Serenity is the feeling that nothing is a waste of time

[SpheresOfBalance]

I have heard that serenity is the feeling that nothing is a waste of time.
I like this as it surely seems I worry about wasting far to much. Maybe my reflection on this shall change my outlook.

When people ask about the meaninglessness of life are they really asking about the unhappiness of their own lives?
Yes this sounds about right. To further define, I'd say it's the conflict they feel in not being able to conduct their lives due to the current construct, that was laid down long before their birth, prohibiting a clear canvas on which to paint their version of freedom in pursuing their dreams.

If so, I think it might help to be outright about it.
Maybe, but the current construct is very limiting, so there's not a lot that one can do, if they're at odds with it.

[alpha]

Life is what one makes it, and in so doing the meaning is clear. It's just a shame that some pollute the waters of life with such selfish thoughtless BS. Of course it's usually only a means to verbally pound on ones chest, so as to appear wise, strong, smart, fearless, etc, etc, etc. Depending on ones particular current state of actual maturity and wisdom, which changes with time, so pay words of futility no mind. Folks, life is what one makes it! It's like an erector set, you can build any meaning your mind is capable of imagining.

not to take hobbes' side, but "the meaning of life is what one makes it" is a ridiculous statement. if life has a meaning, it should be something inherent and independent, not some construct of the mind.

[SpheresOfBalance]

Life is what one makes it, and in so doing the meaning is clear. It's just a shame that some pollute the waters of life with such selfish thoughtless BS. Of course it's usually only a means to verbally pound on ones chest, so as to appear wise, strong, smart, fearless, etc, etc, etc. Depending on ones particular current state of actual maturity and wisdom, which changes with time, so pay words of futility no mind. Folks, life is what one makes it! It's like an erector set, you can build any meaning your mind is capable of imagining.

not to take hobbes' side, but "the meaning of life is what one makes it" is a ridiculous statement.
Says who, who died and made you the king of the universe? Did you actually create it? I think not! So then who are you to try and correct it. Are you not a human life made of star stuff, on a planet circling a star? Isn't meaning and all other concepts just made up stuff by said human animals? So if you can make up all the other conceptual stuff that allows you to understand what meaning is, why not create the meaning as well. Oh, sorry! Obviously you'd rather sit around and complain about how life is meaningless, so you don't have to do shit about it except die. As surely you shall, and much quicker and much sadder during the process it shall be if you don't make of it what you can. No?

Or does your wisdom of sitting around crying about whats not automatically present in the universe somehow make things better?

if life has a meaning, it should be something inherent and independent, not some construct of the mind.

[alpha]

Life is what one makes it, and in so doing the meaning is clear. It's just a shame that some pollute the waters of life with such selfish thoughtless BS. Of course it's usually only a means to verbally pound on ones chest, so as to appear wise, strong, smart, fearless, etc, etc, etc. Depending on ones particular current state of actual maturity and wisdom, which changes with time, so pay words of futility no mind. Folks, life is what one makes it! It's like an erector set, you can build any meaning your mind is capable of imagining.

not to take hobbes' side, but "the meaning of life is what one makes it" is a ridiculous statement. if life has a meaning, it should be something inherent and independent, not some construct of the mind.

Says who, who died and made you the king of the universe? Did you actually create it? I think not! So then who are you to try and correct it. Are you not a human life made of star stuff, on a planet circling a star? Isn't meaning and all other concepts just made up stuff by said human animals? So if you can make up all the other conceptual stuff that allows you to understand what meaning is, why not create the meaning as well. Oh, sorry! Obviously you'd rather sit around and complain about how life is meaningless, so you don't have to do shit about it except die. As surely you shall, and much quicker and much sadder during the process it shall be if you don't make of it what you can. No?

Or does your wisdom of sitting around crying about whats not automatically present in the universe somehow make things better?

if you think that concepts are "just made up stuff" by humans, then i guess logic is also just a "made up thing". if you're a relativist, then you don't believe in many (or any, in extreme cases) absolutes. you'd believe in relative truth, pluralism, and other nonsense.

i thought we were here to discuss different philosophies, not how you or i live our lives.

the bottom line is, i only accept solid facts (evidence), and not claims based on some fantasy world that you made up in your mind.

[SpheresOfBalance]

Life is what one makes it, and in so doing the meaning is clear. It's just a shame that some pollute the waters of life with such selfish thoughtless BS. Of course it's usually only a means to verbally pound on ones chest, so as to appear wise, strong, smart, fearless, etc, etc, etc. Depending on ones particular current state of actual maturity and wisdom, which changes with time, so pay words of futility no mind. Folks, life is what one makes it! It's like an erector set, you can build any meaning your mind is capable of imagining.

not to take hobbes' side, but "the meaning of life is what one makes it" is a ridiculous statement. if life has a meaning, it should be something inherent and independent, not some construct of the mind.

Says who, who died and made you the king of the universe? Did you actually create it? I think not! So then who are you to try and correct it. Are you not a human life made of star stuff, on a planet circling a star? Isn't meaning and all other concepts just made up stuff by said human animals? So if you can make up all the other conceptual stuff that allows you to understand what meaning is, why not create the meaning as well. Oh, sorry! Obviously you'd rather sit around and complain about how life is meaningless, so you don't have to do shit about it except die. As surely you shall, and much quicker and much sadder during the process it shall be if you don't make of it what you can. No?

