Why live at all?

[Ken-1122]

In what sense does this "weighing" you speak of take place?

When I compare the tiny amount of suffering that takes place in my life, and compare it to the vast amount of happiness I experience; the amout of good is greater than the amount of bad in my life.

Ken

 

[Asvin]

I didn't talk about God, I said eternity. It is possible that something can be eternal without God.

Also, I don't see how the conclusion follows from the premise.

First, it is clearly not the case that in our reality that the world is ordered that way.

Second, how does the fact that actions are maximized under your model make eternity significant?

You also never answered why God saying something has meaning makes it have meaning or why God has meaning.

What is this other thing you claim is possibly eternal?

You say that you know that the world is not ordered so that the maximum number of people will benefit the most. How can you possibly know this?

Eternity is significant because my good actions are a result of God's commandments to me. God is using me to further his purpose. That is how it is eternal.

Why God has meaning? What? Why do your words or sentences have meaning?

 

[Ana the Ist]

1. You cannot speak for what the "christian" believes. You can only speak for the individual Christians who have actually told you that this life is of no importance when compared to the next (which if I were a wagering man, I would wager have not been many at all).

2. In the event you did happen to have a christian tell you what you claim they have, then they are wrong. The scriptures actually paint a very different picture.

3. You cannot speak for your fellow atheists. You can speak, at most, for those who have intimated to you that they share your particular views. Not all atheists hold the view that you do regarding the importance of this life.

4. I am a Christian and my beliefs do not make life meaningless.

Correct these misconceptions you have because if you do not, then you are no different than the Christian who makes generic, blanket statements about atheists.

Just out of curiosity, when you decided to snip down my statement, was it because you only disagreed with the bottom part? If not, why did you cut it where you did?

Oh, I can't speak intelligently on what a christian believes, I'll give you that much...but only if you agree that you can't either. Christianity is about as fractured as they come and even if we only speak about what the bible says, then neither of us will ever be able to know which interpretation is true. Agree? Fair now?

As for the atheists though, I've never met one who believed in an afterlife. I won't say it isn't possible, maybe it is, maybe there's black doves flying around and pink elephants too. I've never seen all the doves or elephants, you know....should I have to consider these likelihoods as well?

So now that that's over, lets get back to the part you dodged altogether...it would be great if you got murdered, right?

 

[Marius27]

What? I thought you are a Jew? You have no good reason to live?

I am a Jew, and no.

 

[Asvin]

I am a Jew, and no.

You don't think God has a purpose for your life?

 

[Dave Ellis]

I am a Jew, and no.

To be honest I find that really sad, there are a lot of things to live for.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Ok, let's assume he means introspection....

Why be introspective?

"The unexamined life is not worth living"

 

[durangodawood]

To be honest I find that really sad, there are a lot of things to live for.

Me too.

When I stop worrying about #1 (me, the big "me" project) living is rather joyful.

But then again, I have health and relative material security, and some friends and family. This is good.

Sometimes its bad. But that usually passes. Plus, the whole thing will be over in no time anyway.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

To reverse the OP's question slightly, if an eternity of happiness can be achieved in death, why live?

 

[Chany]

What is this other thing you claim is possibly eternal?

You say that you know that the world is not ordered so that the maximum number of people will benefit the most. How can you possibly know this?

Eternity is significant because my good actions are a result of God's commandments to me. God is using me to further his purpose. That is how it is eternal.

Why God has meaning? What? Why do your words or sentences have meaning?

Possible eternal things are certain concepts in the Platonic sense and a everlasting life. I don't believe in either of these, but they are possibilities.

Can you not think of a single improvement for this world?

Let me rephrase my last question: you claim your purpose comes from God. What is God's purpose? Why does something automatically have meaning because God says it had meaning?

 

[Jeremy E Walker]

"The unexamined life is not worth living"

Why?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Why?

If you disagree, feel free to live your life accordingly.

 

[durangodawood]

The unexamined life is obviously worth living.

Just look at animals.

 

[Marius27]

You don't think God has a purpose for your life?

I don't know, haven't seen one yet, and the bad outweighs the good.

 

[Marius27]

To be honest I find that really sad, there are a lot of things to live for.

If you knew my situation, you might understand why I feel that way. I deal with things 99% of the world can't relate to. Not easy feeling like you're from another planet.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The unexamined life is obviously worth living.

Just look at animals.

Well, Socrates was indeed referring specifically to people (ἀνθρώπ&#8179.

 

[durangodawood]

Well, Socrates was indeed referring specifically to people (ἀνθρώπ&#8179.

OK. Just look at people who arent living the examined life. Are they ending it all in droves?

 

[essentialsaltes]

OK. Just look at people who arent living the examined life. Are they ending it all in droves?

Look, it's an aphorism, not a law.

If you disagree, feel free to live your life accordingly.

 

[durangodawood]

Look, it's an aphorism, not a law.

If you disagree, feel free to live your life accordingly.

Its just one of those chestnuts of philosophy that seems overrated.

Not as overrated as "I think, therefore I am" though.

 

[Jeremy E Walker]

If you disagree, feel free to live your life accordingly.

I did not say I disagreed.

I asked you:

"Why?"