Thread: Does it really matter?

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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?

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

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

Originally Posted by imran_p

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.

Originally Posted by Xei

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.

Yeah, it matters.
Alot has been written on this. Go read anything about "the absurd"

Y'know.. it's a philosophical discussion. Sometimes you argue just to be thinking about it.

I'm pretty sure it's impossible to give an a priori argument for morality.

As in mathematics then, we must simply choose those axioms which are to us the most useful and self-evident.

A good axiom would be the equality of people's rights. It follows that you have no right to do to others what you would not have them do to you.