Discussion What do you think is the worst: that there is a reason for our suffering or that there isn’t?

[Circles]

For me I'd choose no reason but I can't explain why at the moment especially since my eye problems won't allow more time to explain.

 

[odradek]

For me I'd choose no reason but I can't explain why at the moment especially since my eye problems won't allow more time to explain.

I agree, I think it's worse if there's a reason. Everytime someone says to me "everything happens for a reason" it kinda horrifies me. Like that 8 year old who died of leukemia? I'm scared to find out about what the reason for that would be. And so many other scenarios in that vein. Some utilitarian nightmare I'd assume.

 

[TheAmazingCriswell]

The worst thing is that the possibility of suffering exists at all.

 

[Circles]

The worst thing is that the possibility of suffering exists at all.

Again either there's a reason for why suffering exists at all or doesn't and it's completely random process unless there's an unknown third option that indescribable to us humans to understand. But I get what you're saying. Maybe also given an infinite amount of universes you get an infinite amount of chances of levels of suffering.

 

[UseItOrLoseIt]

If there was a reason there would exist a possibility of reaping certain benefits. A reason for suffering is the reason to endure the suffering.

On the other hand, a sense of futility of suffering is the reason to give up.

I wonder, is it really possible to assign reason (or not) to suffering in any other way but retroactively?

 

[TheAmazingCriswell]

If there was a reason there would exist a possibility of reaping certain benefits. A reason for suffering is the reason to endure the suffering.

"Hat man sein warum? des Lebens, so verträgt man sich fast mit jedem wie?"
- Nietzsche, Götzen-Dämmerung

(He who has a why? in life can tolerate almost any how?)

I wonder, is it really possible to assign reason (or not) to suffering in any other way but retroactively?

"Det er ganske sandt, hvad Philosophien siger, at Livet maa forstaaes baglænds. Men derover glemmer man den anden Sætning, at det maa leves forlænds."
- Kierkegaard, from a journal entry

(It is perfectly true, as the philosophers say, that life must be understood backwards. But they forget the other proposition, that it must be lived forwards.)

This doesn't really add anything to your post, it's just the same thing rephrased by two slightly better known thinkers.

 

[FuneralCry]

I think it would be worse if there was a reason for our suffering. The way I see it, we are only here because of evolution and everything is determined by chance. Some people are just more unlucky than others. We are all just victims of life. I think if there was a reason for why some people suffer a lot more than others, then that would be scary. But there really is no reason for anything, everything is meaningless.

 

[back_to_oblivion]

If it happens for a reason I think it's worse because you would take it much more personally. If it happens for no reason and it's just random at least it isn't so personal.

 

[S like suicide]

Both are terrible ...

 

[Under The Graveyard]

For me it's both. I been sufering from depreesion and anxiety sincr my teenage years, but as of the last 7 years there has been a reason. It's horrible thecway life is so unfsir.

Sorry for my bad speling but im drunk right now an dont really care.

 

[Skathon]

The latter. Being a martyr would be far more satisfying.