Random philosophical ramblings

[badatparties]

People in the world suffer. Without a shadow of a doubt, we suffer on earth, some more than others, but we suffer.

Why do we suffer? We suffer due to the nature of the world, pain, hunger, trauma, grief, loneliness, shame, guilt, regret, humiliation, poverty, disease, wants, needs, etc.

Why do we look for meaning? In my opinion, we look for meaning because we suffer. If we were in a completely blissful state, i doubt we would be looking for the meaning of things, we would just exist and be happy.

How do we define meaning? The meaning of something is what it expresses or represents. We give meaning to life by making up religions, philosophies, and stories.

Does lack of meaning make suffering worse? Yes, absolutely it does. Meaning is a buffer against suffering, hence why people created all these different religions, theories, and philosophies.

What do you guys think? Without suffering, would we even bother to search for meaning?

 

[fallingbehind]

I think most people thrive in suffering. Thats why they romanticise "toughening up", "struggle love" and the "hard life" so much. Its why the ultra-rich are so soul-less I guess, without any struggle whatsoever they have no regard for anything or anyone. I guess to have some humility, or formulate some empathy (rare) one must suffer to some extent.

The question is whether or not any of it is worth it. I think that if you have no goals, no interests in life, or no meaning, then this level of suffering is unbearable. You either retreat by neeting, turning to addiction, etc... or you "rebel", by becoming callous and cruel.

 

[badatparties]

I think most people thrive in suffering. Thats why they romanticise "toughening up", "struggle love" and the "hard life" so much. Its why the ultra-rich are so soul-less I guess, without any struggle whatsoever they have no regard for anything or anyone. I guess to have some humility, or formulate some empathy (rare) one must suffer to some extent.

The question is whether or not any of it is worth it. I think that if you have no goals, no interests in life, or no meaning, then this level of suffering is unbearable. You either retreat by neeting, turning to addiction, etc... or you "rebel", by becoming callous and cruel.

You think most people thrive in it? That's an interesting perspective. IMO, if they are thriving, they are not truly suffering, or going through temporary transient suffering.

Either that, or they have meaning to be able to get through it, religion etc. Others go through extreme suffering every single day with no meaning to get them through. This is when life becomes not worth it.

 

[fallingbehind]

You think most people thrive in it? That's an interesting perspective. IMO, if they are thriving, they are not truly suffering, or going through temporary transient suffering.

Either that, or they have meaning to be able to get through it, religion etc. Others go through extreme suffering every single day with no meaning to get them through.

I agree. Severe suffering, such as torture, starvation, dehumanisation, is a different conversation. I guess I base my opinion on my region, general poverty, high religiousness etc. I see people struggle to afford bread pushing out babies everyday, because they believe they must, maybe what Im talking about is moreso "struggling", in comparsion to suffering.

But for society to feel "good", they need someone to suffer. I hear that Americans often tell their children to be happy for what they have because children in *insert region* are starving. For someone to be well, someone had to be sick in comparison, or atleast, thats how many people see it.

 

[doomedbynarrative]

I think it all comes down to how the world is set up and how much of that set up we can percieve.
Science has come a long way and yet the more we come to understand the more we realize that we understand VERY little at all.
But, from what we can currently know and understand, the world is not set up with inherent meaning. Only inherent suffering alongside little tidbits of enjoyable things. It is also set up so that life has to kill and consume other life to keep going until inevitable death.

Some people are comfortable with this. Some are not. Some people think it's okay. Some do not. Some need philosophy/religion/morals to keep going. Others can't buy into any of it.

The only answer to everything in the entire universe of existence is: "I don't know." It's what it all boils down to. That's what makes things so agonizing for so many. We humans have evolved through the expansion and use of our brain. We have quite literally evolved to have "consciousness" in the way we experience it and a thirst for more knowledge because knowledge and brainpower have served our species well in survival. Unfortunately, that also means we don't do very well with The Unknown.

Agonizing, ain't it?