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Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

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Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

#1
I Have no Formal Background in Philosophy. All I've Learned is from Internet and Books such as The Stranger(Camus),Sophie's World(Jostein Gaarder.) etc. It would be really great If you can give Elegant Arguments for either case .(And please don't bring uncertain entities(like God) or concepts).Thanks.

Re: Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

#4
The idea that life is futile or pointless or absurd has a long tradition in western philosophic thought, however it is rests on a fundamental error and is a dead-end. I won't go into the technical details but, no, I do not subscribe to that view. You?

Re: Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

#5
I'm assuming this is a practical question rather than a theoretical one, since you don't want abstract concepts that you can't relate to.

Usually if you enjoy your live you don't stop to ask if it's futile or not. When life is hard or boring... that's when such questions usually arise.

So... I don't what to assume to much, but if life is too boring, you CAN make it better. It's not futile. The general strategy seems to be to 1) get skills, 2) get paid for those skills, 3) have free time, 4) figure out what's interesting to you and spend time and money doing that. Many people have problems figuring out each of these steps, but they're all solvable.

Re: Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

#6
> Do you Consider Life to be Futile

This presumes that life has its own predefined explanation that all organisms must obey. But:

1. Evolution by natural selection contradicts the idea that life has a predefined explanation, and evolution is one of the most powerful and well-supported of scientific theories.

2. As thinking creatures, we get to use our intelligence to decide for ourselves what our lives mean. This is the personal version of natural selection.

So, on that basis, if you have the idea that life is futile, just come up with a new idea. This intellectual latitude is what separates you from a rock.

> And please don't bring uncertain entities(like God) or concepts.

Wouldn't dream of it. God (religion) is one of the classic traps that makes life seem to have a predefined meaning, one not in our control. On that basis alone it should be rejected by all free thinkers.

Re: Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

#7
Of course. You're born naked and you die naked. The only point to life anyone can possibly argue is one they deem worthy. For me, I felt content at 17. From there I decided the only way I would be happy living longer is if it would mean something at least in the end. How did I define "meaning": decided I had to change the world, for better or worse, as long as something in the world changes by my being around, I'll be content. In other words if I could have not existed and the world ends up in the same place without me, I've failed.

In ten years that might mean having kids, right now it means trying to set myself up so I can focus on making a real difference when I figure out how to make the world a little bit less fucked.

Like I said, I dont think anyone can argue this without first assuming their view is somewhat correct in the first place. All of the above is just my views on this topic. Take it or leave it I'm not really fussed, just thought I would share.

Re: Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

#8
post #6

> Do you Consider Life to be Futile This presumes that life has its own predefined explanation that all organisms must obey. But: 1. Evolution by natural selection contradicts the idea that life has a predefined explanation, and evolution is one of the most powerful and well-supported of scientific theories. 2. As thinking creatures, we get to use our intelligence to decide for ourselves what our lives mean. This is…

Good Argument until "This intellectual latitude is what separates you from a rock.

Re: Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

#9
post #6

> Do you Consider Life to be Futile This presumes that life has its own predefined explanation that all organisms must obey. But: 1. Evolution by natural selection contradicts the idea that life has a predefined explanation, and evolution is one of the most powerful and well-supported of scientific theories. 2. As thinking creatures, we get to use our intelligence to decide for ourselves what our lives mean. This is…

Good Argument until "This intellectual latitude is what separates you from a rock.

Oh, well, it sounded good at the time. :)

Were you objecting on the basis that the rock has some version of consciousness? The argument has been made and it's interesting, but I thought it was pretty far afield from the present topic.

Re: Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

#10
post #5

I'm assuming this is a practical question rather than a theoretical one, since you don't want abstract concepts that you can't relate to. Usually if you enjoy your live you don't stop to ask if it's futile or not. When life is hard or boring... that's when such questions usually arise. So... I don't what to assume to much, but if life is too boring, you CAN make it better. It's not futile. The general strategy seems…

Actually I didn't say that I don't want Abstract concepts. I don't want concepts which do not proceed by logic .
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