Thread: The Solution to All of Lifes Problems

Originally Posted by Xei

It's not an answer, it's giving up on the question.

What question?

Originally Posted by Brainchild

I wouldn't slap you. Actually, no existential humanist would slap you for this line of thought. Think about it, humanism is about the sanctity of humanity and existentialism is essentially about making life what you want it to be. If you feel the need to kill yourself, no existential humanist will stop you. We will tell you whatever opinion we have of suicide but we won't "drive it home". Why? Because it's your choice (existentialism).

Well said.

Although, being a humanistic existentialist myself, I feel like slapping myself for playing with these ideas. It does expose peoples views of life and brings to exposure the idea of death.

~

Originally Posted by O'nus

What question?



Well said.

Although, being a humanistic existentialist myself, I feel like slapping myself for playing with these ideas. It does expose peoples views of life and brings to exposure the idea of death.

~

Ah. I think I'm starting to grasp your logic. I've been doing some deep and dark soul searching here recently and death is still, of course, big on my list. I've even begun to watch some extremely dark arthouse/indie foreign films (since they depict and discuss death more realistically than Hollywood) and I honestly feel refreshed by being able to recognize death as not some evil partaking of fringe cults or even simply the unfortunate thing that befalls us all. I think that coming to understand death fully will help Westernized society greatly. Religious zealots would no longer be able to wrangle a nation by exploiting the citizenry's fear of God (which is really a fear of death). Coming to understand the true neutrality (not good, not evil) of suicide, IMO, will help those that hold warped ideas about death to see that it's just one of many things happening in the world.

Although potentially dark, nihilism can be SO enlightening and is always philosophically delicious.

Originally Posted by Brainchild

Ah. I think I'm starting to grasp your logic. I've been doing some deep and dark soul searching here recently and death is still, of course, big on my list. I've even begun to watch some extremely dark arthouse/indie foreign films (since they depict and discuss death more realistically than Hollywood) and I honestly feel refreshed by being able to recognize death as not some evil partaking of fringe cults or even simply the unfortunate thing that befalls us all. I think that coming to understand death fully will help Westernized society greatly. Religious zealots would no longer be able to wrangle a nation by exploiting the citizenry's fear of God (which is really a fear of death). Coming to understand the true neutrality (not good, not evil) of suicide, IMO, will help those that hold warped ideas about death to see that it's just one of many things happening in the world.

Exactly!
~

What is sad is that I understand what Onus is saying, I just completely disagree...

It's like saying an equation is solved if you erase the equation...

When a person kills themselves it isn't because they want to die, it is because they don't want to live the way they are living.

Becoming nothing isn't a solution, it is a non-solution.

If a child is born with a defect are you fixing the problem by killing him?
(genocide analogy again blah blah).

In a solution the thought process goes like this, what can I do to get what I want?

Unless you're desire is to die, then suicide isn't the solution. And no one wants to die except people who want to visit the after life...Most people just don't want to feel pain anymore, and instead be normal (or happy).

Originally Posted by Sandform

What is sad is that I understand what Onus is saying, I just completely disagree...

It's like saying an equation is solved if you erase the equation...

That is a false analogy. You cannot analguously represent the beauty of death. You do not have to do anything if you are dead. Nothing at all.

When a person kills themselves it isn't because they want to die, it is because they don't want to live the way they are living.

Perhaps you are focusing too much on "a solution" rather than the benefits. I am perfectly happy right now. If I kill myself, then my life will end on a very happy note and that I controlled it and experienced it all on my own. There is no fact that I do not like the way I am living, I simply can kill myself and also prevent anything from ruining my current life.

Becoming nothing isn't a solution, it is a non-solution.

If a child is born with a defect are you fixing the problem by killing him?
(genocide analogy again blah blah).

Fixing would be fixing the defect and the child still living. However, if you kill the child, neither the child nor you have to worry about the defect anymore.

Yes, genocide analogy is close but someone has to do the killing. Mass suicide leaves no one left after.

~

Originally Posted by O'nus

That is a false analogy. You cannot analguously represent the beauty of death. You do not have to do anything if you are dead. Nothing at all.



Perhaps you are focusing too much on "a solution" rather than the benefits. I am perfectly happy right now. If I kill myself, then my life will end on a very happy note and that I controlled it and experienced it all on my own. There is no fact that I do not like the way I am living, I simply can kill myself and also prevent anything from ruining my current life.



Fixing would be fixing the defect and the child still living. However, if you kill the child, neither the child nor you have to worry about the defect anymore.

Yes, genocide analogy is close but someone has to do the killing. Mass suicide leaves no one left after.

~

I added this...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
In a solution the thought process goes like this, what can I do to get what I want?

Unless you're desire is to die, then suicide isn't the solution. And no one wants to die except people who want to visit the after life...Most people just don't want to feel pain anymore, and instead be normal (or happy).
~~~~~~~~~


Your example of wanting to end your life before feeling pain is an example of when suicide is actually a solution (since it gives you what you want).

I always thought the solution to all life's problems was this:



And honestly, it may sound weird and laugh at me all you want, but I don't want to die.

You know what movie cracked my mind right open? Gaspar Noe's Irreversible. I know there are lots of teens on here so please run it by your parents if you're interested. It's REALLY out there (centerpiece scenes are touted as the most violent scenes in movie history---probably true) but I found it to be profound. A true masterpiece.