Existentialism Stinks

[JemCheeta]

Avatar, that quote is absolutely wonderful, exactly how I would put it.
That meaning, the meaning we put into it, has a different flavor and a different effect on us. Before, with a meaning that had been handed down to me, I was basically asked to serve that meaning, and sacrifice my individual ideas for a truth that could not be questioned. I could have my own 'take' on that truth, but in effect, it was saying that the answers were already there and I had nothing to worry about except following the rules.
Now, I create my meaning, and in that, I gain pride in myself that I've never had access to. If I make a change on the world and on those around me, I take credit for it, along with those that have affected me. It makes everything more exciting.
Humm...you know, its occuring to me that in a way it removes the very necessity for a purpose in life, and makes life the purpose, the living of it.
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It isn't that you couldn't see the forest from the trees, it's just that you've never been out in the woods alone.
-Ben Folds Five, Philosophy

[Avatar]

[Fist and Faith]

Jem, your last post was excellent!!

You folks likely don't know that Furls Fire once dubbed me Quote King. Here's a few I've posted before, here or at the Hangar.

This one is Bernard on Northern Exposure:

[Furls Fire]

Ah!! The Quote King riseth once again!!
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And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.

~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~

~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~

...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.

[Fist and Faith]

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We are not required to save the world. We are required to stand up as truly as we can for what we love. -SRD

[Avatar]

Great quotes Fist, I particularly like the first one.

Reminds me of old Nietzsche, who said:

[JemCheeta]

Powerful stuff, definately.
I worry though, a lot of those, and a lot of the discussion about the subject, only deals with the very first feelings of hopelessness and despair that came with the idea. I definately see where that is coming from, I just went through it recently. It is such an odd psychological phenomenon, but it seems more like an awakening than a loss.
Everything is a little odd, I really don't know how to describe it. If anyone has any positive quotes about it, let me know
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It isn't that you couldn't see the forest from the trees, it's just that you've never been out in the woods alone.
-Ben Folds Five, Philosophy

[Avatar]

I've got a positive quote on the subject for you:

[JemCheeta]

For me, philosophy is only important if I can bring it back to the everyday living of life.. so I'm trying to do that with this, and the first feelings I'm getting aren't helplessness or a smallness of being, but instead more like an increase in importance... it sends my whole view on philosophy out the window on one hand, but brings it all back with the other.

My philosophy was, and is I suppose, platonic in nature. Socrates puts the goal of human existence on personal happiness. And I've got nothing better to do than be happy
There was, before, the idea of a giant metaphysical GOOD for humanity, and while my faith and quest for that idea has been diminished, most of the ideas that he presented still apply. Which is very convenient! I'm glad I wasn't a fundamentalist when I went through this or I might have just killed myself
But anyway, there are two feelings that I'm getting
the first one is the most exciting. It's NEWNESS. Like a totally new view of the world, coming out of a stagnant thought process that wasn't taking me anywhere but right here. It feels like a new period of growth when I had (cynically) felt as though I was done with new periods of growth. That also suggests that there will be future periods of growth, and that definately lends itself to making life worth living.
Also, I sort of feel like I can be the star of my own movie... I know how cheesy that sounds, but if I had believed in God, I would have felt like I was a small part of a divine plan, and unimportant in comparison to other things. Without all that stuff, I'm just as important as everyone else. Existentialism goes very well with what I learned in kindergarten it seems
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It isn't that you couldn't see the forest from the trees, it's just that you've never been out in the woods alone.
-Ben Folds Five, Philosophy

[Avatar]

I like the idea of a "Giant Metaphysical Good", but not for humanity, for individuals.

I agree that happiness is a vital goal. Without it, everything else seems mere dross. I once read:
"If you have to move even one inch from where you are now to be happy, chances are you never will be."

And I like that. I have the ability to be happy, almost regardless of what I'm doing, of what my circumstances are. But it's not without its inherent dangers either. It makes it easier to get into a "rut". That's something I constantly have to beware of.

There are always periods of growth ahead. The trick lies in recognising them when they happen. If we don't constantly re-evaluate ourselves and our opinions, we may never realise how we are growing.

--Avatar
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Don't believe everything you think.

[JemCheeta]

Well, we've violently hijacked the 'existentialism stinks' thread pretty completely. Heheheh. There should have been a seperate "Existentialism rawks" thread.... oh well
_________________
It isn't that you couldn't see the forest from the trees, it's just that you've never been out in the woods alone.
-Ben Folds Five, Philosophy

[Avatar]