Why you shouldn't do what Aaron did • Hacker News Board

Re: Why you shouldn't do what Aaron did

#161

Post by Xcelerate » Sat, Jan 19, 2013, 6:54 AM UTC

venus wrote: post #147

Xcelerate wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Life has no purpose. It's just applied randomness, like everything else. What makes you so sure of yourself? Smarter people than you have both believed and not believed in a greater purpose or in God. It's something that's been debated since man has existed, yet you seem unusually... certain... that you are correct. > This is difficult for the non-religious to swallow, that's why religion exists. If every human's b…

I'm sure smarter men than myself believed the world is flat, or that leeching drained bad humours, lacking as they did proper knowledge or even a proper way of reasoning. But we do not lack for these things today. The reason I sound sure of myself is because all of supernatural religion is impossible. It is all impossible. It is against every single thing we understand about the physical universe and, should evidence…

This won't convince you (and in fact I never try to convince anyone), but if you're curious where someone with a scientific mind who also believes in God is coming from, perhaps this can at least give you a little insight into why we think what we do. I wrote this a few days ago:

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/16icpq/only_6_of_s...

Re: Why you shouldn't do what Aaron did

#162

Post by Riesling » Sat, Jan 19, 2013, 5:00 PM UTC

dear wrote: post #13

Why people need to feel so depressed to commit suicide? I don't understand. Programmers are supposed to be rational, non-emotional. Take it easy. It's just another day in the universe. It doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Actually I have read studies that indicate that depressed people have a better grasp of reality and that the state that we consider normal is the state of a slight delusion.

Re: Why you shouldn't do what Aaron did

#163

Post by verysoftoiltppr » Sun, Jan 20, 2013, 4:19 PM UTC

zoba wrote: post #150

verysoftoiltppr wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What specific actions have you taken in order to discover the purpose of life since you decided you set yourself up to do it?

I think this is a good question. My first conclusion I drew as an undergrad was that since I cannot currently grasp the purpose, I need to put myself in a position where that would be more likely. My grades went from just barely passing to near 4.0. I knew I needed to do well in school so that I could learn more, so that I can be more valuable to others, so that I may obtain more wealth and influence, so that I can h…

Do you know philosophers can prove you that can't be a purpose or that just the simple act of asking for one doesn't make sense?

Re: Why you shouldn't do what Aaron did

#164

Post by xijuan » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 8:56 PM UTC

zoba wrote: post #36

I previously struggled with intense depression that lasted about 4 years. At the end of the four years, I had a realization that was so powerful that I haven't entered a period of depression lasting more than a week in the subsequent 4 years. My hopes are that this story, and the lesson learned by the end of it, may help others. In addition, its important to state that this is my story as it happened. I am one man, w…

I am also glad that everything works out for you. I have recently read a story posted on my university (UBC)'s compliment facebook page. I think it is very similar to your own story. I want to share it with you and all the people on HN. I hope this story could inspire all of you the way it has inspired me.

I tried to post the story here but it says my post is too long. I will just post the link to the story below. http://www.facebook.com/UbcCompliments/posts/222319324569761

Re: Why you shouldn't do what Aaron did

#165

Post by robodale » Fri, Jan 25, 2013, 1:57 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #160

robodale wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My great fear is our brains (both individually and collectively) are simply unable to comprehend the universe in its true fashion....just like my cat cannot comprehend how a door opens by pushing on it.

There's a qualitative difference between our brain and cat's brain. We can do abstract reasoning, and with it we can "close over" ourselves and talk about how to improve. If we reach the point when we realize our brains are "unable to comprehend the universe" (and won't blow ourselves up before), we'll redesign our brains.

I hope this happens (the brain redesigning part, not the blow up ourselves part).