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Thursday, 11 August 2016

Arts & Humanities: Philosophy: “Question: Do you think purpose should be search or is it something that just realize?” plus 5 more

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Arts & Humanities: Philosophy: “Question: Do you think purpose should be search or is it something that just realize?” plus 5 more

Question: Do you think purpose should be search or is it something that just realize?

Posted: 11 Aug 2016 04:46 AM PDT

I answer this every day in here: what you are is what you DO. I spent a great deal of time wool gathering about my future (making dreams and plans) but jobs I ACTUALLY DID taught me more about my future than all the dreams and schemes I could manage. Me IN MY HEAD was not going to work for fifty years THR ACTUAL ME IS.

Go out and DO and you will learn more than all the thinking in the world can help you.

Question: How to get what you want in life?

Posted: 11 Aug 2016 01:08 AM PDT

Of course, it's very easy to get what you want if you don't want much. Through the ages, philosophers have advised people not to want too much. The Stoic Marcus Aurelius wrote, "If someone prays that he be able to sleep with a certain woman, let you pray that you may be happy without sleeping with the woman," and he wrote, "Instead of saying, 'I'm sad because this happened to me,' say, 'I'm happy that this happened to me but it did not upset me.'" The Buddhists have said that the mind is afflicted with three poisons - desire, fear, and ignorance about these two things. We are born assuming that the solution to the problem of our unhappiness is a matter of getting what we want and avoiding what we fear, whereas these things, desire and fear (which is a kind of desire), are unhappiness.

Some people assume that to be a good Stoic or a good Buddhist, one should have no ambition or drive, be as lazy as possible, and be indifferent to one's misfortunes, also the misfortunes of others. History does not say this about Marcus Aurelius or the Buddha. Marcus the Emperor personally led his army against the Germans that threatened Rome and defeated them. The Buddha devoted his life to helping people and told his followers to liberate the world. These are philosophies that warn against foolish attachments and cravings, but not philosophizes of laziness and apathy.

So, it's important to distinguish between foolish ambition - greed and egotism - and wise ambition.

"Ambition requires attention to details, a perseverance that recognizes more than one path, and humility."
-Chinese proverb

You can see how different that idea of ambition is from Hollywood's fantasies about heroes. It's much more realistic.

There is nothing more important in reaching goals than the ability to understand and get along with people. The most popular self-book in the English language, How to Win Friends and Influence People, is available as an audiobook on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcNfyBJI...

Turn bad luck into good luck. People say, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." This is a very useful idea. Life gives us lemons every day - some big, some small. With effort and imagination you can make lemonade every day.

Question: Philosophy resources?

Posted: 11 Aug 2016 01:05 AM PDT

Teach Yourself Philosophy - from the library.
or
Philosophy for idiots
or
Philosophy made simple

They are a good start, however, it is only a start.

Philosophy comes alive when two or more come together over a pint and argue a topic in a rational and focused way

Question: Wold you give your life Not for honor, but for yourself?

Posted: 10 Aug 2016 11:32 PM PDT

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