- "Dostoevsky is a gloomy man, just like Camus and Kafka. he's good, but i don't find their philosophies very practical."
- "But does philosophy have to be practical? Isn't it enough if it resonates with us?"
absolutely! I believe that's exactly what the purpose of philosophy is. it doesn't have to be practical. the thing is, philosophy is practical if it's leading you closer to truth, of course depending on your definition of what truth is, yet even that is illusive, as humans are innately fallible.
i believe, philosophy doesn't necessarily have to resonate with our pre-established beliefs and ideals, as our purpose is to come as close to truth as possible, despite the fact that it can be at odds with what we believe as true.
if life's meaning is in seeking the highest truth, I believe that the highest truth lies in achieving complete harmony with nature, and we attain this harmony through our reasoning faculties.
to act in accordance with nature presupposes that a human must act rationally at all times. acting rationally implies doing what is good to you and humanity. self-harm, extraneous drama, lying, complaining, laziness, sadness, frustration, anxiety, etc. are irrational and therefore further you from achieving the highest truth.
it's true that human beings in themselves are emotional and many claim that emotions are inseparable part of what makes us human. stoics argue that emotions are indeed integral to human nature, but it's the governing force in human nature to reason of what is right and wrong, so it's in one's hands to filter those emotions to places they are most fitting. though from stoic point of view one cannot have anything that is worth being emotional about. therefore, the truth we are aspiring to attain snatches emotions from us, or rather as we seek the highest truth, we realize that emotions are not rational and therefore obstruct our path to reality.
#thoughts #stoicism #philosophy
- "But does philosophy have to be practical? Isn't it enough if it resonates with us?"
absolutely! I believe that's exactly what the purpose of philosophy is. it doesn't have to be practical. the thing is, philosophy is practical if it's leading you closer to truth, of course depending on your definition of what truth is, yet even that is illusive, as humans are innately fallible.
i believe, philosophy doesn't necessarily have to resonate with our pre-established beliefs and ideals, as our purpose is to come as close to truth as possible, despite the fact that it can be at odds with what we believe as true.
if life's meaning is in seeking the highest truth, I believe that the highest truth lies in achieving complete harmony with nature, and we attain this harmony through our reasoning faculties.
to act in accordance with nature presupposes that a human must act rationally at all times. acting rationally implies doing what is good to you and humanity. self-harm, extraneous drama, lying, complaining, laziness, sadness, frustration, anxiety, etc. are irrational and therefore further you from achieving the highest truth.
it's true that human beings in themselves are emotional and many claim that emotions are inseparable part of what makes us human. stoics argue that emotions are indeed integral to human nature, but it's the governing force in human nature to reason of what is right and wrong, so it's in one's hands to filter those emotions to places they are most fitting. though from stoic point of view one cannot have anything that is worth being emotional about. therefore, the truth we are aspiring to attain snatches emotions from us, or rather as we seek the highest truth, we realize that emotions are not rational and therefore obstruct our path to reality.
#thoughts #stoicism #philosophy