Philosophy Now Forum

Is anyone happy with life? Considering all the destruction going on in the world, not only now but throughout history, one war after another, environmental destruction, species extinction, diseases, economic stagnation, slavery, and finally inevitable death, how can anyone be "happy"? How can any of us have the will with which to form a smile on our faces? How can anyone care who wins the World Series? How can anyone care what is written in the millions upon millions of written works produced by thousands upon thousands of "great" writers? Nothing has significantly changed. We still face the same fundamental problems human societies have faced since their beginning.

How does one attain happiness in the later stages of life? When we're young we rush out into the unknown and slowly discover that there is only death and finitude--for all of us. We discover that the animals we eat feel pain when they are killed. We discover that people have killed themselves, perhaps over things we carelessly said. We discover that science and knowledge really aren't what we thought they were when we first followed the wonder that drew us to them. We discover that along the course of our vocations and careers, we did little more than profit off each other's misery and deficits.

What is there to smile about? What is there to relish?

Our family saved a stray cat and a stray dog years ago. We eventually put them both to sleep to end their final suffering. We gave them good lives and we watched them decline and die. Not one among us will "ride off into the sunset" before the movie credits. We'll simply die, possibly in pain, possibly unexpectedly. Nevertheless, we will die and there is no way to avoid or avert it. The only certainty in life is that it will end for each of us and the thought evokes dread and anxiety.

And how many other living beings must we torture and kill in order to keep ourselves alive?

Considering all the negatives hosted on this planet, what does the universe have to do with it? There could be far less defective intelligences on other planets in other galaxies. Who's to say! Pity! The human race could have evolved into something far less perverse and destructive, but as it stands, the entire group proved itself to be nothing more than a toxin that should be completely wiped from the planet.

No point complaining about it! The human, without being wholly responsible, just turned out to be one ugly dude that should have been exterminated a long time ago. It's a crime for one group to attempt the extermination of another but entirely justified if by some means the entire set were consigned to the ash heap.

"The human, without being wholly responsible, just turned out to be one ugly dude that should have been exterminated a long time ago."

Why not just let it roll, tho? Why should i be concerned if the whole world fell to ruin? And hasn't it already a million times over? Has there even been a generation of humans who have not declared 'the world has gone to shit!' before they, like those before them, disappeared into history.

All this noise is not my concern and I don't seek a reason for any of it. I concern myself with myself only. Let those looking for reasons bother themselves with what the world was, is, and will be. But i, i couldn't care less, becuz i put the world to my use however it presents itself to me and expect nothing from it.

(Was that some awesome stirner posting or what?)

Dubious wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 12:14 am There could be far less defective intelligences on other planets in other galaxies. Who's to say! Pity! The human race could have evolved into something far less perverse and destructive, but as it stands, the entire group proved itself to be nothing more than a toxin that should be completely wiped from the planet.

Could WE have evolved into something "far less perverse and destructive"? Did WE ever stand a chance? How else do WE get nourishment than to kill something? WE can't sustain ourselves by eating dirt. And if it weren't for the corpses of billions of living things that died in the past WE wouldn't even have the fuel to run the machines that sustain our societies. No. It is not humanity that is "perverse". WE can know what is right and what isn't. And then WE are given no choice but to do what is not right. There's something in this world far more "perverse" than humanity, and WE are its victims.

As long as you don't accept what is, you will be miserable.

phyllo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 12:18 pm As long as you don't accept what is, you will be miserable.

I will not "accept" evil. I'm sorry. I will be miserable until the world is a good place to live.

Good and evil are thoughts in your mind. Change your mind and everything changes.

phyllo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 12:57 pm Good and evil are thoughts in your mind. Change your mind and everything changes.

Yes. And if I change my mind it can only be in the form of accepting evil. As I said, I will not accept evil in order to be "happy".

You can change what you label as 'evil'.

For example, some people call earthquakes 'evil', some don't. This is a choice.

phyllo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 1:19 pm You can change what you label as 'evil'.

For example, some people call earthquakes 'evil', some don't. This is a choice.

I am not here concerned with Earthquakes. I'm concerned with the things I put in the OP.

one war after another, environmental destruction, species extinction, diseases, economic stagnation, slavery, and finally inevitable death

Those are things that concern us ALL.

One can say those things are not evil. You're labeling them as evil.

One can also say that only people can be evil, not objects or events.

phyllo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 1:38 pm One can say those things are not evil. You're labeling them as evil.

One can also say that only people can be evil, not objects or events.

I know people can be evil. Right now the evil ones are leading us all to destruction.

If you don't want destruction, then you take some actions that will lead away from destruction.

It doesn't mean you will succeed, but you might succeed partially or entirely.

phyllo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 1:54 pm If you don't want destruction, then you take some actions that will lead away from destruction.

It doesn't mean you will succeed, but you might succeed partially or entirely.

I am "taking action". I am speaking up about it. Please stop diluting my attempts.

It seems, to me, that you have too many items on your plate and you won't have enough time or energy to do anything effective.

Also, some of those items are entirely out of your control or anyone's control. What can one do about disease or death? We already invest in medical research.