Philosophy Now Forum

(i apologize for cramming some of that together, i ran out of room for the subject i wanted to write)

all i want is time, space, peace, (not in every single way, and not always depending on, but in general), that's all i ask for basically and i cannot have it, and not to be persecuted for who i am either, its truly horrible to spend almost every waking moment living a lie

Firstly, what is an 'entirely philosophical life'?

If it is one of ceaseless contemplation then what are we left with once all hindrances are removed? If it is one of constant intellectual challenge then whoever seeks this kind of life should seek obstacles and difficulties, if only to attempt to unravel and unpick them.

Secondly, it is not possible to live such a life. The practicalities of maintaining our existence (in order to try for a life of contemplation) prevent such a way of being. What about biological 'hindrances' such as sleep or appetite? What about the hindrance of night and day, preventing travel at certain times? What about the hindrance of money, required for providing ourselves with water, shelter and food? What about the hindrance of the effort required, should someone attempt to live without money, to labour for their basic needs?

I would argue that we do not 'cope' with hindrances to a philosophical life. Rather, philosophical activity comes about as a result of such hindrances (and cannot occur without it). Empty contemplation is not philosophy. When we philosophize, we are attempting to prevent truth - that is to say, we are constantly criticizing anything which takes on the mantle of truth. We are attempting to show that the supposedly invulnerable is, in fact, vulnerable. By that token, we not only need obstacles and difficulties, we create them.

oh gosh, what is an entirely philosophical life? something i couldn't quite describe, anything i've missed will try to return to later



not necessarily

who cares

who cares



who cares

but interesting you say that, personally its never meant much to me, but for the people i love it does, and i'm responsible for them, without me, they would die, or suffer immensly, that still isn't a hindrance in the slightest and doesn't bother me at all in the least, faaaaaar from it, but in certain rhealms of existence it seems to bring with it a tail of glue so to speak, to some the glue isn't bad, to others, or at least to me anyways it is like a consistent i.v. of poison trickling down my viens until it pretty much has 'killed' you many times over

everything gets a little messed up when you bring money in, also, everything gets a little messed up when you bring people in

i would argue otherwise (yet thoroughly understand what you mean

sort of agree, sort of not

to some

could be right there

have to get back to that later

Hey B2B - if you 'sort of agree and sort of don't' can you at least provide your reasons why so we can have a debate. Unless, of course, such a debate would simply be a hindrance ...

Also, the points at which you've written 'who cares' ... clearly I do and you don't. Spell it out for me, would you?

Hey a:) To be honest, i don't know if such a debate would be a hindrance or not, but i am enjoying all the points you are bringing up. I want to add more, and fill in some of the 'so what's' but my time is extremely sparce at the mo' and also i want to be able to deeply contemplate dwell slowly and endlessly about it.

But i hope to continue if you can put up with me taking a long time in between replies, & would like to add more later.

Thanks

Time, space and peace is where you come from and where you go after you die.

In the interim you want something else except that you don't have the power to get it.

1st step is to admit you want something else.
2nd step is to find a way to get it.

Remember, the world is a lie. GET GOOD AT IT!!

I appears that B2B does not actually want a "philosophical life." What he is after is 'the philosophical without a life.' I.e. 'the disembodied intellect' ideal, long sought after by (short-sighted) idealistic intellectuals.

But, gaining better sight, the intellectual comes to see that ala1993 has it right, when he says:
"Rather, philosophical activity comes about as a result of such hindrances (and cannot occur without it)."

Otherwise, philosophy is just some fatuous dilettantism, and never will arrive at philosophers appropriately armed with "hammers."

i think i agree with you partially, and have been working on finding a way to get it, thanks:)

this is like one of those trick math questions on a quiz you swear you've studied for to the extent you could answer any question, even tho your poor at math, but still end up with a mediocre or very poor grade due to the wording of the questions, lol:) i thought i knew what i was going to say, firstly i was going to say, your probably right, but not sure, i will go smoke a cigarette, and add more:). thanks

b2b it sounds to me that you are aiming to what some might call moksha or nirvana, in that you are looking to rise above the ties of the everyday intellect and let that take you above and beyond the ties of the individual into a realm of intellect that is beyond the self. but im not sure.

This sounds a bit bourgeois doesn't it?

I'm struggling to see any references to the ownership of capital and the means of production