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Position:Home>Philosophy> A question for philosophers.....?Question: A question for philosophers!.!.!.!.!.!? Despite the eternal optimism of human nature that things will get better some fine day, are we all ultimately going nowhere!? As everybody on earth will one day die, why is the in-built instinct saying work towards a great 'prize'!? Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The optimism is not so well spread out amoungst the population or better yet is not so eternal as it comes and goes with experiences we have, it's not such a great constant!. They just keep it to themselves and don't want to spread the gloom and doom!. We are all ultimately nowhere to begin with so we can and should live in the moment of where we are or be insane with a fantasy of something that does not exist!. Everybody on earth will someday die, can't add to that one, it pretty much is fact and the one constant we can all rely on!. The built-in instinct is what I like the most, that quality about humans which is the survival instinct, to work against all odds, to dream, to wish, to want, to fantasize, to hope for more than this nowhere place!. In my opinion it's just instinct (bilogical) and it has evolved in humans over time to include more then the survival of the body but to encompass the survival of the spirit beyond this life!. It seems to me that more humans have begun to look beyond religion in this respect (very little though) which is interesting, new, scary, but that means that more people are questioning this existence, thinking, and not just accepting everything they are being told!. They are starting to look for their own answers within religion but also beyond religion!. Everybody wants that great prize, the insane persuit!. Maybe it's just as insane to wish to live in the future where the next level of evolution has taken place and we may know more clearly something about this existence!. A lifetime is such a short time to take it all in, and most people accept that, knowing they can't live until that futurist time, instead proceed with hope towards the prize concept ideal!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Not sure I agree with the eternal optimism!. Think that perhaps we are overly optimistic about life and thus disappointed with the reality!. Think this has gotten much worse where we've become a culture and perhaps soon a world that believes "if I am sad, I must need a pill"!? Think that maturity and growth brings with it an understanding that life is inherently painful - you live and you lose and you die!. And that life is inherently joyful!. And appreciation of the dark allows you to appreciate the light!. So I disagree that it's connected with working towards a great prize but perhaps NOT wanting a prize and instead "having what we want, and wanting what we have"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Point first is the biological angle!. Any species which believes its own existance to be completely and utterly useless and which stops trying to shore up its chances of survival usually DOESN'T survive!. If you don't care whether you live or die, there are many, many creatures who will be quite happy to kill you and resolve the matter permanently!. So from an evolutionary perspective, it is useful for living creatures to want to live!. Point second is the future!. Which is to say that it's unknown!. It doesn't exist!. There are any number of people who are positive it's all going one way and plenty who are positive it's all going another!. The only thing they have in common is that they don't really KNOW!. They are just guessing, whether they are optimists or pessimists!. Maybe tomorrow the universe will end and we all will get a big prize!. Maybe scientists will discover a connection to a world filled with cake and ice cream!. Do you think a thousand years ago people would have been able to guess where we are now!? What makes you think you can guess what the world will be like a thousand years from now with any more accuracy!? There is really only one way to know for sure!. Wait and see!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Human nature in itself I guess, the human mind wants to believe there is more to life than work, and death!. It sets itself goals to strive towards, to give ourselves a sense of purpose instead of that reality bringing feeling of being directionless!. We all know what it is like to be unsure of where you are going in life, working towards that "great prize" makes you feel you are worth being here!. But hey, i'm 16, and have much to experience yet!. Www@QuestionHome@Com Survival instinct!. It's so strong!. We don't allow ourselves to give up, we keep on going and going!. Religion was invented to give our lives purpose - maybe there is something more, life after death, we won't know until it happens!. Me personally, it doesn't sit true!. Yes, there are things that can't be explained, UFO and paranormal, so it's possible that there is a 'great prize', sadly there's only one way to find out for certain though!. All we can do is have a life, we should be thankful I guess that we've been given a chance at a life, think of all the babies that were born then died, and all the sperms that actually didn't make it to have a life!. Forgotten!. Gone!. No more!. !.!.!. insightful!!?!Www@QuestionHome@Com The goal is to live with more quality, with shelter, food, justice and respect for all , and ultimately these will translate into happiness, and that is the great prize !. Humanity will eventually reach that goal but first millions and millions of innocents will perish in unnecessary wars and conflicts !.Www@QuestionHome@Com What greater prize than autonomy, liberation and peace of mind!. What better gift bestowed upon mankind than self sufficiency, the ability to slay one’s demons, earn one’s own bread, and yield the fruit of one’s labours!. What higher objective, aim purpose is there in one’s life, than to recognise impediments to ones freedom and overcome them!. What are obstacles but they created of our fear, insecurity and faithlessness!. Www@QuestionHome@Com well, we like to say we have our happiness, death is a natural part of life and whatever way you look at it, everyone is going to die at some point!. but to say were going nowhere!?!.!.!. well if in 4000years weve managed to get out of this solar system, or infact this entire section of the galaxy then i'd like to think the people of the future couldn't have done it if we hadnt existed!.!.!. so yeah i guess in about 4000 no-one will remember my name, who i was etc!. but its fair to say that humans are going somewhere but everyone whos read this question (and those who have similar beliefs) will take solace in the awareness of this topic and know that the step to moving forward is us not them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com you already have the "great prize" are we ultimately going nowhere!? or have we been everywhere already!? life is just a journey, enjoy the ride! whereever it takes you!. always be respectful as life is so so short!. be as loving and caring as you can on any given day!. as for optimism its better than living day to day as a pessimist (thats no fun at all)!Www@QuestionHome@Com The answer is - biology!. We are a fairly recent species on the planet that has succeeded in a very wide variety of environments!. Part of that success is our ability to predict the future - the big brain thing!. Another part is perhaps simpler; We are programmed to procreate!. Add the two and you've got a decent recipe for hope!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Maybe I'm just an optimist, but the way I see it is that what you do now will effect someone!. And yes, we will die eventually, but we are here for quite a while, why not be the best you can be and enjoy life while you have it!. We only get one life, it's up to us if we make it a happy one!. Www@QuestionHome@Com the way i see it is - no matter what you do in life you WILL be forgotten!. Whether it take 100 years or 1000, we are all insignificant and one day no-one on this planet will ever have known of our existence!. Therefore it doesn't matter what we do in life!. Www@QuestionHome@Com we have to keep on moving, if everything and one believes there is no hope the world stops functioning!. its nature, and everything goes in a cycle, death and life!. its our instinct to go on for wat we believe as a great cause!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Life without goals would be boring! We need to have this goal to work towards something! To strive for accomplishment to make our life satisfying! Cheers!Www@QuestionHome@Com we ultimately are going nowhere!. i think our optimism is an offshoot of our instinct to surviveWww@QuestionHome@Com |