Living the Unexamined Life

[The Sum of Awe]

Have you ever felt like you're living the unexamined life? How did you cope?

I haven't really felt like this in a while, but it's sort of coming back. This time I'm not sure if I'm just an attention horse or if I'm right. It's nothing depressing though like it has been in the past, just sort of frustrating

 

[Gjallarhorn]

I remember one of my old sigs:

"When you always know what is right, where is freedom? No one chooses the wrong. Uncertainty sets you free."

And another excerpt from the source:

"You're not making any sense! How old are you? Seventeen? Eighteen? You don't even really know who you are!"

"I don't have to know. All I have to do is decide. Choose, and act."

 

[brokensymmetry]

Have you ever felt like you're living the unexamined life? How did you cope?

I haven't really felt like this in a while, but it's sort of coming back. This time I'm not sure if I'm just an attention horse or if I'm right. It's nothing depressing though like it has been in the past, just sort of frustrating

I think so insofar as I have felt at times a bit directionless or on autopilot and things are just going by in a haze of activities. Since I prefer being excited by what I'm doing and interested in life I take time to read some stuff I know will get me interested, mix it up by seeking out new scenery in nature, try to catch some beautiful music possibly in a concert, interesting and challenging discussions etc. Sometimes even watching movies that make me reflect help shake it.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I remember one of my old sigs:



And another excerpt from the source:

Neat, but still a little strange to be hearing from a determinist, especially the last one.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Neat, but still a little strange to be hearing from a determinist, especially the last one.

It's kind of a weird stance, but it makes perfect sense if you realize the human mind can never find its future by examining its past. Sure, you can find trends in your logic and actions, but in doing so you could always end up doing the opposite of everything you've ever thought to do.

So, you can either live according to a model of what you've done in the past (aka, becoming repetitive and redundant) or just...do things.

 

[Willamena]

It's kind of a weird stance, but it makes perfect sense if you realize the human mind can never find its future by examining its past. Sure, you can find trends in your logic and actions, but in doing so you could always end up doing the opposite of everything you've ever thought to do.

So, you can either live according to a model of what you've done in the past (aka, becoming repetitive and redundant) or just...do things.

That's as near a perfect statement of free will as I could imagine.

 

[Desert Snake]

:yoda: Hmmmmm!111! question you have!


But seriously, yes perhaps. Or may be not. Not sure, really




cheers

 

[Sunstone]

Have you ever felt like you're living the unexamined life? How did you cope?

What does it mean to "examine one's life"? Sum, I don't think Socrates, the Buddha, and others who have urged people examine their lives had mainly in mind the sort of examination most of us think of doing.

That is, I suspect most of us, when deciding to examine our lives, focus on such things as how well we have obtain our goals, what our vices and virtues are, what kind of person we've been in the past, what kind of person we want to be in the future, and so forth. And while I'm almost sure folks like Socrates would say that's a start, they'd only call it a start. And maybe not even a good start.

There are much more fruitful ways of examining your life than to dwell on those things, than to dwell on the gap between what you are or have been, and what you want to be.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Did you say "attention horse?"

 

[illykitty]

Did you say "attention horse?"

Oh good I'm not the only one who noticed...

Also, I can't help but I sympathise. I often feel the same.

 

[Amechania]

Did you say "attention horse?"

Its a common expression like "media horse" or "filthy horse."

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Its a common expression like "media horse" or "filthy horse."

Ah, like Mr. Ed.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

That's as near a perfect statement of free will as I could imagine.

You know just what to say to make me feel all greasy and gassy inside. :flirt:

The difference being I ascribe no responsibility for one's actions to themselves even if they must be the ones to decide it.

 

[Amechania]

Ah, like Mr. Ed.

Of course, of course.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Of course, of course.

Well played.

 

[Falvlun]

What is an unexamined life?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

What is an unexamined life?

It generally means a life lived without introspection, reflection, and a drive to understand and improve ourselves. I assume the phrase is taken from the quote attributed to Socrates: "The unexamined life is not worth living."

 

[Penumbra]

Have you ever felt like you're living the unexamined life? How did you cope?

I haven't really felt like this in a while, but it's sort of coming back. This time I'm not sure if I'm just an attention horse or if I'm right. It's nothing depressing though like it has been in the past, just sort of frustrating

Quite the opposite. I often feel that I am living the over-examined life, compared to actually living.

So I go mountain biking more often, or to a Thai restaurant with friends, or something, to get out of my own head.