly’ philosophize? Most of today’s philosophy has been turned into a bible study where a philosopher is one who reads other philosophers, who in turn, spent their lives reading other philosophers before them, and the ranking system (if philosophy is ever about that) consists of how many verses one can quote from the holy books. What makes a person a ‘philosopher’? Is philosophy like a chess game with strict rules of thinking that you have to follow? Is that how it’s supposed to be? Is that how it has always been, since the beginning? Who has the authority on philosophy and can say how it should be? A school teacher once told me: Smart people learn from other people’s mistakes, and the fools from their own. Where does wisdom hide?
This is a public forum. You don’t have a choice, except to present your philosophy on display for all to see. No the real question is, why are you not utilizing your time? Why are you not spending your time wisely? Opinions? This isn’t just my opinion. Other people share my opinions too. Other people agree with me, when I say, the bar ought to be raised higher, for you, and others. You ought to abide by higher standards, and be held to them. Why must you appeal to my standards?
That’s an easy question. Because where are your standards??? Do you even have any? If you expect others to follow your conduct, then what kind of precedent is this? Look at the threads you create, there is the answer. What are you providing, for others? What are you creating?
Now review how many questions I just asked you, dozens. I ask questions easily, freely. You should be more like me. You should be easy with the questions and answers. What is holding you back? It’s not me. I’m trying to push you forward. But you refuse to move, lethargically. You and many others. This is a type of mental laziness. You’re not accountable for your thoughts, but should be so. Maybe you’re just reacting aggressively to this push. I’m forcing accountability against you, onto you. You need this. If I don’t do this to you, then nobody will. Because I’ve taken the responsibility on myself, to see that you make at least something out of your time, that you’re not wasting all of it, completely and vainly.
You’re welcome. I do you the biggest favor. You owe me.
I reject that, until you provide your own substance first. What do you even believe in? Nothing?
No, some people know more or less than others.
Philosophy is about lacking knowledge, about realizing and understanding your own ignorance of everything, of this universe. How ignorant are you? How much do you not know??? That’s the point. Philosophy is the first true lesson of humility. First you admit that you don’t know everything, then you attempt to understand why you don’t know something. What is knowledge?
Can you even answer this simple question, Blurry? What is knowledge? If you can’t answer that, then again, you should reconsider why you’re here in this conversation to begin with. If you don’t know, what knowledge is, then you can begin to understand a simple paradox within philosophy.
What does a person know what she doesn’t know? How is ignorance possible? You see how easy and fluid this is for me? This fluidity and lucidity I have, within my writing and typing, is too obvious. I type all of these thoughts in just a couple of minutes. My philosophy flows out of me, like poetry. That’s because I’m creative with my thoughts. People here are half-assing thinking. And it’s tiring, and boring. Quit half-assing everything. Think!
That’s beside the point, start answering my questions first, and then we’ll see who represents what.
How long have you been a member of this forum? A long time, and you still don’t know the basics? See, this is exactly what I’m talking about. How many years do you want to waste of your life, and of other people’s lives? You don’t even have the basic answers? This is what I meant about asking and answering your own questions. You should do that, first, before you expect contributions from others.
But yes, I will instruct you. Philosophy is a mix of a few important factors. First you have to be naturally inquisitive and curious. Somebody who is apathetic, short-sighted, or immersed in the moment, won’t make for a good philosopher. Second philosophy is about thought. It is not the act of solving any curiosity, but the act of thinking about things. Philosophy is thought and curiosity combined, into a mental exercise. Philosophy is an intellectual field. It is about reflection, on life, about how ought life be lived, by you, by me, by everybody.
Have you even been thinking about this stuff, at all??? I can’t believe that you missed this. Surely you’ve known this much, right?
Thirdly, philosophy is about logic and argument. Forth, philosophy is about reason. You understand the rules, the words, the language, the custom, the culture. You understand your roots, and what your society is about. Have you done this, yet, Pandora??? Do I need to do this for you? See this is also what I’m talking about. Why should I do your homework for you? Why should I be stuck with all the thought time? You need to do some of the thinking, too.
After you develop an understanding of logic and argument, understanding what contradictions are and how people often don’t act and speak coherently or cohesively, then you’ll understand why people use common sense, instead of reason, as the average people do. Because reason is difficult. It is difficult to think about things, believe in things, and not contradict yourself in the process. This is also why religion is popular, but philosophy is unpopular. Because it’s unpopular to think. It’s unpopular to be introverted, reclusive, and anti social. It’s unpopular to be a thinker. It’s always been this way. Part of this is because most people are unfit to think. That’s my opinion. Most people are not fit to do thinking, because their brains just aren’t built for it.
But if you people are here, to philosophize, then do it! What are you waiting for? I think, after all, you’re waiting for somebody like me to hold your hand, and walk you every single little step.
If that’s what it’s going to take, then I guess let’s begin. I’ll show you, prove to you, how to ask a question, and to which type of people.
To start out with, you don’t ask questions to fools. Because fools, average people, hate questions. They aren’t fit to think. They don’t like choices. They don’t like thinking too much. But if you’re on a philosophy, you should at least have some skill in thinking. That’s a prerequisite.
You see that, Pandora? It took me 9 minutes to read and write that previous response to you. My mind is fluid, my thoughts are clean and pristine. My brain is a top of the line, machine. My thoughts just flow, unrestrained, unrestricted, creatively. Like poetry. I am a natural at this, aren’t you?
