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I Like Philosophy

After the age of 16, I was drawn to philosophy. I think for me the questions of life have always felt so central to my life. So that how I answered them impacted how i felt.

Sometimes it seems you justify your own depression with pseudo philosophy. However, even as i've made adjustments in my life to maintain a healthier mind, i still find myself bothered by philosophical issues.

The philosophical issues that concern me are to do with how to live a meaningful life that is consistent with it being rational. I'm not satisified with modern thinking that claims we have to create our own meaning because I think that tends to just lead one to mindless consumerism. I need a careful and reflective basis for the way I live my life.

I'm sympathetic to thinkers like Roger Scruton, Heidegger, and Nietzsche (his eternal recurrence). However, I also think that Kant is important for helping an individual see the limits of human rationality, and so it can help us clear our expectations of what a rationale for a meaningful life could be.

According to Roger Scruton, when we reflect on these fundamental questions of morality, God, and death, we tend to naturally fall into mystical idea given the limit of human reason to find an answer in this area. I find that quite compelling.

On another note, I don't find modern humanism or scientisim at all intellectually attractive or convincing, although thats perhaps obvious.
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I have to be in a particular mood to read philosophy, although I have and sometimes still do.

The tricky part is keeping in mind that although someone may be a published philosopher and/or a well-respected philosopher - rhey may still be a lousy philosopher and/or a wrong philosopher. It's usually hard to tell, because most philosophers write real pretty.
Gouzi · 26-30, M
@Mamapolo2016 The more you read the better you are able to discriminate between the philosophers. A critical thinking course helps.
I have taken several critical thinking courses. Over the years I have read a good deal of philosophy.

Don't make the youthful mistake of thinking you have discovered this path. Many, many have trod it before.

As for me, thinking is vitally important, but so is the application of what we think.

"If you can dream and not make dreams your master, if you can think and not make thoughts your aim..."

Kipling's poem "If."@Gouzi
Gouzi · 26-30, M
@Mamapolo2016 🤭I was just offering a suggestion because you said you found it hard to see the difference between good and bad philosophers.

Anyway, its why we learn critical thinking when we start the degree. I think they agree with me that its a necessary step before reading more complicated work.

I never said i was Wittgenstein or a genius. But i think i'm qualified to make this suggestion.
No offense taken. I do not think because you are young, your suggestions or thoughts are less worthy.

But when we are young, with the new passion of the young, we tend to be more eager to share what we think we know than to listen, at least some of the time, to what others think they know.

😊@Gouzi
Gouzi · 26-30, M
@Mamapolo2016 Fair enough. Got it.
And to be completely fair, when we are no longer young, we have a tendency to jabber endlessly.

It's the mix that's good.@Gouzi