Truth or Comfort?

[Me Myself]

Wow... I don't even no what to say to that. Google "brain surgery" or something.

Come on, I am sure you know what I mean.

Let's say in this moment you wake up and it turns out you are not even of the human species.

Furthermore, everything you know, is a complete and wild imagination your superior mind (that has no braind ) made in the spur of the moment when dreaming around

 

[Willamena]

Existence precedes essence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Throwing links at me isn't helping your case. "To claim that existence precedes essence is to assert that there is no such predetermined essence to be found in humans, and that an individual's essence is defined by him or her through how he or she creates and lives his or her life." So... how do you create your life?

 

[1137]

Come on, I am sure you know what I mean.

Let's say in this moment you wake up and it turns out you are not even of the human species.

Furthermore, everything you know, is a complete and wild imagination your superior mind (that has no braind ) made in the spur of the moment when dreaming around

I root my beliefs in reality, although I do kind of believe mysticism it's not in such unrealistic terms

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Come on, I am sure you know what I mean.

Let's say in this moment you wake up and it turns out you are not even of the human species.

Furthermore, everything you know, is a complete and wild imagination your superior mind (that has no braind ) made in the spur of the moment when dreaming around

You know sometimes some of the more mystical or Dharmic religions strike me as very very egotistical. I think it is very grandiose to think you are really some sort of godling playing hide and seek in a human body.

 

[1137]

Throwing links at me isn't helping your case.

Sorry, I just thought you might like to have an idea of what you are talking about.

"To claim that existence precedes essence is to assert that there is no such predetermined essence to be found in humans, and that an individual's essence is defined by him or her through how he or she creates and lives his or her life."

Now some people might argue that this means no human nature. I disagree with that, but despite what many here seem to think not all people of one philosophy are exactly the same. There is still human nature, we can just override it. Suicide proves this. In the end we will die, there is no avoiding it. Yet our body struggles to survive no matter what, it is absurdity. All animals, humans included, have a survival instinct. Suicide absolutely proves that we can override our basic human nature.

So... how do you create your life?

Well, for example, I have studied and obsessed over philosophy as a hobby and as an educated major, making me a philosopher. The action of participating in philosophy defines me as a philosopher. I am a good friend, which is defined by my actions of being there when a friend needs me, although I am not perfect which is created by the negative acts I have caused in the past. I am a lover of music, defined by the act of listening to music, and I am a movie lover defined by the act of me watching movies constantly and knowing useless facts about all those movies and actors I love haha. Soon I will be a law student, defined by the act of studying criminology and law.

These are all basic. To go into everything would take far too long.

 

[Willamena]

So I suppose all nihilists are the same as well?

Nihilist are those who deny a part of reality, those whose metaphysics lead them to make claims like, "...which means that the brain doesn't exist."

 

[Me Myself]

I root my beliefs in reality, although I do kind of believe mysticism it's not in such unrealistic terms

I am not saying it is definetely happening. I am saying it is technically imposible to rule out the posibility.

You know sometimes some of the more mystical or Dharmic religions strike me as very very egotistical. I think it is very grandiose to think you are really some sort of godling playing hide and seek in a human body.

It's not about ego, but that's a common trap. In any religion actually.

 

[1137]

I am not saying it is definetely happening. I am saying it is technically imposible to rule out the posibility.

You think it is impossible to rule out the possibility that the brain may not exist?

 

[Me Myself]

You think it is impossible to rule out the possibility that the brain may not exist?

As imposible as it is to rule out the posibililty you may be dreaming right now.

 

[1137]

As imposible as it is to rule out the posibililty you may be dreaming right now.

Whatever helps you sleep at night (pun intended hehe)

 

[painted wolf]

There is more comfort in the truth.

One can learn to be comfortable even an uncomfortable truth.

wa:do

 

[Adamski]

If we all want truth shouldn't we look into the churches that claim to be started by Jesus himself through the apostles
Catholic, orthodox, Coptic ???

 

[Willamena]

Now some people might argue that this means no human nature. I disagree with that, but despite what many here seem to think not all people of one philosophy are exactly the same. There is still human nature, we can just override it. Suicide proves this. In the end we will die, there is no avoiding it. Yet our body struggles to survive no matter what, it is absurdity. All animals, humans included, have a survival instinct. Suicide absolutely proves that we can override our basic human nature.

