A question about metaphysics?
Question by MikeW: A question about metaphysics?
You can never come to an actual answer when pondering metaphysical questions, such as “is there a God?” or, “is there life after death?”, or “what is the purpose of life?”
My father just had a conversation with me about balancing my life. He told me I was concentrating too much on metaphysical questions and not concentrating on other areas, the two other areas he mentioned were the categories “escape” (drugs, partying, lounging, friends, vacation, etc..) and “achievements” (college degree, other goals…) Balance, he says, is the reason why I should concentrate on all three categories equally.
This sort of upset me. I’m not sure that’s correct. The reason for the conversation is to show me that he cares, or to change my life because he cares about me, or something similar to that.
What do you all think?
I don’t mean to bias the question, but here’s my thoughts….
I think most of what one “achieves” is more of an illusion than an actual “achievement”. For example, if one gets a college degree it seems as more of a necessary qualifier towards the societal domain rather than an achievement of something of true “meaning” or “value”. When one concentrates on the “escape” group one often attains the “psychological nourishment” to remain an appropriate “healthy”.
I can’t find any other category worth striving to other than philosophy. For someone, even a Dad, to tell another human being how to balance life…that isn’t “correct”. Existentialism, the individual is the only person who can define what is of meaning and brings value and what sorts of things to act upon (which is supposed to be reflective to the rest of humanity). My meaning perhaps is just different than my dads? Or should I balance my life to how he sees fit?
Thanks!!
Best answer:
Answer by Q
It is your choice.
But a wise man listens to the opinions of others…
but then makes up his own mind.
What do you think? Answer below!
important topic. your fathers concern is for your welfare and i guess its regarding the degree of your focus. ive heard it described as like a wagon wheel. .you want the things you value to be balanced enough the the wheel rolls smoothly. i believe that much of what is valued by society is very superficial. i like buddhisms view on this. non attachement to the material for sure. but you have to have an object or direction in mind. i would recommend reading books at the psitek.net website. one in particular discussed that knowledge without practice is useless. so learning is great but you need an outlet or place where you can apply it. im kind of in the same place in some ways and i feel that i have a need to speak about these things whether its performance art or mininstry
Question left unanswered before one can give a meaningful answer — are you fully and truly financially independent? If you’re supporting yourself and not getting money from your father, family, etc., then you’re right the meaning of your life, etc., is different than your father’s answer. If you’re not truly financially independent, which is my guess, listen to your father since it’s easy to say achievement is an illusion when you live in the illusion that your family allows you to live in. Until you pay all your own bills you know very little about life.
With that mindset you’re a hopeless case for your dad.
But you have to earn money, if you want to live. Don’t forget that one.
why don’t you get a degree in philosophy, and focus on metaphysics?
also those questions you posed are not metaphysical questions, their just not normal questions people ask like “paper or plastic”
metaphysics is a very specific branch of philosophical study
just remember;
for everything,
if its possible then you can imagine it,
(x)(Ey)(Px -> Iyx),
but not everything you can imagine is possible
-(x)(Ey)(Iyx -> Px)