Today I'll give you my view as a philosopher. I am 73 now and started reading philosophical books when I was 18.
I began with Nietzsche , Sartre, Schopenhauer, Kant, Hegel, Marx and others. Later as a university student I almost unnoticed ended up in Anglo-American philosophy.
My thesis was about "The 'Mental' and the 'Physical" (1967), the Identity Thesis of Herbert Feigl and"A Materialist Theory of Mind" (1968) by D.M. Armstrong.
That was in 1976. Now it is 2022 and this is my 24th project in SL and with this project I am back at where I started in 1968 in philosophy.
Today I'll tell you to what conclusions I have come about the meaning of life, about our being homo sapiens on some planet in an endless universe.
When we look around us, we see all kinds of organisms and there are two remarkable features: the first one is that all these organisms want to reproduce, to procreate.
Don't ask "Why is this so?", because this question already implies so many presuppositions, the first one being the belief that this is a meaningful question. There is no "why", There are just the observations, the facts,
The second remarkable feature is, that one of the millions of organisms has reached a stage of self-awareness, that has made him aware of time, a past, a present and a future.
It has made him aware of the reality around him and that he can change it. Knowing a past means remembering and using these memories to create another future. We call it the use of knowledge.
Where most animals just act based on instinct, homo sapiens has discovered a much better tool to control actions: reasons. That everything has a reason, has become a leading principle for him.
The discovery of causality as a tool to understand reality led to explanations. Homo Sapiens discovered patterns and thence explanations.
This leads to the final philosophical question, how to explain the consequences of self-awareness. Here comes in this omnipotent word WHY? We want reasons, explanations.
I'll give you within the context of a materialist view of life my explanation, my way of understanding life. The first part of an explanation I already have given you: the drive to procreate, the will to live.
But now comes the question: how do we manage to procreate, to keep on living? What is the organizing principle behind all the actions of organisms?
My conclusion is that biologically what drives us is the emotion of FEAR, or the feeling of feeling threatened. In other words the emotion that signals us that we are threatened in our existence.
In a biological sense, an emotion is a response of the brain to an affective stimulus. In both humans and animals, this is almost automatically reflected in a certain pattern of behavior such as fleeing or approaching and physiological reactions.
The special thing that distinguishes us from animals is that we are aware of emotions, which we call feelings, which we can then take as the subject of (self-)reflection.
I often wondered why some people are so eager to become a leader, a CEO, a president. What drives such people?
For me the answer is: the rationalization of the existential fear. The best way to protect yourself is to dominate others.
There is a lot more to say, but for now, these are my first thoughts about understanding the "condition humaine"
Thank you again for your attention...
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
The Discussion
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): leaves us hanging
[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:27] herman Bergson: In what sense Gemma?
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): because you are not finished
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:28] herman Bergson: that tkes another lecture ^_^
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): +
[13:28] herman Bergson: These were just the basics
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so you think that ceos have a fear?
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and this is their way of coping?
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or presidents
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): of other leaders?
[13:29] herman Bergson: You must be precise in that....
[13:29] herman Bergson: the concept of fear...
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): of themselves?
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not living up to life?
[13:29] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe it's just High trees catch a lot of wind
[13:29] herman Bergson: the first thing you think of is seeing a snake or a sppider....and you run....
[13:30] herman Bergson: that is primary fear....
[13:30] herman Bergson: but that kind of primairy feeling I dont mean....
[13:31] herman Bergson: the fear I mean is equal tothe will to live....is equal to the fear to die....
[13:31] herman Bergson: it is a deep fundamental biological drive in the organism
[13:32] herman Bergson: the lust for pleasure and the avoiding of pain
[13:32] herman Bergson: you dont wake up every morning in fear to die....
[13:32] herman Bergson: but yet this feeling is in your system...
[13:32] herman Bergson: you are cautious in traffic...drive safely....
[13:33] herman Bergson: you live healthy...and so on....
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): got it
[13:33] herman Bergson: but it all is aiming at staying alive...
[13:33] herman Bergson: completely normal behavior
[13:34] herman Bergson: but reinforcing this sense of security is dominating, controling other people
[13:34] herman Bergson: it is a kind of frugs...
