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Ask HN: Do you Consider Life to be Futile

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

#11

Post by tekkanphan »

lutusp wrote: post #9
tekkanphan wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

>The argument has been made and it's interesting, but I thought it was pretty far afield from the present topic.

Well your argument was right on Topic.Are you referring to any other topic.

>Were you objecting on the basis that the rock has some version of consciousness?

No i took it personally :)

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

#12

Post by tekkanphan »

dmfdmf wrote: post #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?

Can you point out the fundamental error. Reasoning is always welcome

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

#13

Post by maximgsaini »

Is it Futile? Is human existence futile? Depends on what your definition of 'futile' is. When compared to the expanse of the entire universe, we are a mere speck. No matter what we do today, we will make no difference to the progression of the universe. Even if we somehow developed the capability to alter the progression of our solar system (note that we can alter the progression of things here on earth), it would potentially be 'futile'.

We potentially don't have a 'purpose'. But why do you need a 'purpose'? Does the moon have 'purpose' too? Will a Blazar be 'evil' if it destroys us with its gamma radiation someday? The human brain is wired to find purpose behind simple things. This simple 'feature' has helped us come so far. It helps us while dealing with the social/human/biological order of things. Why does the US government have this policy? Why did facebook buy WhatsApp? Why is an elephant so big? These are reasonable questions. But it doesn't apply to the natural order...why are we here? Why does the earth exist? Of course, "how we got here" is a relevant scientific question. But "why" is probably not.

Look at the irony. The human brain is arguably the most important thing in the universe. Despite that fact, it is potentially 'futile'. Probably, there is nothing in the universe which is not 'futile'.

You can't alter the universe. But you can alter the race which has the potential to alter the universe. So help the human race get there.

just my 2 cents.

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

#14

Post by raquo »

tekkanphan wrote: post #10
raquo wrote: 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 .

Well, there is a certain enjoyment that comes from living – doing the things one enjoys. I don't know how one could argue that enjoying life is futile. If one is currently unable to do the things they enjoy, he/she should figure out how to fix it (see the general plan in previous comment). If one does not enjoy anything, he/she should try new things to discover what he/she enjoys. Not wanting to do such a discovery may be a sign of poor environment / life situation, medical conditions (depression), or general laziness. Each of these is generally solvable. A person who is truly determined to improve his/her life usually succeeds at the task, sooner or later. The key is to take the matter in their own hands rather than expect life to get better by itself. If anything I'd say ding so is a prerequisite of adulthood.

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

#15

Post by wturner »

I'm convinced there is an 'order' to this world. It might all be one giant illusion where our attempts to understand the underline fabric is all ego driven dribble ( or whatever) but this still assumes an order. I'm more in awe of that than the question of futility. If their is an "order" does that presume purpose? No. But it presumes something 'more' and the 'more' is what drives people. So maybe a lack of futility resides in this part of us somewhere. Most organisms are designed to populate and survive, as a species we do that pretty well so I suppose we are not-as-futile as some species but at the same time we can't fuck with cockroaches and water bears. lol

I'm really on here just trying to get a job. wktdev [at] gee mail

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

#16

Post by lutusp »

tekkanphan wrote: post #11
lutusp wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

>The argument has been made and it's interesting, but I thought it was pretty far afield from the present topic. Well your argument was right on Topic.Are you referring to any other topic. >Were you objecting on the basis that the rock has some version of consciousness? No i took it personally :)

Whoah, very sorry -- it wasn't meant as any kind of criticism, solely that rocks aren't usually thought of as conscious entities.

It's just that one theory of consciousness is that we shouldn't be trying so hard to locate it in ourselves for the reason that all matter has consciousness. I emphasize that this idea has zero scientific support, it's just a philosophical speculation.

Again, no offense intended -- not at all.

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

#17

Post by tekkanphan »

lutusp wrote: post #16
tekkanphan wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The argument has been made and it's interesting, but I thought it was pretty far afield from the present topic. Well your argument was right on Topic.Are you referring to any other topic. >Were you objecting on the basis that the rock has some version of consciousness? No i took it personally :)

Whoah, very sorry -- it wasn't meant as any kind of criticism, solely that rocks aren't usually thought of as conscious entities. It's just that one theory of consciousness is that we shouldn't be trying so hard to locate it in ourselves for the reason that all matter has consciousness. I emphasize that this idea has zero scientific support, it's just a philosophical speculation. Again, no offense intended -- not at…

I was only joking. No offense is taken.

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

#18

Post by tostitos1979 »

Two thoughts:

1) Read "The Conquest of Happiness" by Bertrand Russell. It really helped me.

2) If you have the gift of building stuff, a good purpose of life is to build bridges. I don't mean to connect people together. Think of a tribe on an island. The island has another island beside it. People might be able to get from their home island to another, but it is a pain. When someone (maybe me, maybe you) builds a bridge to the other land, all of society gains a little bit. If the bridge is solid, maybe it will last for generations. People will go about their business but their lives will be somewhat improved by the bridge. This is one of the reasons I like to write software. My attitude has caused me some problems in my career. I'm a scientist and I should not be writing software most of the time. But whatever, that's what gives my life meaning.

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

#19

Post by ohsnap »

If you liked the stranger give his book the myth of sisyphus a try. You'd probably enjoy that.

There are no elegant arguments. Eventually you'll find a book, an idea, or an experience that speaks to you ... and that will make you comfortable in not knowing.

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

#20

Post by collyw »

lutusp wrote: post #16
tekkanphan wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The argument has been made and it's interesting, but I thought it was pretty far afield from the present topic. Well your argument was right on Topic.Are you referring to any other topic. >Were you objecting on the basis that the rock has some version of consciousness? No i took it personally :)

Whoah, very sorry -- it wasn't meant as any kind of criticism, solely that rocks aren't usually thought of as conscious entities. It's just that one theory of consciousness is that we shouldn't be trying so hard to locate it in ourselves for the reason that all matter has consciousness. I emphasize that this idea has zero scientific support, it's just a philosophical speculation. Again, no offense intended -- not at…

There isn't a lot of scientific evidence for anything related to conciseness.

Science is based on observation, while we experience consciousness. And as the Buddhists, say you can't observe an experience.

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