Philosophy is mostly a recreational activity — Judaka
The things one can do to produce positive effects in their life are generally, in my view, simply too simple to be useful for a deep philosophical thinker. — Judaka
I think you could argue, prioritise getting your life in order before *insert any recreational activity*. The more someone is committed to a recreational activity, where that be gaming, sports or philosophy, the more I expect that they are going to live a less "balanced" life and sacrifice more for that passion. — Judaka
It wouldn't really make sense that having a complex and nuanced understanding of history, geography, geopolitics or philosophy or anything like that - would help your personal life. They're all fairly terrible subjects to be asking "what good is it to me to know this". if you don't think it is interesting and of value to know by itself, without further producing any positive changes in your life, then your interests kind of suck. — Judaka
Perhaps 'abstract thought' (and the heroic posing that goes with it) functions like a drug. Is it caffeine or meth? Depends on the person & phase of life perhaps. — j0e
It is like anything else, if it is a clue to what you want to find then it is worthy, if it is a distraction, then it is not. — Valentinus
"Where's the beef?" What has all this reading and philosophizing accomplished? What is it doing for you or others? That's not totally fair, of course, but I insist it's worth asking. — Xtrix
The "philosophizing" is not something that has a result or value by itself. — Valentinus
Not sure what "by itself" means. Thinking is an activity, and philosophy is a certain kind of thinking -- at least that's how I think of it. If there's no value and no result in doing so, then why do it? — Xtrix
You brought up the idea that some of this activity of thinking was not important to being an active and effective agent in the life we are alive in. — Valentinus
Or take Aristotle as another example -- you are what you do, not what you think you are. I can't go around claiming I'm a carpenter if I don't have any skills of cutting and shaping wood. (I suppose I could, but I'd be a fraud.) — Xtrix
And that's basically what I'm saying in this post: if philosophy, or math, or religion, or politics, etc., simply becomes an addiction or a "hobby," then maybe it's time to move on to something more productive. — Xtrix
I agree with the spirit of what you are saying. An important difference between carpenters and self-anointed philosophers, though, is that this site can provide the illusion of doing the work (builds the house of being.) — j0e
Philosophy also has its own set of benefits that people who dive into philosophy can cite but I think at its heart, philosophy is practised by people who enjoy it. I wouldn't spend so much time pondering philosophical questions if it wasn't stimulating and enjoyable. I don't consider it "work" and if it was boring, I wouldn't spend time on it just because I wanted those profound benefits. — Judaka
For questions like "what do I want to do with my life", I think that this question is not necessarily that philosophical. In that, someone could say "work with animals, have a family, be kind to my friends and travel" and that's a fine answer, a pretty normal answer. "What is a good life", if the reply was "live healthily, with friends, good food and a career you enjoy", that's fair, right? I just don't think people who don't care for philosophy are going to dive into the books, the forums, the thinking about "what a good life is" and trying to come up with their best answer - as you or I might. — Judaka
Philosophy is directly related to determining the value of our activities, including, philosophy. — Judaka
And I, perhaps in a quasi-Christian "puritanical" way, want to reject that notion. Philosophy isn't something to be taken lightly. It's not simply for fun -- it's actually deadly serious, unlike any other human endeavor, in fact -- including its offspring, science. If it's truly happening, it's not really a "hobby" at all. — Xtrix
And I, perhaps in a quasi-Christian "puritanical" way, want to reject that notion. — Xtrix
But I feel it's closer to the Christian analogy: what kinds of lives are we living, we philosophers? — Xtrix
Based on much of what I read here -- including my own "contributions" -- it's not a pretty sight. — Xtrix
In many of the threads I read on this forum, I disagree with about everyone, I have a bone to pick with most of the comments I read and it's not surprising. — Judaka
Many posters here, including yourself really, I am not a huge fan but I kind of understand, you're surrounded by viewpoints you despise and you're not necessarily wrong for believing what you believe. Well, I expect blood to be spilled, it is what it is, a philosophy forum will never be a pretty sight. — Judaka
shouldn't getting your life in order come before more philosophizing/reading/writing/lecturing? — Xtrix
Figured it's worth pointing out on the Forum sometimes. Let's not get caught up in abstract thought at the expense of everything else. — Xtrix
Not if philosophizing/reading/writing/lecturing is what you are. In that case, your life might be in order. At least as far as we can, considering we are human. — James Riley
For example, I read several papers every morning. Why? To stay informed about what's happening in the world. I consider that important. I often think about it. But so often that's the extent of it -- it has taken up my time, and has no effect on my life otherwise. I don't write about it or discuss it with others in any way, I take no action to change any of it (nor can I, most of the time), and so I often wonder whether this is the best use of my time. — Xtrix
"I consider that important." It is. — Manuel
A good, liberal press, stood back and chewed their nails. They should have stood up on their hind legs. Credibility is a strange thing: hard to earn, easy to lose, and even harder to get back. — James Riley
Would my absence have meant shit to anyone, including me? The answer, of course, is a resounding NO! In fact, the lack of jet trails in the sky would possibly have been the only thing I noticed, and that would have been a good thing. So natural should be such a state, that maybe I would not have even noticed that. — James Riley
Too each his own, I reckon. — James Riley
The way we live our lives--what we do, the actions we take--IS our lives. — Bitter Crank
I do understand your position though, I feel I could fully agree with you if I was being less considerate of how people differ. — Judaka
What is a philosopher supposed to produce or showcase to demonstrate their quality? — Judaka
Many posters here, including yourself really, I am not a huge fan but I kind of understand, you're surrounded by viewpoints you despise and you're not necessarily wrong for believing what you believe. Well, I expect blood to be spilled, it is what it is, a philosophy forum will never be a pretty sight. — Judaka
shouldn't getting your life in order come before more philosophizing/reading/writing/lecturing?
— Xtrix
Not if philosophizing/reading/writing/lecturing is what you are. In that case, your life might be in order. At least as far as we can, considering we are human. — James Riley
I think it's a pretty philosophical thing to feel like philosophy is insufficient. If it's, as Judaka says, recreational - it can be an art, like conceptual sculpture, art criticism, a combat sport... Religious figures, spiritualists aren't feeling like their studies and rituals are worthless. Us? We read, it can change how we see things. Where else are you going to learn what you learn by practicing philosophy? — fdrake
Now let's turn that around: only do those things that have an effect on your life, using whatever metric you think fulfills that goal. I assume this means, focus on family, work, exercise and the like, but put aside the world and "philosophy."
Would you be happier or more satisfied? — Manuel
We are here on some cosmic fluke. — Manuel
I often wonder about that. I used think keeping up with current events (intelligence) was a sign of intelligence, if nothing else. And that's assuming the source(s) of intelligence is/are credible. Now I'm not so sure. With AI and Deep Fake and and my perception of the loss of credibility among once-trusted sources, I feel like I might be wasting my time, considering there is little I can do but vote, or track intelligence down myself. — James Riley
So, the cloistered man in his ancient books may be lacking in intelligence, but flowing over with wisdom. Fine by me. — James Riley
Last elections I didn't vote. — TaySan
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