Tag Archives: Philosophy

Living Better & Too Much Advice

There is no shortage of advice these days. On how to be:

A Success….or Happier……or more Productive……or Fulfilled….and on and on.

But it’s time ask yourself:  What do *you* think is “the Answer”—and why that? Ya know, its kinda weird. For all the tons of books and advice out there, almost no one tells you to “trust your own judgement”.  Everyone wants you to follow *them* (while they make more money). People are too dependent and reliant on what others tell them is the answer—to “get ahead”…to “find Bliss”…or whatever.

I was just recently in a Barnes and Noble Bookstore and there are lots of books on “Mindfulness”. It’s all the rage these days. And meditation. In the bookstores, On Youtube.  But—the answer, keeps changing with time. As if they are fads that come and go.

Over the last 40 years, advice has been all over the map. But what do *you* think is best?  Is it all about:

“letting go”…..or “taking responsibility”……or “getting in touch with your inner child”….or cutting out “toxic people”……or “getting more confidence”…..or “finding your passion”……or starting your own business…..or “forgiving yourself”…..or “being assertive”…..or labeling half the people in your life as “narcissists” and then ghosting them?…..or buying excersize equipment?….or being more “grounded” (How? what does that even mean?)….or “balancing your Chakras?”…..or “being more mindful” ?

Next year, when the bookstores have another new batch of advice-books, will you jump on the Bandwagon or whatever the next fad is? Even the “experts” keep changing. So!  After all the books, and TedTalks, and Youtube videos, and therapists—-What do *you* think is best? and Why?
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Is there a Purpose to Living? by Alan Watts.

I do not always agree with Alan Watts. I enjoyed this particular thought-provoking short talk. Thanks, Youtube. Does Life have a purpose? If it doesn’t, why can’t Life still be good?  What do you think?

 

 

 

 

Book: “Philosophy Made Simple”, by Richard H. Popkin and Avrum Stroll

Philosophy. What is The Good Life?

Who was Aristotle? Who was Spinoza?

Who was David Hume? Who was Rene Descartes?

What is Hedonism? Stoicism? Pragmatism? What is Epistemology?

What is the difference between Subjectivist and Objectivist Ethics? How can each of them be criticized?

Explore what many Philosophers have thought, in the book: Philosophy Made Simple by Richard H. Popkin and Avrum Stroll.  It’s a fun read and you can learn alot.

Book: “Bright-Sided” by Barbara Ehrenreich

People tell you to “think positive”.  What could be wrong with that? Actually, quite a bit. More than you think. No, even more than that!

Does this mean we should think negatively? No. It doesn’t. But in her book “Bright-Sided”, author Barbara Ehrenreich shows us just how rampant and wide-spread and too-much-of-a-good-thing “being positive” has become. Read this book! After about pg. 30, it gets reeeeally eye-opening. Maybe even shocking. Most people have nnoooo idea how New Thought began, and how it got applied and over-used in so many different areas. This is an informative read. People need this info.

 

God vs. Agnosticism & comments on Spirituality

There probably IS a God!  Why do I think so? Keep reading.

But first, some comments on “Spirituality”. If I were sarcastic, I would say: Pfffftt! “Spirituality” is just a term that total Wimps use to describe themselves because they have no clue what they believe! All in the name of “open-mindedness”, of course.

And there you have it. Too often spiritual people can’t (or won’t) define anything!  They seek the “light” but fall apart when you ask them to describe just exactly what “light” is.
Or they get dreamy-eyed about “Oneness”. Really? Ever take a logic course? If there is no separation and “everything is united” and “all is one”, then you are also one with your Cat’s catbox and the garbage dump! Why not? Everything means everything and All means All. It’s not a buffet where you can pick this and leave that.

But that’s terrible. So they change the subject, or perhaps they accuse you of simply not being “evolved” enough. What a cop-out. People can believe what they want. But I have more respect for anyone who will define what they believe, and why they believe it. But onward to my main point:

Is there a God?  My answer: Very likely, yes! It makes more sense that there is. I will explain why.  But first, know that I myself am not a practicing member of anything. At least for now. So I hope that is less biased when I share this, in response to Agnosticism—

Atheists and Agnostics often say: There is no God and the Universe always was.
But one question keeps nagging at me, and its one you almost never see any agnostic or atheist ever address online:
HOW?–does our human consciousness, intelligence and self-awareness arise or come out of an IM-personal UN-conscious Universe? This is never addressed.

Is the planet Jupiter alive? Does it think? Is our Sun a conscious being? Most everyone believes “No.” Is the Milky Way galaxy a conscious, living and thinking being? I haven’t heard anyone say so. So how does an unthinking Universe create thinking beings? That’s one for all Agnostics and atheists to ponder.

Since we are self-aware and thinking beings, it would make more sense that we came from something else that also is self-aware and thinks. ie. God. But before the atheist freaks out, realize that even if we granted that, it does not automatically mean Christianity is true. We are simply establishing that there is some type of “intelligent, conscious creator”. Not any particular religion.

At this point, the atheist will say what they always say: Who made God?
The response is: God was always there. And who made the universe?
They will counter: The Universe was always there.
The response to that is: Then you have a problem, because if the Universe was always here, people very commonly don’t think of the Universe as being alive, or a thinking being. But if there was always some sort of Creative-Intelligence..i.e. a God who thinks, then it wouldn’t be such an impossible thing to create other “chips off the old block” who also think, like us.
So either blind, non-living matter was always here and how on earth did it ever create anything consciously aware, when it itself isn’t?–or–there was always some intelligent, creative power. Since we humans have intelligence, it seems more sensible that we came from something, or someone, that also has it.

#Agnosticism #Atheism #Spirituality #Skepticism #20-Somethings #Christianity #Philosophy

Alan Watts on Purposelessness.

Alan Watts. Some of his talks are quite thought-provoking. I don’t always agree with him.  Most of his other  Zen talks bore me. When he talks about the Ego, the Self, and Oneness with everything and how you are “it”, etc. I think he is wrong. But some other talks I find really interesting! That does not mean they are true or the Answer. But for me, they are fun to think more about. Like this one, on Purposelessness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21RwqnB8GrE

#Religion #Philosophy #Meaning #Spirituality