[13:34] herman Bergson: drugs...
[13:34] herman Bergson: just look at all those artists....
[13:35] herman Bergson: controlling huge crowds of fans....
[13:35] herman Bergson: in the end they get crazy themselves...overdose
[13:36] herman Bergson: or presidents that won't give up power and go crazier and crazier....
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh
[13:36] herman Bergson: Xi Jinping for instance...or Putin
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thinking of Brazil
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Bolsenaro has not yet conceded
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): just like
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): trump
[13:37] herman Bergson: they loose contact with reality and get overdosed by their need for security
[13:37] herman Bergson: same story...
[13:37] herman Bergson: We aren't perfect beings....
[13:38] herman Bergson: some think so, but we are part of the animal kingdom and behave like alll others with a little extra :-)
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:38] herman Bergson: We call it culture :-)
[13:39] herman Bergson: But is just the icing of the cake to me :-))
[13:39] Laz Dresler is offline.
[13:39] herman Bergson: Well...
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we shall see
[13:40] herman Bergson: today I burden you with the load of my personal thoughts :-)
[13:40] Rebecca (rebecca.rozen) is offline.
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): have heard some of them before
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): seems to me that all the guys on top loosing their brains
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): agree beertje
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): almost
[13:41] herman Bergson: The idea of limiting a president's job to 4 years, max 8 isn't a bad idea....
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:41] herman Bergson: just wonder why it is....
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no lula who did two terms and then left and now came back
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): now
[13:41] herman Bergson: just because of our mental limitations...homo sapiens KNOWS this, if asked honestly
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): interesting
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I would not mind seeing Obama do that
[13:42] herman Bergson: homo sapiens can't handle longterm power controll...
[13:42] herman Bergson: it disfigures his feeling of safety
[13:43] herman Bergson: makes himlose contact with real life
[13:43] herman Bergson: just like the super wealthy people go crazy...
[13:43] Darks Adria is online.
[13:44] Wonny Masala (wonda.masala) is online.
[13:44] herman Bergson: they can buy security as much as they like...can do what they want...(they think)
[13:44] herman Bergson: it is mentally unhealthy for a human being
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:45] herman Bergson: so...don't get rich :-)))
[13:45] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): oops
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:46] herman Bergson: Sorry Beertje...wasn't meant for you :-)))))
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): fat chance
[13:46] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol, dpends on the meaning of rich
[13:46] herman Bergson: well...neither become poor......
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): won't have to try very hard to do either
[13:47] herman Bergson: and no one on this planet has to be....if we share.....but that is again contradicting our need to dominate.....
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): rich have the fear of lossing their money
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): loosing
[13:48] herman Bergson: yes..
[13:48] herman Bergson: and they love the kick earning more money.....
[13:48] Guestboook van tipjar stand: Gemma Cleanslate donated L$100. Thank you very much, it is much appreciated!
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:48] herman Bergson: reinforces the feeling of security
[13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): isn't it all about food?
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): at this point i think so in many ways
[13:49] herman Bergson: Well....so far for me understanding being human :-)
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): prics uo
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): up
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): prices up
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): for everything
[13:50] herman Bergson: here too Gemma , in the Netherlands
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): global
[13:50] herman Bergson: yes
[13:50] The Frontyard...: 2022-11-01 [22:50] Bejiita Imako
[13:51] herman Bergson: but the profits of shareholders go up too............!!!!!
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): is a riot tho here every politician running is blaming the office they are trying for
[13:51] Lecturehall: 2022-11-01 [22:51] Bejiita Imako
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): from dog catcher to governors
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): representatives and senators
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh
[13:51] herman Bergson: And here is poor Bejiita
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): bej hihi
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): an hour late
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oooo forgot you have not changed yet
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Sunday for us
[13:52] herman Bergson: when do you change Gemma???
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): this Sunday
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): only a week at this time of year
[13:53] herman Bergson: ok...so next week will be normal again
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): in the spring is worse
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): will be here tomorrow for golf
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): tnx
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:53] herman Bergson: yay
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yay
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): this is messy indeed and i was occupied in Unreal 5
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hope to be here thursday too
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): with a messy menu system
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