Philosophy Now Forum

I wander. If others perceive that I am making some kind of progress toward something worth making progress toward in my wandering, then I could be both a wanderer and a leader of others who decide to wander because I wander. If I am wandering and it is what I am supposed to do, then I am both a wanderer and a follower of what I am supposed to do. But I only wish to wander. I am wandering because that is all I can do when I don't know what to do. And in some strange way, it feels like the right thing for me to be doing. And I am at peace as long as I do not stop wandering. Is it "insanity" if I'm at peace? Is it "torture" if I'm at peace? Is it "punishment" if I am at peace?

When the last word is said on "insanity", it will be that insanity is doing what can neither be justified nor vilified. All else is either sane or wicked, respectively.

The same goes for wondering...

Double post

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 1:10 am I wander. If others perceive that I am making some kind of progress toward something worth making progress toward in my wandering, then I could be both a wanderer and a leader of others who decide to wander because I wander. If I am wandering and it is what I am supposed to do, then I am both a wanderer and a follower of what I am supposed to do. But I only wish to wander. I am wandering because that is all I can do when I don't know what to do. And in some strange way, it feels like the right thing for me to be doing. And I am at peace as long as I do not stop wandering. Is it "insanity" if I'm at peace? Is it "torture" if I'm at peace? Is it "punishment" if I am at peace?

When the last word is said on "insanity", it will be that insanity is doing what can neither be justified nor vilified. All else is either sane or wicked, respectively.

The same goes for wondering...

I wonder.

Age wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 6:23 am

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 1:10 am I wander. If others perceive that I am making some kind of progress toward something worth making progress toward in my wandering, then I could be both a wanderer and a leader of others who decide to wander because I wander. If I am wandering and it is what I am supposed to do, then I am both a wanderer and a follower of what I am supposed to do. But I only wish to wander. I am wandering because that is all I can do when I don't know what to do. And in some strange way, it feels like the right thing for me to be doing. And I am at peace as long as I do not stop wandering. Is it "insanity" if I'm at peace? Is it "torture" if I'm at peace? Is it "punishment" if I am at peace?

When the last word is said on "insanity", it will be that insanity is doing what can neither be justified nor vilified. All else is either sane or wicked, respectively.

The same goes for wondering...

I wonder.

I wonder too. But my wondering tends to wander.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 1:10 am I wander. If others perceive that I am making some kind of progress toward something worth making progress toward in my wandering, then I could be both a wanderer and a leader of others who decide to wander because I wander. If I am wandering and it is what I am supposed to do, then I am both a wanderer and a follower of what I am supposed to do. But I only wish to wander. I am wandering because that is all I can do when I don't know what to do. And in some strange way, it feels like the right thing for me to be doing. And I am at peace as long as I do not stop wandering. Is it "insanity" if I'm at peace? Is it "torture" if I'm at peace? Is it "punishment" if I am at peace?

When the last word is said on "insanity", it will be that insanity is doing what can neither be justified nor vilified. All else is either sane or wicked, respectively.

The same goes for wondering...

You certainly do wander around the subject of wandering!

commonsense wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 1:43 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 1:10 am I wander. If others perceive that I am making some kind of progress toward something worth making progress toward in my wandering, then I could be both a wanderer and a leader of others who decide to wander because I wander. If I am wandering and it is what I am supposed to do, then I am both a wanderer and a follower of what I am supposed to do. But I only wish to wander. I am wandering because that is all I can do when I don't know what to do. And in some strange way, it feels like the right thing for me to be doing. And I am at peace as long as I do not stop wandering. Is it "insanity" if I'm at peace? Is it "torture" if I'm at peace? Is it "punishment" if I am at peace?

When the last word is said on "insanity", it will be that insanity is doing what can neither be justified nor vilified. All else is either sane or wicked, respectively.

The same goes for wondering...

You certainly do wander around the subject of wandering!

I do my best. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Insanity tends to have a criterion related to being able to function.
You can believe you eat a godman's body and drink his blood.
You can hold pretty much any theory or hypothesis to be true and not be called insane, except as a mainly metaphorical insult.

But if you stop being able to do some of the following shower/bathe, earn money, relate to people, stop yourself from trying to commit suicide, eat enoug and this has something to do with what you believe or what is going on in your head (mania for example) well then people will treat you as insane or psychotic. You might get a longer term diagnosis also.

Think away, but if it starts messing up the basics of your life, that label may get stuck to you.

