I am studying philosophy at uni this semester. It is quite scary, if you ask me. I already think more than i should, how much worst is it going to get now?
But anyway, that's not my point. The topic i am doing is "philosophy and the good life". We will learn about different philosophers views on what it is to have a good life (eudaimonia, as they say. a successful life). All of it goes way over my head. I can't seem to understand why they would waste their lives trying to figure out what the best life is. Honestly, why would you even want to know? What if the best life is something you don't want to do? Someone you don't want to be?
Some (philosophers) say your life must be in balance for it to be eudaimonian. I think that is quite true. But at the same time, why can't you have more of something? Say friendships? Why can't it be unbalanced? Others say you need to fullfill your potential. Say you are a great runner. Even if you hate it, they say you should still be a runner, because that's what you are "meant" to do.
I don't get this stuff. Really, i don't. I can't see how different people can have a great life the same way. I honestly believe some really poor but with a good family can be happier than a really rich man with a few friends.
I don't believe it is possible to have 'the best' life one can have. Sometimes you will be happy. Sometimes you will be miserable. Isn't that what life is all about? If there were only ups, would you be happy? I don't think i would. You start wanting more and more. It never ends. You can never be as happy as possible. I believe in being happy with what we have. If you loose something,you will learn to live without it and be happy. If you gain something, you will also learn to live with it and be happy. I strongly believe we learn from our own mistakes. I don't think you can learn from what other people do or say.
There just isn't a formula for an eudaimonian life. There never will be.
But anyway, that's not my point. The topic i am doing is "philosophy and the good life". We will learn about different philosophers views on what it is to have a good life (eudaimonia, as they say. a successful life). All of it goes way over my head. I can't seem to understand why they would waste their lives trying to figure out what the best life is. Honestly, why would you even want to know? What if the best life is something you don't want to do? Someone you don't want to be?
Some (philosophers) say your life must be in balance for it to be eudaimonian. I think that is quite true. But at the same time, why can't you have more of something? Say friendships? Why can't it be unbalanced? Others say you need to fullfill your potential. Say you are a great runner. Even if you hate it, they say you should still be a runner, because that's what you are "meant" to do.
I don't get this stuff. Really, i don't. I can't see how different people can have a great life the same way. I honestly believe some really poor but with a good family can be happier than a really rich man with a few friends.
I don't believe it is possible to have 'the best' life one can have. Sometimes you will be happy. Sometimes you will be miserable. Isn't that what life is all about? If there were only ups, would you be happy? I don't think i would. You start wanting more and more. It never ends. You can never be as happy as possible. I believe in being happy with what we have. If you loose something,you will learn to live without it and be happy. If you gain something, you will also learn to live with it and be happy. I strongly believe we learn from our own mistakes. I don't think you can learn from what other people do or say.
There just isn't a formula for an eudaimonian life. There never will be.
4 comments:
to work to the power of ur limit
that is the meaning of Eudaimonia.
Clausewiz says so.
His masterpiece 'on war' , a chapter
on genius has illuminated explanation.
i think people are happy the way they know how to be.
and, of course, people who thought about this certainly weren´t happy.
Very well-written! And I agree.
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