Critique My Philosophy of Life?

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Thank you. Yes, I noticed your acknowledgement of empathy and it's benefits.

And I apologize: I was concentrating on the "my", as in your "my philosophy" and seeking more detail. A request to critique a "philosophy for all mankind" might be a simpler and more accurate request if there can be no reference to "you" (P123) in particular. I understand your wish for anonymity, but if anonymous "privacy" is not an issue, then questions should be responded to on a personal basis. I'm certain you notice we do a lot of that around here.

If your post is actually a request to critique a universal philosophy, I'd have responded to say you had a good teacher and commented appropriately, but with the reference to the "personal" nature of your request, and in order to do so in fact, I must ask personal questions and receive "personal" answers.

I'm perfectly happy & willing to engage in any direction you choose in this pleasant exchange.

Yes i know..but my strength is i never give up..i'm not trying to prove i'm right about anything on this site.

i'm just trying my bestest..to help folks be happy..and free as artists..instead of autists..

It saved my life..my soul..my spirit..and connection with what i
describe as GOD..
so i cannot help but try...

but anyway..i flow..i just let it go..

And with the darkness IS inspiration of yet..greater levels of light...

This site is my inspiration..unfortunately for the folks who inhabit it..
FOR the darkness they live..in.. with He art..instead of heart...

But if i can inspire them here in anyway..as i travel to other places to inspire others..
with greater propensity...toward simple human enlightenment.. that is a plus..

But i neither have limitation or expectation in life..What WILL be WILL be..

unless folks develop their
OWNED WILL..

not that of any other..
'al one'..

but with that said..
here's another copy of an inspiration..a few moments..ago..
from the darkness..
here...

http://katiemiafrederick.com/2014/03/31/al-one/

i am free!
and yes! i am a hungry
artist
too..
with an appetite
for the FULLEST LIFE..
as
WELL!:)[/quote]

I really like what you say. A thought I like to keep in my mind from time to time echoes the old rock song lyrics: "Flowers Everywhere" (and you and I (and people such as ourselves) create the 'flowers along our path.' )

denny

Thanks ZenDen i appreciate that..and i like Flowers Everywhere lyric too...

'TRUTH of NOW and THEN'

In my little town..

in the 60's and 70's..

the only REAL philosophy to find..

IS in lyrics of popular culture..

SO THANK GOD! for ROCK and ROLL..!

PROPHETS of the NEW AGE...!

Fully 'en taled' tHere..:)

for mass distribution..

of enlightenING WAYS...!

to 'heard' of populace...!

If only Jesus..

Muhammad..

and Buddha..

UTILIZE technology..!

for mass communication..!

in song and music..!

THEN..

But it does not matter..

as UNIVERSAL TRUTH..!

IS no eyes..

tongue..

or movement..

in only one human

NOW!

or

THEN!

as well..

as any collection..

of intelligence..

or complex culture..

to prison TRUTH...

as

WELL in NOW!

or

THEN...!

NOW IS TRUTH AS WELL..!

AS THEN...!

EYES..TONGUES..

AND MOVEMENT..

MAY COLOR DIFFERENTly...

BUT ESSENCE OF TRUTH..!

STAYS..

SaME!

http://katiemiafrederick.com/2014/04/02 ... -and-then/

"When two or more of ya..
WILL BE PRESENT
'I' WILL
BE
with
YA"
IN MORE WAY
than
one
more FULLY AS
ONE

WILL

Yes, I aspire to objectivity, and I would like to keep the discussion objective.

I look forward to any other comments or questions that you may have.

In the beginning of your philosophy you supply a list of your philosophical positions and in the second half you suggest ways to understand and apply this philosophy.

The subjects of the first part (atheism, etc.) of your philosophy are each a discussion unto themselves, but by asserting the regress you claim these positions are unique to yourself and since we are not discussing you or your personal reasons for living so, I will proceed to the second part of your philosophy (the part I enjoy the most).

How does the regress argument for free will impossibilism amount to a claim that my philosophical positions are unique to myself?



I look forward to your feedback.

I suggest, using the "malleability" of the regress caused by the inevitable changes to our definition of our personal "peace of mind" by different incidental and chosen experiences, that each set of chosen philosophical positions is chosen on the basis of personal experience. It would be futile to argue against someone's personal choice of the factors of their personal "peace of mind."