For most other people, I can tell, right away, they’re not cut out for this practice, of philosophy. They just, really really really haven’t thought much about anything, very hard, or for very long, in life. Most people leave others to do the hard work. This applies to philosophy.
Now I’m imploring you, and others, to start doing your own work. It’s time you do some of the hard thinking. Otherwise you should rethink your interest in philosophy. Maybe it’s not for you. You thought it was all cushions, pillows, and being fanned with a feather? No, it doesn’t work like that. You don’t partake in the fruits of the labor, without some sort of sacrifice. Can’t you even sacrifice time, for your curiosity?
Don’t be a hypocrite, like so many people. I will hold you to the highest standard. And I will demand that others do the same. And I will finally demand that you raise your own standards. These heightened standards will begin to exclude people from your life, but that’s the necessary cost of TRUE philosophy. That’s what I call “proper” philosophy, yes.
So basically, Blurry is completely wrong and off the mark here.
Yes, I can see. Is your being flowing too? And always through your mind?
Actually, I stopped thinking of myself as ‘proper philosopher’ long time ago. I do question many things but I rarely have the time to sit down and contemplate. It may be easy for you to remain rational and composed, but could you do it if you were in a high-paced stressful environment all the time where you are pulled in all directions? Are you really that good? The unsinkable? Always standing like a lighthouse in the middle of a shit storm?
I move at my own (yes, molasses-slow) pace, and I never claimed to be anything more than what I am. If you don’t want to call me philosopher, then don’t-why should I care if you think of me as a philosopher? Why should I even care myself if I’m a ‘philosopher’? Tell me why your opinion of me should be so important to me? I know there are people smarter and more ‘fluid’ than I am. I know there are more rational and objective people out there. I can see that. But they live their life and I live mine. I choose to live by my own standards, not others’, and for that I will have to answer to myself not someone else.
I like to look at the foundations, the source, the driving mechanism, so? (and yes, sometimes, unlike you, of course, I get stuck). And have we really found all the answers to all the basic questions, or are we just talking in circles?
This is where you and I will be standing in disagreement. You make it sound like it’s about mental masturbation, thinking for the sake of thinking. The mind wants to make sense of things, the mind wants to know. Thinking is just a means to get there.
What about eastern philosophies, like Zen? They don’t emphasize rational thinking. So? Not philosophy? Does rational thinking have an exclusive ownership of philosophy? What is the psychological origin of philosophy? What is the need? Is there only one way to satisfy it?
Think about the last time you saw a movie that made you realize something about life (the Aha! moment). Did you have to think about it in order for the realization to occur?
Stress only heightens a strong mind, causing it to work harder, faster, and more efficiently. It accentuates a powerful mind, demonstrating where weaknesses will exist, if any do. And then compensation will relieve those newly exposed stresses. Yes, the unsinkable.
A true philosopher will not even fear death, but will instead think fluidly in life and death situations. No amount of stress will damage the mind of a pure philosopher and thinker. Some soldiers and warriors have inherited this pure, pristine mind, in different ages. Some warriors can continue to act, kill, and achieve their missions, in the highest stresses, through impossible odds. In fact, legends are made out of such men, with such minds.
That is why these types of men are “natural leaders”. Because other men, who are inundated with fear, look upto and respect these men. Because where fear grips the hearts of the average man, or even the populace of a nation, it does not do so with all, and definitely not equally. Those men who embrace these negative feelings and emotions, are aspired toward. And people avoid such mysteries as these.
Because they’re cowards. Don’t remain a coward, Pandora, like so many countless other people.
Then choose my standards, because they are superior than yours. My standards are better, higher, than yours. Don’t you deserve a higher standard? Maybe you’ve just sold yourself too short, and or, you lack imagination. You’re not creative, and have failed to see, routinely, what you could have had or achieved, in your short existence alive.
In other words, yes, it’s possible to waste a lifetime, or live a life in vain, as so many choose to do, or even if they are knowledgeable and wise, and can see the possibilities, are too scared and cowardly to take the proper risks and steps to realize their dreams.
Adopt my standards, and get rid of your own. Because mine are better.
Philosophy is wisdom for the sake of reason. That’s what makes thinking artistic and beautiful. That’s why you continue to refuse to philosophize. You’re unaware of the possibilities of thought. You do lack imagination, compared to me, at least.
That’s more religious and not philosophical. Logic is a necessary ingredient to philosophy. Because reasonability is the key to proper philosophy. If you rely completely on emotions, then your philosophies, thoughts, ideologies, are all doomed to an eventual fallacy and contradiction. This demonstrates and proves lack of thought, rationality, and awareness. Your cognition and knowledge is limited.
If you rely on emotions, then you’ll remain blinded, intellectually, forever. And this is your choice. You will choice blindness or to open your eyes, and see the light of truth, and partake in a fuller, richer life. A life lived in truth is the highest existence. But most people hate truth, and hate enlightenment. Because light upon your eyes is a stress, as is excruciating sound ringing in your ear.
Knowledge is a weight, a gravity. And the closer you reach omniscience, all knowing, the more weighted, the more stressful, the more gravitating your mind will become. And people will flock around you, partaking in this gravity and weight and knowledge. This is why you will require, eventually, such high, high standards, to keep yourself separated and retain your individual identity.
Clearly, darling, I do have a choice. I kind of browsed the rest of your response, and yeah…you seem completely consumed by a desire to have people justify themselves to you.
I hope you are as good at dealing with disappointment as you are at acting like a twat.
