Should the unexamined life consist of an examination of ultimate concerns, such as those found in existentialism? — Shawn
Ultimate concerns are preoccupied with existential problems raised from living life itself and trying to find meaning in it. The most prominent ultimate concerns consist of life, death, nothingness, and meaninglessness. I would also like to lump into one of the concerns is finding something aesthetic in accompanying one's journey through life. — Shawn
The unexamined life? — tim wood
Examine what, you ask? That which needs to be examined. And how do I know what needs to be examined, you ask? By examining. And so forth. — tim wood
Should the unexamined life consist of an examination of ultimate concerns, such as those found in existentialism?
What are your thoughts? — Shawn
:fire: :100: ... P. W. Zapffe (absurdist)From a philosophical pessimist perspective, there is a deep boredom that can never be satisfied. We rush to experience trials and challenges so as not to get bored. — schopenhauer1
"Life, death, nothingness and meaninglessness", to my mind, are some proximate concerns (re: facticity) whereas the whole of reality (divinity), the nature of nature (transformations), suffering (sentience) ... are the ultimate concerns (re: background (or horizons) of facticity). "The examined life", thereby, consists in reasoning to better, more probative, questions about 'proximate concerns' in the context – framework – of reasoning to better, more probative, questions about 'ultimate concerns', and, IMO, by reflectively living, the Understanding (re: lucidity which regulates judgment and conduct) – in contrast to Knowledge (i.e. 'good explanations' for matters of fact) – flourishes, or gradually is optimized.Ultimate concerns are preoccupied with existential problems raised from living life itself and trying to find meaning in it. The most prominent ultimate concerns consist of life, death, nothingness, and meaninglessness. — Shawn
This notion raises the old contentious existential question of Free Will. If "the examined life" looks both within (reflectively) and without (objectively), as navel-gazing philosophers, should we be content to merely "optimize" our personal worldview (facticity??). Or as enlightened examiners, are we morally compelled to attempt to "optimize" the world around us?"The examined life", thereby, consists in reasoning to better, more probitive, questions about 'proximate concerns' in the context – framework – of reasoning to better, more probitive, questions about 'ultimate concerns', and, IMO, by reflectively living, the Understanding (re: lucidity which regulates judgment and conduct) – in contrast to Knowledge (i.e. 'good explanations' for matters of fact) – flourishes, or gradually is optimized. — 180 Proof
Be here now: One must become the change one seeks.If "the examined life" looks both within (reflectively) and without (objectively), as navel-gazing philosophers, should we be content to merely "optimize" our personal worldview (facticity??) — Gnomon
Yes, as exemplars of "the examined life" and principled participants in solidarity with other activists and movements. Solitaire et solidaire. :death: :flower:Or as enlightened examiners, are we morally compelled to attempt to "optimize" the world around us?
Given the current state of humanity's failure to effectively remediate anthropogenic climate change, we can't even "terra-form" Earth ... I'm less "confident", Gnomon, but if we do make things better on this planet, that'll have come about by having improved ourselves enough to leave Earth to rewild herself and either live permanently in space (though not on moons or other planets) or haplessly succumbed to a global extinction-event.I feel confident that, over time, humanity will make the world a better place --- even if we have to terra-form Mars to do it.
Yes, but Ghandi was more motivated to extend his reach to his whole nation. And it worked! But, was that change of direction due to his Free Will choices, or to the accidents of Fate? Obviously those who stick their necks out are highly motivated to change, not just themselves, but their recalcitrant world.Be here now: One must become the change one seeks. — 180 Proof
I'm not supremely confident. But I'm also not discouraged by the doom & gloom of modern media gossip. Instead, I am encouraged by the incremental progressive steps that are often overlooked by the "nattering nabobs of negativity". (pace Spiro Agnew)Given the current state of humanity's failure to effectively remediate anthropogenic climate change, we can't even "terra-form" Earth ... I'm less "confident", Gnomon, — 180 Proof
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