Philosophy in a nutshell

[000Ronald]

Not to be too intrusive, but I thought it would be interesting to see what the lot of you think of your lot in life. I don't mean your personal motto; this is what you tell other people so that they understand you better. What I mean is the think you tell youself as you fall asleep so you don't have nightmares (in my case, anyway). As I started this post, I might as well get da ball rollin'.

Anything done for the sake of another person is worth the cost.

Apologies to anyone who is tired of bullshit philosophy threads, but I thought this was interesting.

 

[arguskos]

"Be true to yourself, and you'll be true to others."

Advice my grandfather passed on to me. I liked it, and try to live it everyday.

 

[000Ronald]

"if you can sum up your life in a single sentence, then you had better hope that sentence is a damn good one"

- my philosophy on life philosophies

I know I've heard someone else say that somewhere...

 

[Hey Joe]

Philosophy is not about the realization, it's about the process.

 

[Seldon2639]

There are two, for me. Both are family mottoes

"Never pass up the opportunity to do a good deed"

"In the end, only kindness matters."

I'll also throw in a good Joss Whedon one:

"If nothing we do matters, all that matters is what we do".

I take all of that to mean that if when I die, I've made a positive impact on others that will outlast me, I'm good. On a day-to-day basis, it's always a question of whether I'm a positive force in the universe. Basically, I'd suggest that everyone ask themself: if you were to not exist (be wiped from all existence; past, present, and future) would people be better off, or worse off, because of it?

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

Leave it better than you found it.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Here's mine: I will do as I please. Whether I choose to do good or evil is my choice. You may choose to attempt to stop me. But I may choose to injure you. So consider this: Is it not better to ensure good is done, rather than provoke evil.

Its a 'treat others' and a 'fuck you world' philosophy' all in one.

 

[Seldon2639]

Here's mine: I will do as I please. Whether I choose to do good or evil is my choice. You may choose to attempt to stop me. But I may choose to injure you. So consider this: Is it not better to ensure good is done, rather than provoke evil.

Its a 'treat others' and a 'fuck you world' philosophy' all in one.

Very Ayn Rand in nature

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I prefer Nietzich myself.....

 

[NotPigeon]

The flaws of humanity are just a byproduct of evolution, as are the things we consider virtuous. There's no true good or evil; they're just social constructs. People act in self-interest mainly; while they don't set out specifically to harm, usually they are unable to see beyond the immediate repercussions of their actions.
I've also always felt that the best way to deal with social problems is to weed them out, one by one, and poke fun at them in an attempt to make people realize that they're bad and/or pay no attention to the people supporting them.

 

[Syc1]

I dont live by it but it is an interesting idea

"If you cannot live above the law(Natural law not human) you must make up new laws or find refuge in madness" - Nietzsche

it is interesting that he said this because he spent the final 11 years of his life in insanity...it would be great to find out what law it was that drove him into madness... maybe it is too great for any one individual to think through..

 

[runtheplacered]

"Walk, don't run."

 

[Geoffrey42]

Specifically, what I tell myself to let me sleep peacefully at night?

"There is very little that can be done about whether or not I will die in my sleep from a variety of potential causes, so I might as well sleep soundly in case I'm still alive in the morning and have to go to work."

It's a more rational variation on "F*** it. I'm tired."

 

[Echolocating]

"There are two levers in life: lever A and lever B... and sometimes you just gotta leave 'er be."

My father always throws that one at me when I don't know when to move on. ;-)

 

[Nugoo]

I try to live in a way such that, if I were watching myself in a video game or TV show, I would want me to live.

 

[Larenxis]

Before I go to sleep: "I'll do better tomorrow." (It's actually optimistic, not depressing)
What I remind myself of: "I have free will." (This is too easily forgotten)
Quote I try to live by: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Ghandi)

 

[Geoffrey42]

What I remind myself of: "I have free will." (This is too easily forgotten)

Or too easily refuted, depending on your viewpoint.