>>
I admire that you can state in a factual voice that you are an existentialist. At one time I thought I was but over the years information has simply overwhelmed me and I don't think I have the certainty to identify with a core philosophy...<<
Koan: existentialism is not a philosophy per se. It is more a matter of understanding.
I really follow no formal philosophy, I just have my own philosophy which is nothing more than trying to be a good person and protect the children, weak, old and injured.
I was lucky to be born strong, so I feel that it is my duty. The strong protect the weak and injured. And no, it has nothing to do with any religious ideology. Just basic common decency.
It took me a long time to understand existentialism. What I learned is that there are several ways people understand existentialism (as one would expect):
First, there is the person who really does not understand it at all. They can pass a test in college by writing some stuff about it, but don't really understand it.
And the religious will always throw Kierkegaard out there as a religious example of an existentialist, but he was not an existentialist at all. He couldn't have been as he died 4 years before Darwin released his "Origin of the Species".
Secondly, there are the people who understand existentialism in two diminsions. They understand the basic arguments and can use it in sentences, but they "do not see it".
Third are the people who actually can see existentialism as a three diminsional abstract concept. Once one reaches that level they see existentialism like one sees a horse or a tree in the minds eye. Those folks are very rare even among the university educated. Very similiar to the Zen concept.
>>I am an atheist, as you are...but that is not a philosophy. And on the other hand, I am fairly certain there are awesome entities and events in the universe which most of humanity born and unborn will never know or experience.<<
Koan: I am with you there.
>>"I will only live in a pretty world. Where society takes care of little children"
"Please, sir, I want some more">>
Koan: "I have spent my life trying to understand my existence. We had this luck to live at a time when science can teach us so much. You and I have this one life. And we were lucky to live in a country at peace and where we can access a great education.
So I have dedicated my life to two things:
One, is understanding as much as I can. Quantum physics is my passion now.
Two, is to do as much good as I can. I do not try to intellectualize either one.
I look back over my life and feel lucky I was able to understand those two things. I have two daughters whom I was always encouraging to learn. They went to fine universities, and have great compassion.
I feel I will leave the earth a better place than I found it; and I feel my daughters will do the same.
That is enough for me. |