The second part of your Philosophy really makes me smile.

Step, by step, by step you exhort others to maintain a sunny disposition, do good toward others, etc. because, not only is the gift or goodness beneficial to the receiver but may be to the giver as well, on many levels (my reading of course). Not Kahil Gibran but in the same, if I may say, human poetic sense. What a fulfilling method, in so many ways, to lead one's life.

I expect to keep a copy of your philosophy handy for my own reflection. Would you object to my posting it (once or twice) for comment (with all attributions) elsewhere?

Thank you, Philosofer123. I'm sure you must have/had very good teachers.

denny

Denny, thank you for your kind words. Yes, please feel free to post my document elsewhere. I only ask that when you post it, you also post the links that I have provided in the OP. This is because I continue to revise the document, and I would like your readers to be able to access the most up-to-date version.

First thank you again for the discussion.

Off-and-on for about 45 years I've allowed the regress to annoy me . It was presented to me originally (by a person quite depressed at the time) by asserting there was no action or decision made by an individual that was not self-serving. For these past 45 years it's been evident, but certainly never "felt right." I'd always kept it pushed aside like some "dirty little secret" that was unfit to share with others, because I was only noticing the affront to my personal image of myself being omnipotent.

But "your" correct explanation of the regress allows for human kindness toward others (or not) and, essentially, shows no bounds for kindness and commitment toward others (& etc.).

Without getting too personal I'd like to suggest that should a part of the personal side of your philosophy include good will toward others in the form of their study/examination of your philosophy, that you....... "Lighten up." Lighten up by allowing others to see around the edge of the regress. The indomitability of the regress must be realized but not allowed to linger in it's "angry" form for 45 years. I don't think I've entirely missed the point.

The Google Docs link in the OP is now inactive. My philosophy is now available at:

http://philosofer123.wordpress.com

But do you have the conviction to act on your beliefs ?

Your beliefs:
-Atheism
-No After Life
-Moral skepticism
-no objective morality
-Negative Hedonism -as you say, "The combination of atheism, afterlife skepticism, moral skepticism and existential skepticism
eliminates all plausible ultimate considerations other than self-interest in this life

I know someone who more or less believes the same. He has spent about thirty years in prison in/out. He screws people over and steals freely because if he sees something in his self-interest then he goes for it. He often justifies it with "there is no GOD, there is no afterlife, no morality ...". He is a millionaire too, but rarely worked a real job in his life.

He often tells me, "Always ask yourself, what is the consequence? And if there is no consequence, then why not do it?" Why not steal if it benefits you? Why not commit crime if it benefits you? Presumably, this is what you mean by self-interest? So, do you have the conviction to act on your philosophy? Which would seem to make you a danger to others or am I missing something?

Also, he believes in most people live in fear (a negative emotion per your philosophy) and by releasing anger , and absolving oneself of fear by doing cruel things to people - helps one live a happier life. He often takes his abuse out on others directly or indirectly because he doesn't like the 'negative emotions' bottled up inside him. He believe that one is happier after cursing, throwing stuff, damaging another person's property, etc. This appears consistent with your 'Letting go of the past'.

So, in conclusion, your philosophy appears to leave the door open for the justification of sociopathy -which you got an earful earlier in thread ?

Misquote.

The document reads:

"The combination of atheism, afterlife skepticism, moral skepticism and existential skepticism eliminates all plausible ultimate considerations other than self-interest in this life and empathy"

I have known people who target other people they feel "can afford it", so they empathize with their victim first. So, it would seem self-interest + empathy would permit a "robin hood sociopath" to self-enrich against others.

Empathy:

From Wikipedia:

"Definition[edit]

Empathy has many different definitions that encompass a broad range of emotional states, including caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other.[5]

It also is the ability to feel and share another person?s emotions. Some believe that empathy involves the ability to match another?s emotions, while others believe that empathy involves being tenderhearted toward another person.[6] Compassion and sympathy are two terms that many associate with empathy, but all three of these terms are unique. Compassion is an emotion we feel when others are in need, which motivates us to help them. Sympathy is a feeling of care and understanding for someone in need."

This is only a part of the definition found in Wikipedia.

If this is not your acquaintance's definition perhaps you could help him/her to understand?