Or does your wisdom of sitting around crying about whats not automatically present in the universe somehow make things better?

if you think that concepts are "just made up stuff" by humans, then i guess logic is also just a "made up thing". if you're a relativist, then you don't believe in many (or any, in extreme cases) absolutes. you'd believe in relative truth, pluralism, and other nonsense.
Alpha I really don't know what the hell I believe in, because I believe a little bit of a lot of things. Isn't nonsense a matter of perspective.

i thought we were here to discuss different philosophies, not how you or i live our lives.
Yet philosophies aim is all about knowledge, and knowledge is power. Power to what? Well live our lives of course. Isn't that the aim of all? To live their lives. If you don't agree, end yours this second. Of course you won't, and I wouldn't want you to. Anyone that says philosophy is not studied to improve ones life is crazy. People that study philosophy seek the truth of things, which the love of knowledge is supposed to make clearer. Though often it can make things tougher, though I wouldn't have it any other way.

the bottom line is, i only accept solid facts (evidence),
This is due to your fear of not being in control. You need SOLID evidence so as to feel sure. Feeling unsure makes you crazy, when in fact nothing is really sure. It's just an illusion so as to satisfy your fear. The more solid the better you feel, I understand!

and not claims based on some fantasy world that you made up in your mind.
I hate to tell you this, but it's all made up in our minds, we distract ourselves so as to keep our minds busy, something that to our minds helps to avoid the inevitable. The more complex it is, the more distracted we are, and we feel invincible

Do you seriously believe that meaning is universal, that it's not just a man made concept? Really?? If so, then many would say you believe in a god. Do you believe in a god? It's atheists that believe there is no god that tend to believe life has no meaning. As everyone agrees that a god supplies/creates the meaning to life.

Here's is it's dictionary 'meaning:'

meaning [mee-ning]
noun
1. what is intended to be, or actually is, expressed or indicated; signification; import:
the three meanings of a word.

Intended suggests one that intends, one that causes something to come to pass. If an atheist you are, then isn't it up to you to supply the meaning of your life? If instead a theist you are, isn't it your god that supplies meaning?

[alpha]

i'm really having a hard time understanding what the hell you're saying, spheres.

Do you seriously believe that meaning is universal, that it's not just a man made concept?

i'm saying that it should be something (one thing, not many different things) that satisfies everyone. for "life" to have literally billions of "meanings" is absurd.


Really?? If so, then many would say you believe in a god. Do you believe in a god?

i believe in an "unmoved mover" sort of thing. not necessarily a god. being a determinist, things like coincidence, randomness, chaos, etc., have no place in my vocabulary. i believe in absolute order, which can only arise from strict causality. order, however, does not necessarily equate purpose.


It's atheists that believe there is no god that tend to believe life has no meaning. As everyone agrees that a god supplies/creates the meaning to life.

to be honest, i'm not claiming that it's absolutely impossible for life to have a worthwhile purpose. all i'm saying is that i have yet to find anything to support that it does.


Here's is it's dictionary 'meaning:'
meaning [mee-ning]
noun
1. what is intended to be, or actually is, expressed or indicated; signification; import:
the three meanings of a word.

Intended suggests one that intends, one that causes something to come to pass. If an atheist you are, then isn't it up to you to supply the meaning of your life? If instead a theist you are, isn't it your god that supplies meaning?

i'm not an atheist. i'm also not a theist per se. i believe that "god" should supply meaning, but has he? doesn't look like it.

i'm not dismissing the possibility of knowing the -alleged- purpose after we die.

[Jaded Sage]

Significance. That's a good word for meaning.

[Jaded Sage]

I have heard that serenity is the feeling that nothing is a waste of time.
I like this as it surely seems I worry about wasting far to much. Maybe my reflection on this shall change my outlook.

When people ask about the meaninglessness of life are they really asking about the unhappiness of their own lives?
Yes this sounds about right. To further define, I'd say it's the conflict they feel in not being able to conduct their lives due to the current construct, that was laid down long before their birth, prohibiting a clear canvas on which to paint their version of freedom in pursuing their dreams.

If so, I think it might help to be outright about it.
Maybe, but the current construct is very limiting, so there's not a lot that one can do, if they're at odds with it.

So you mean to say they feel like failures?

[alpha]

Significance. That's a good word for meaning.

significance might be aight.

[Jaded Sage]

Is everything insigificant a waste of time?

[alpha]

Is everything insigificant a waste of time?

depends how much time it costs. so called life, literally costs us a lifetime.

[alpha]

I have heard that serenity is the feeling that nothing is a waste of time.
I like this as it surely seems I worry about wasting far to much. Maybe my reflection on this shall change my outlook.

When people ask about the meaninglessness of life are they really asking about the unhappiness of their own lives?
Yes this sounds about right. To further define, I'd say it's the conflict they feel in not being able to conduct their lives due to the current construct, that was laid down long before their birth, prohibiting a clear canvas on which to paint their version of freedom in pursuing their dreams.

If so, I think it might help to be outright about it.
Maybe, but the current construct is very limiting, so there's not a lot that one can do, if they're at odds with it.

So you mean to say they feel like failures?

some certainly do. i believe in determinism, so i feel somewhat less of a failure. existential depression, however (among other things), is another matter.

[Jaded Sage]

If there is an insignificant thing that does not feel like a waste of time, then I don't think insignificant substitutes for meaningless. Unless serenity makes all things, including even the most insignificant, seem as though they are not a waste of time. But that kinda sounds slightly less like serenity.

[alpha]

If there is an insignificant thing that does not feel like a waste of time, then I don't think insignificant substitutes for meaningless. Unless serenity makes all things, including even the most insignificant, seem as though they are not a waste of time. But that kinda sounds slightly less like serenity.

let me ask you something;

do you think we should signify what's in the mind, or what's real?

[Jaded Sage]

By signify I assume you mean consider significant. I think the quote renders the distinction irrelevant.