As I say, insanity is what can neither be justified nor vilified. Not bathing is "insane" in so far as it can't be justified in most western societies, however it doesn't hurt others and is therefore neither vilifiable.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:09 am As I say, insanity is what can neither be justified nor vilified. Not bathing is "insane" in so far as it can't be justified in most western societies, however it doesn't hurt others and is therefore neither vilifiable.

Justification: hygiene mitigates against infections and promotes social interactions.

commonsense wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:36 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:09 am As I say, insanity is what can neither be justified nor vilified. Not bathing is "insane" in so far as it can't be justified in most western societies, however it doesn't hurt others and is therefore neither vilifiable.

Justification: hygiene mitigates against infections and promotes social interactions.

True. If that is what one sees as the single most important consideration in life, then it's "insane" to be otherwise.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:09 am As I say, insanity is what can neither be justified nor vilified. Not bathing is "insane" in so far as it can't be justified in most western societies, however it doesn't hurt others and is therefore neither vilifiable.

Poor hygiene is nearly universally vilified and it can cost you relationships, health (potentially including others' health), work, participation in transportation, education and a social life. But again it is weird ideas + the types of problems I listed that get you classed as insane. You can have the weirdest beliefs imaginable, from society's perspective, but it you work, keep fairly clean, pay your bills, etc., you may get called insane as an insult, the not really labelled insane.

If you have non-normal beliefs and no social relations, you might get the label. No social connections likely does not harm anyone but yourself, but still, you fall into the category.

And so on with the others.

If you have non-normal beliefs and these are connected to not managing basic human activities, that's where the label comes in. Whether you or your ideas are vilified or not.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 1:00 pm

commonsense wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:36 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:09 am As I say, insanity is what can neither be justified nor vilified. Not bathing is "insane" in so far as it can't be justified in most western societies, however it doesn't hurt others and is therefore neither vilifiable.

Justification: hygiene mitigates against infections and promotes social interactions.

True. If that is what one sees as the single most important consideration in life, then it's "insane" to be otherwise.

Taking a bath is still justified, even if it isn’t the number one priority in a person’s life. It still will reduce the presence of germs and reduce off-putting odors.

commonsense wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 3:04 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 1:00 pm

commonsense wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:36 pm

Justification: hygiene mitigates against infections and promotes social interactions.

True. If that is what one sees as the single most important consideration in life, then it's "insane" to be otherwise.

Taking a bath is still justified, even if it isn’t the number one priority in a person’s life. It still will reduce the presence of germs and reduce off-putting odors.

We are saying similar things. I have said that insanity is that which can neither be justified nor vilified. If taking a bath is justified, then it is not insanity to take a bath. However, is it "insanity" not to take a bath?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 3:09 pm

commonsense wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 3:04 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 1:00 pm

True. If that is what one sees as the single most important consideration in life, then it's "insane" to be otherwise.

Taking a bath is still justified, even if it isn’t the number one priority in a person’s life. It still will reduce the presence of germs and reduce off-putting odors.

We are saying similar things. I have said that insanity is that which can neither be justified nor vilified. If taking a bath is justified, then it is not insanity to take a bath. However, is it "insanity" not to take a bath?

OK

Akathisia and the Ideation of Purpose and Identity.....

You can have this treated with a beta blocker in 7 hour blocks. As to people following and emulating you.... Run Forest, Run! People with a deficiency of purpose will latch onto any cause or object that gives them purpose and community. That's what sustains most cults and isms. Other people's perspective of a philosopher is not the philosopher, we are more of a unmoved mover. The projected philosophical persona of what a philosopher is and should be is a hurdle to be overcome, not indulged in.

As to the peripatetic impulse of a thinker to move, it can be the zen or aristotelian desire to mindfully walk and communicate in a measured way, or the buddhist Rhinoceros Sutra desire to evade and wallow in anxiety.... to wander alone like a rhinocerous as in primitive buddhism. It can be the Jain position to purify the soul and gain cosmic predicate enlightenment, living in ruins and livong like a ninja survivalist, or like the Cynics and Hendonists of ancient greece and rome who would travel the world and learn through direct action and consequence. What others thinks in most of these philosophies matters not one damn bit (maybe in aristotle and judiasm). What matters is the development of your own position. You can lead without them, or have them and not lead. Doesn't make it automatically a defining duality of life. I walk and wander often, but go out of my way to remain hidden and uninfluential and unpretentious in most affairs. I'm never going to be mistaken as a guru. If someone insists it is the case a strategically launched fart and dispel that illusion.