Your explaination proves the word isn't fine as is. Because if it isn't universal then there is nothing to aspire to? If it's different based on the person then it's meaningless to use as you can call pretty much anything successful. Even the qualifiers to measure are meaningless if we shift them from person to person. It only matters if there is a standard to which to adhere to.Then feel free to aspire to nothing because you have found a word that doesn't tell everyone to aspire to the same thing. Good grief.
Your explaination proves the word isn't fine as is. Because if it isn't universal then there is nothing to aspire to? If it's different based on the person then it's meaningless to use as you can call pretty much anything successful. Even the qualifiers to measure are meaningless if we shift them from person to person. It only matters if there is a standard to which to adhere to.Then feel free to aspire to nothing because you have found a word that doesn't tell everyone to aspire to the same thing. Good grief. If there is no uniform definition of what success means, then it might as well mean to perform an action. If that's the case then all humans do is aspire to "nothing". It's about a vague a term as greatness.
I'm asking what it means to be successful. Which definition is the right one?I claim I already gave the correct definition of success. So your question is about what good values are, or what the source of values is, or should be.
Society or the person?Well, where do you get your values? Know thyself, is the first thing to do. See from where you've got your values, and evaluate them in how far they will contribute to living a meaningful life in the long term. If you can do that, then it is not specifically important where your values come from, as long that you notice they are right for you. It is obvious (at least I hope it is for you) that if you start killing people that does not contribute to your long term happiness.
How do you know success is reaching a goal you set for yourself? What if that’s failure?
What good does it do to know they self if there is no permanent self and it’s ever shifting? The definition of success can change tomorrow and so would your plans for it. With no uniform definition of what it means to be successful, achieving it is as meaningless as the various definitions.
Also if it somehow means it’s reaching a goal you set, it wouldn’t matter whether your happiness is long term or not, if your goal is to slaughter people and you get our body count, nothing else would matter. So no it’s not that obvious.
So then what's the point?You're right. There is no "point" Fretting about "success" is missing the point. Time happens, we grow, we change, we interact with others, we die, we get buried, then lost under the overburden of time. It all means as much or as little as you want it to mean. Your choice matters while you are here. Then guess it doesn't matter any more. Unless of course you've left something of a echo behind, but that too will fade. Human's think way the hell too much of themselves for thinking existence owes them something, Jezz you've already received the greatest gift eeva, if you can't do anything with it, so it goes. The universe will do just fine with or without your participation.
What exactly is this great gift?
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What exactly is this great gift?The gift of being born a sentient creature on this fantastic planet. Us specifically, being lucky enough to live in America and not some god forsaken refuge center or internment center or your neighborhood blown to smithereens by someone else's bombs, over shit that got nothing to do with you or your neighborhood. Just for starters. _____________________________ My turn, Titano, Why do you think the universe owes you something?
What exactly is this great gift?The gift of being born a sentient creature on this fantastic planet. Us specifically, being lucky enough to live in America and not some god forsaken refuge center or internment center or your neighborhood blown to smithereens by someone else's bombs, over shit that got nothing to do with you or your neighborhood. Just for starters. _____________________________ My turn, Titano, Why do you think the universe owes you something? That's not a gift, it's more like a curse (life and sentience). It's also just a planet, not much that's fantastic about it. Hope you kept the receipt.
kinda hopeless, eh.
Because you just give the same canned reply that everyone else does about life without proving it.
What exactly is this great gift?The gift of being born a sentient creature on this fantastic planet. Us specifically, being lucky enough to live in America and not some god forsaken refuge center or internment center or your neighborhood blown to smithereens by someone else's bombs, over shit that got nothing to do with you or your neighborhood. Just for starters. _____________________________ My turn, Titano, Why do you think the universe owes you something? That's not a gift, it's more like a curse (life and sentience). It's also just a planet, not much that's fantastic about it. Hope you kept the receipt.
kinda hopeless, eh.
Because you just give the same canned reply that everyone else does about life without proving it.Which response are you responding to? That being born a sentient human, puts you at the top of the evolution chain of complexity, cognitive abilities and self-awareness? Prove it, what's to prove? It's simple fact. Got nothing to do with any value judgement either. Maybe you would be happier as a doggie being cared for by loving owners, or as an ant simply carrying out your duties. It's all good, as they say. That in the fullness of time, of course it's all irrelevant? That life means as much or as little as you yourself choose? How would you want me to prove any that? How could you disprove any of it? Might you be asking the wrong questions?
Hey and why not engage this discussion?
Here’s a thoughtful challenge you should have had some time to think about.
Why do you think the universe owes you something?
Your explaination proves the word isn’t fine as is. Because if it isn’t universal then there is nothing to aspire to? If it’s different based on the person then it’s meaningless to use as you can call pretty much anything successful. Even the qualifiers to measure are meaningless if we shift them from person to person. It only matters if there is a standard to which to adhere to.What's it like to live with thoughts like that? How do you choose what to do in the morning when you get up?
We don't choose. We do what we wre derermined to do by countless determining factore we are unaware of and have no control over. LoisYour explaination proves the word isn’t fine as is. Because if it isn’t universal then there is nothing to aspire to? If it’s different based on the person then it’s meaningless to use as you can call pretty much anything successful. Even the qualifiers to measure are meaningless if we shift them from person to person. It only matters if there is a standard to which to adhere to.What's it like to live with thoughts like that? How do you choose what to do in the morning when you get up?
We don't choose. We do what we wre derermined to do by countless determining factore we are unaware of and have no control over.Not again... Go to a restaurant, take the menu card, but then do not choose a dish. What will happen? Then, another time, go to a restaurant, take the menu card, and then do choose a dish. What will happen? Assume the waiter is not interested in any metaphysical musing from your side.. Then show us what your metaphysical musings have to do with what Lausten was suggesting.
Dr. Seuss isn’t qualified to speak considering he writes children’s books that are overly optimistic. But you don’t decide anything, it’s done for you unconsciously. Your will isn’t exactly your own.
Hey and why not engage this discussion? Here's a thoughtful challenge you should have had some time to think about.Not challenging, the universe doesn't owe me anything. But that has nothing to do with the discussion. You said life was a gift, I said prove it, and you failed. Life is struggle, you life then you die. You live at the expense of your surroundings and each other. Also lucky implies an objective scale of good and bad.Why do you think the universe owes you something?
We don't choose. We do what we wre derermined to do by countless determining factore we are unaware of and have no control over.Not again... Go to a restaurant, take the menu card, but then do not choose a dish. What will happen? Then, another time, go to a restaurant, take the menu card, and then do choose a dish. What will happen? Assume the waiter is not interested in any metaphysical musing from your side.. Then show us what your metaphysical musings have to do with what Lausten was suggesting. Except it doesn't work like that in life. It's more automatic. People go there, influenced by hunger, and choose based on what looks, smells, or taste good. In other words factors beyond your control.
Except it doesn't work like that in life. It's more automatic. People go there, influenced by hunger, and choose based on what looks, smells, or taste good. In other words factors beyond your control.Bold by me. On what grounds would you choose, otherwise of good looks, good smells, good taste, is healthy, price.... These are grounds for choosing. What is the problem with the fact that your preferences are determined by your biology and biography, and that your preferences determine your choice? It just means that what you choose is determined by what you are. Some people call this free will... Imagine you are not hungry, and you are forced to eat something that tastes awful for you. Then it wasn't your choice.