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Believing something is the best past for an individual does not mean believing it to be "scalable" or that it would be good for society (or even possible in a s

by rfrey 5y ago

Believing something is the best past for an individual does not mean believing it to be "scalable" or that it would be good for society (or even possible in a society) for everyone to adopt that path. Socrates was executed for corrupting youth. He never denied it.

BeFlatXIII 5y ago
That’s why I have contempt for people who ask the rhetorical question of “what is everyone followed that path?” and then act surprised when I’m not wowed by their common-sense wisdom. I didn’t ask whether the plan was good social policy or not: I asked whether those actions were reasonable for me to do.
PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
Sure. But then I don't think it makes much sense to be dispensing "advice" like this in such a generalized way. Suggesting to a particular person that you know that they should try to find their life's mission and purpose may make sense given whatever you know about them. It may be absolutely the right advice (and path) for them to take, since there are undoubtedly people who do have such singular purpose. However, that doesn't imply that this way of thinking about how to approach life makes any sense in a generalized "how to live an XXXX kind of life" article or book or talk or whatever. That's even more true if one of the metrics supporting why "an XXXX kind of life" is good includes happiness. If you're only going to be happy if you manage your singular unique mission and purpose in life, then the chances are extremely high that you will not be happy.
- civilized 5y ago
  This "you're not special, so just live within the bounds everyone else lives in" thing seems like a depressing spin on life. I agree that there's a lot of rules that everyone should follow and philosophies that most would benefit from, but... everyone's life involves situations and relationships that are unique and singular and special to them. For example, most adults are taking care of a family that is very special to them. "Take care of your family" is maybe not a special, unique purpose on its face, but it is special to each person who is doing it. While it's perhaps true that few people are called to live lives that would look utterly unique and remarkable in an autobiography, I think we should take care not to define out of existence the inherent uniqueness and singularity of purpose of each life.
  - PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
    > we should take care not to define out of existence the inherent uniqueness and singularity of purpose of each life. Absolutely. I would never want to do that (or be seen as doing that).
    - civilized 5y ago
      Then yeah, I get what you're saying and I agree.

by rfrey 5y ago

BeFlatXIII 5y ago

That’s why I have contempt for people who ask the rhetorical question of “what is everyone followed that path?” and then act surprised when I’m not wowed by their common-sense wisdom. I didn’t ask whether the plan was good social policy or not: I asked whether those actions were reasonable for me to do.

PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago

Sure. But then I don't think it makes much sense to be dispensing "advice" like this in such a generalized way. Suggesting to a particular person that you know that they should try to find their life's mission and purpose may make sense given whatever you know about them. It may be absolutely the right advice (and path) for them to take, since there are undoubtedly people who do have such singular purpose. However, that doesn't imply that this way of thinking about how to approach life makes any sense in a generalized "how to live an XXXX kind of life" article or book or talk or whatever. That's even more true if one of the metrics supporting why "an XXXX kind of life" is good includes happiness. If you're only going to be happy if you manage your singular unique mission and purpose in life, then the chances are extremely high that you will not be happy.

civilized 5y ago
This "you're not special, so just live within the bounds everyone else lives in" thing seems like a depressing spin on life. I agree that there's a lot of rules that everyone should follow and philosophies that most would benefit from, but... everyone's life involves situations and relationships that are unique and singular and special to them. For example, most adults are taking care of a family that is very special to them. "Take care of your family" is maybe not a special, unique purpose on its face, but it is special to each person who is doing it. While it's perhaps true that few people are called to live lives that would look utterly unique and remarkable in an autobiography, I think we should take care not to define out of existence the inherent uniqueness and singularity of purpose of each life.
- PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
  > we should take care not to define out of existence the inherent uniqueness and singularity of purpose of each life. Absolutely. I would never want to do that (or be seen as doing that).
  - civilized 5y ago
    Then yeah, I get what you're saying and I agree.