Does it really matter?

[Indecent Exposure]

Do any of these things that we discuss in Extended Discussion matter? Do injustices matter? At the end of the day we are but a dot on the time line of the universe. There is no good, there is no bad, there is only survival right? So really the system that causes international poverty is not really a problem, because it is simply those at the top winning the game of survival, is it not? How is global warming wrong, or unnatural? Since we are part of nature, anything that we cause is natural right? The earth is a tiny little dot in an insignificant dot of a galaxy, and humans are but a commercial. Surely there is no right, no wrong, no evil, no unnatural acts. The only thing that is true is that we are.

[dajo]

points to signature

[Indecent Exposure]

Lol. I suppose at the moment, I left the thread a bit short, since it has no purpose, which I suppose is rather apt. But what I'm trying to get at is, how, knowing all of that, do we continue to get so incensed, so annoyed and so passionate about injustice? When as thinking, aware people we also understand that nothing matters?

[dajo]

As I see it, realizing this is accompanied by a certain equanimity. A different aspect is that the present moment is all that we have. Just that things won't matter in the end, does not mean that nothing matters at all and to see the subjective beauty of existence means to be passionate about the things that are important to us, because this is what our subjectivity is for. I believe we should be human and live with passion, because that is what we are designed to do and even though the knowledge that it doesn't make a difference is valid, it should make us more stable or content at the inner core, it should help us not to be scared during the ride called 'life', but it should not lead us to miss the show.

[Indecent Exposure]

As I see it, realizing this is accompanied by a certain equanimity. A different aspect is that the present moment is all that we have. Just that things won't matter in the end, does not mean that nothing matters at all and to see the subjective beauty of existence means to be passionate about the things that are important to us, because this is what our subjectivity is for. I believe we should be human and live with passion, because that is what we are designed to do and even though the knowledge that it doesn't make a difference is valid, it should make us more stable or content at the inner core, it should help us not to be scared during the ride called 'life', but it should not lead us to miss the show. This is not to say I disagree with you, but its interesting to exercise the mind. I understand the argument, but maybe it could be interpreted differently. It is possible that the part of your point that I have highlighted could be used to further reinforce the initial post; that injustice, poverty, slavery, war, these things don't matter. This is because, like you say, all we have is the present, the now. So we can use this to further suggest that we should use our time worrying about what is going on around us now, immerse ourselves in it, rather than worrying about these larger, yet seemingly incredibly less important issues. I'm find it hard to articulate my idea; almost that the notion that we should fully immerse ourselves in life and live in the direct experience can be an argument to support the position that we should not concern ourselves with these other problems, and should instead watch the sunset and contemplate its beauty? I hope you understand what I'm trying to get across, albeit very poorly.

[Xei]

I find it inherently obvious that treating others well is a good thing.

[dajo]

This is not to say I disagree with you, but its interesting to exercise the mind. I understand the argument, but maybe it could be interpreted differently. It is possible that the part of your point that I have highlighted could be used to further reinforce the initial post; that injustice, poverty, slavery, war, these things don't matter. This is because, like you say, all we have is the present, the now. So we can use this to further suggest that we should use our time worrying about what is going on around us now, immerse ourselves in it, rather than worrying about these larger, yet seemingly incredibly less important issues. I'm find it hard to articulate my idea; almost that the notion that we should fully immerse ourselves in life and live in the direct experience can be an argument to support the position that we should not concern ourselves with these other problems, and should instead watch the sunset and contemplate its beauty? I hope you understand what I'm trying to get across, albeit very poorly. Of course it could be interpreted differently. Everything can. And I am also just spewing thoughts. I may change my mind in the future. Empathy is another human trait with infinite value. The ability to put oneself in another's shoes. To me, what approval of life means is approval of all life. I just come to the conclusion that other people's well being is just as important as mine. Ever heard that giving is more rewarding than receiving? In a way you could argue that the very act of helping another being is part of the beauty of everything as well. But even just living life positively and therefore influencing the people and your environment around you is already contributing, so even if you don't concern yourself with any of the ills of the world, it adds to the whole. Although I do think that it is absoluetly not worth it to be miserable, because of being too compassionate about all the larger issues. This I think is very important, adding ones own negativity to the whole is just not helping. I find it inherently obvious that treating others well is a good thing. Y'know.. it's a philosophical discussion. Sometimes you argue just to be thinking about it.

[The Invisible Man]

Nihilism, I like. Go read The Stranger, you might like it.

[Unelias]

I am very fond of Camus, among with many other terrific writers. So many great books, so little time.

[SkA_DaRk_Che]

Do any of these things that we discuss in Extended Discussion matter? Do injustices matter? At the end of the day we are but a dot on the time line of the universe. There is no good, there is no bad, there is only survival right? So really the system that causes international poverty is not really a problem, because it is simply those at the top winning the game of survival, is it not? Well, I am in agreement with this. I used to be very idealistic in my notions, especially about justice and injustice, and the state of human suffering. In particular for example, I focused on European and Western Colonialism. During this time, I was very critical of the West and everything that it did. However, Upon a closer examination of world history I found that what I saw in the last 500 years of human history had been around since the dawn of man. History was just one big example of Humans conquering other humans, tribes,nations and eventually empires annexing, absorbing and colonizing other lands. Even in pre-history Cro-Magnum man contributed to the demise of Neanderthals. This is when I realized that the things I saw as negative were just natural manifestations of human behavior, not behaviors that were subjective to one particular group of people or philosophy. Moreover, this behavior of conquering and domination of one organism to another contributed to the evolution of humans and life in general. You will recall the term "survival of the fittest". After awhile, I began to realize that good and bad were arbitrary terms that really didn't mean anything. I mean it is all subjective. Now, I don't believe there is any real reason to change the world at all, after all any progress that is made will eventually be undone, every empire,nation, peace treaty, armistice will give way eventually. The only thing I can be sure of is that I am going to die, and that I should just live my life contently. There is no reason to change the world or care about suffering because war, suffering and conquest are all constants. I'm speaking about a global not local scale here. Furthermore, they are a (necessary) part of nature. I don't see any reason anymore to fret over things that cannot be changed. There is a saying, the exact words escape me but it is something like "Do not worry about death, worry about things that you can change". This also applies to everything else I suppose.

[AirRick101]

It matters if you are interested in it.

[hgld1234]

What one person does will not be much on a cosmic scale, but if everyone runs around saying 'it dosen't matter', they will probably do stuff that makes other people's lives a misery. Remember other people have their needs and wants too, not just in the now but in the future too. 'Good' and 'bad' come from this. We can learn from our mistakes in the past too.

[Tara]

You can find articles about how doing good things (like helping other people, species, etc.) are rewarded in the brain, in the same area it rewards us for eating food and having sex. So, generally, morally good deeds feel nice. Mix it with the 9999 other aspects of the human brain and you get people passionate about destroying injustice and all that jazz. I agree that we're just a spec of a spec in the Universe and that everything is pretty much pointless, but hey, I'm not going to be an ass because of it.

[ArcanumNoctis]

If it didn't matter, then why ask the question? Exactly...

[RedfishBluefish]

^^ Just what I was going to say, but with more words. If the question "does anything matter" matters, then something matters, at least to somebody.

[substanceD]

je pense je suis je pense je suis je pense je suis