Question Home

Position:Home>Philosophy> Stuck between idealism and a hard place?


Question: Stuck between idealism and a hard place!?
I'm not brilliant, nor am I a blubbering idiot!. What I think is more or less the guidelines for my actions!. I want to be idealistic because it feels fluffy, but I don't believe it!. This has the capability, and DOES cause serious internal drama!.

I'm not special!. I have no novel, revolutionary ideas to contribute!. Even if I did, how far does "originality" actually go in terms of novelty!? I don't want to have children, and I believe romantic "love" to be a farce, no matter how convenient the concept presents itself!. That being said, my existence as a minuscule portion of the whole of humanity is negligible; even moreso for the fact that I don't plan on fulfilling my primal, "instinctual guidelines" by way of passing on my seed!.

Do you view yourself as honestly as you view others!?

Are your beliefs applicable to yourself!?

Do you really believe you're special!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The way I interpret your philosophy is that there is no possible universal set of ideals for a good life!. I think this philosophy is entirely reasonable although I would qualify or clarify some of what you say!.

First, I do think romantic love (as well as non-romantic love) is possible and many people experience it though I do not believe romantic love is possible to the degree or duration that it is commonly portrayed in fiction!. I'm not sure how you mean it to be a farce because in my view, if something creates happiness that is it's significance!. That said, romantic love tends to be short-lived so it must be replaced by mutual respect for a relationship to continue!. Certainly a happy, healthy, or successful relationship does not require romantic love!. You could say it adds some flavor or spice but that is all!.

On the topic of having or not having children, the earth's population is currently higher than it can sustain over the long term and still growing!. Following our instinct in this respect would lead to our eventual destruction!. You and everyone who does not have children are doing a future favor to the species (I do not plan to have children either)!.

"Do you view yourself as honestly as you view others!?" Most people seem to overemphasize their positive or negative features in relation to others!. For example, by seeing one's self as better/worse in some particular comparison!. The important thing is to recognize these patterns and tendencies in yourself so as to not let them become problems for you or your relationship with others!.

"Are your beliefs applicable to yourself!?" They usually are although we may be hypocritical at times!. I would turn the question around and put it this way: Are your personal values applicable to others!? Clearly they are not!. Some people follow pre-scribed value systems called religion and all of them seem to be different as well as emphasized differently by different people!. For example, for some people, having children is an important goal in their life and obviously for others it is not!. Faced with this infinite multiplicity, there can be no absolute set of right values or desires in life although in a very general way we could say happiness is universally good!.

"Do you really believe you're special!?" Special is a loaded term!. Social recognition is trivial!. Anyone who is into the lives of celebrities will realize they are no more exceptional than anyone else!. That said, everyone is special in the sense of being unique!. No two lives are identical!. No two people have exactly the same desires, values, or ideals!. Most people are not special in the sense of being exceptional but everyone is special in the sense of being unique!.

Going back to your title question!. You do not need ideals to live a good/happy life!. Nor is there any universal guideline for such a life!. Following your instinct is certainly not a wise guideline in most cases!. Following the social norms or values held by others may be equally unsuccessful!. Each person must find their own happiness!. There is no single or set of ideal lives because everyone is unique in their values and desires!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

So be fulfilled by helping others who are in need with what you have, youth, power, and perhaps time!.

A life based on self gratification usually leads nowhere in regard to feeling fulfilled and somewhat happy!.

You obviously do not seem to suffer yet from the economic turmoil around us, this could permit you to contribute some of your time and abilities for the sake of those who need such!. A once or twice a week activity of this kind might give you an insight into the soul's window of many others that you might appreciate!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I pretty much agree with everything u wrote, except I'm not so dismissive anymore, such as deriding originality and novelty!.

Any human endeavor has as much meaning as any other, none are worthy of distinction nor ridicule!.

If someone wants to read comic books their whole life or be Mother Theresa, it's all the same!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm special! To me! Unforunately no one else shares that feeling!. It's an awful shame, because I really am special! To me!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No I don't feel special!. but i feel like at some point everyone wants to feel special!. I wish romantic love existed!. It's what we are raised believing (more or less) But I think you are right!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Is idealism--the approaching concept of the divine--desirable!? Then must man struggle in an environment of relative goodness and beauty, surroundings stimulative of the irrepressible reach for better things!. Page 51-10

Free will gives choice!.
If man will not listen to the Gods as they speak to their creation in the laws of spirit, mind, and matter, the very act of such deliberate and conscious disdain by the creature turns the ears of spirit personalities away from hearing the personal petitions of such lawless and disobedient mortals!. Jesus quoted to his apostles from the Prophet Zechariah: "But they refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear!. Yes, they made their hearts adamant like a stone, lest they should hear my law and the words which I sent by my spirit through the prophets; therefore did the results of their evil thinking come as a great wrath upon their guilty heads!. And so it came to pass that they cried for mercy, but there was no ear open to hear!." And then Jesus quoted the proverb of the wise man who said: "He who turns away his ear from hearing the divine law, even his prayer shall be an abomination!." Page 1638-3Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes to the second and no to the last question but, I think the first question would be hard to answer!. I mean, we don't know about others do we!? We can only be honest within ourselves!. I pretty much feel the same as you do!. I used to be Idealistic and may be at times but, I am more jaded now at this time in my life!. I just don't feel like the person I used to be at all!. Some people may be "special" to themselves but, I think we are all the same as to desiring similar dreams!. I certainly am not special in any way!. We are all seeking in life with different ambitions!. No one is the same!.Www@QuestionHome@Com