And some might argue that it means that those thoughts in our head are not predetermined by putting realism, determinism or fate, in place of "god."

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Wasn't to you, obviously.

My apologies.

Ok let's just go over this. Existentialism says there is no set purpose. We are not made, and we do not have a reason. The universe is chaotic and uncaring. We are all isolated, trapped in our own minds so never really make connections and such (i have a thread on this). Existance is pretty much a blank slate. You have two options: either commit suicide or create meaning for this life, like paining the canvas.

It really doesn't limit down to those two options.

"As much as there is no point to living, there's no point for dying."

It has nothing to do with comfort. I know life os meaningless, I know I will die, everyone I love will die, my accomplishments will fade away... I just choose to take this chance of being alive and make something of it. What else is there to do? Plenty of time to be dead.

It has to do with comforting yourself because it concludes creating a meaning of life is necessary, but it is out of pure emotion.

So I suppose all nihilists are the same as well? In that case all the respect I've had for you on this forum is gone, because the nihilists I've known couldn't pay for my respect. Obviously it's all individual but according to your logic...

Yes, it is the same for Nihilism, and it is the same for Epicureanism, and for Objectivism, and Liberalism, and Socialism, etc. They are all philosophies, they all have listeners called under their name.

I don't see why it would force you to take respect, but it's fine with me if you don't want to respect me.

This is part of my point though, respect is part of that comfort over truth.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

You know sometimes some of the more mystical or Dharmic religions strike me as very very egotistical. I think it is very grandiose to think you are really some sort of godling playing hide and seek in a human body.

Thats funny, I have never read any Dharmic religious text that describes humans as godings. Those are seen as two different things. If you are translating Deva as godling.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

If we all want truth shouldn't we look into the churches that claim to be started by Jesus himself through the apostles
Catholic, orthodox, Coptic ???

If that makes you comfortable.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

It seems the forum jumped these unread posts, counting them as read, which is part of the caused confusion.

Creating a meaning in life is not denying that there is no objective meaning. It is simply something to do.

That's because they know the truth.

Emotions are a belief too. Existentialists may accept their meaning is subjective, though they're creating one, thus they're going out for comfort over truth.

Your "lie" can be personal, but whether or not, it's still a lie for comfort.

Hmmmmmm, no meaning, no order, uncaring universe, complete isolation, complete responsibility for every action... Can you please point out the comfort?

That's Nihilism.

Existentialism will agree with that, but they wont accept it, and create a lie, whether it is personal or not, that life is "beautiful". Now, they'll tell you it's subjective beauty, but it doesn't change a thing, lying to yourself is still lying.

 

[1137]

It really doesn't limit down to those two options.

"As much as there is no point to living, there's no point for dying."

This quote is saying what I have. I think it was Camus who said that the only philosophical question that matters is whether or not to commit suicide. I do not fully agree, but it is the basics. There is no point to living, but no reason to die is exactly what I (at least meant) to say. There will come a time for death, but I am alive now so why not make the best of it?

It has to do with comforting yourself because it concludes creating a meaning of life is necessary, but it is out of pure emotion.

It most absolutely does not conclude that. Nothing is necessary except death.

I don't see why it would force you to take respect, but it's fine with me if you don't want to respect me.

I respect you, I was making a point.

 

[1137]

That's Nihilism.

Existentialism will agree with that, but they wont accept it, and create a lie, whether it is personal or not, that life is "beautiful". Now, they'll tell you it's subjective beauty, but it doesn't change a thing, lying to yourself is still lying.

So are you saying I am a Nihilist rather than an existentialist? I am not understanding this difference. So nihilism says that making your own meaning is as useless as believing in an objective meaning?

 

[Willamena]

Emotions are a belief too. Existentialists may accept their meaning is subjective, though they're creating one, thus they're going out for comfort over truth.

Your "lie" can be personal, but whether or not, it's still a lie for comfort.

Existentialism doesn't require us to attain the conclusion of a "lie" of acting in the world. That's just one possible conclusion, one path.