Why do some people not take life seriously?

Question

They know that certain things are killing them, but they do it anyway.

Answer 1

Because they just don't care;

Answer 2

I think what you meant to ask was, why do some people not value their lives - as apparently they don't when they do things that might shorten their lives. I can think of three main kinds of reason why.

One, life is hardly bearable to them for some reason - could be physical pain, emotional pain, feeling of worthlessness. Often something in their past is killing them - indirectly.

Two (and this is relatively rare), they have come to the philosophical conclusion that life is a joke - a cosmic joke - God's joke, maybe. And the result of this is that when a danger comes along they embrace it instead of seeking to avoid it. Such people might or might not have a 'happy-go-lucky' personality.

Three, they have become addicted to something dangerous - either a drug, or the 'adrenalin rush', or bad diet or too much food, or - the list could be quite long - sex, fighting, etc.

In philosophy there is (and has been since at least Plato's time) a problem the Greeks called 'akrasia' - these days it's called 'weakness of the will' (or sometimes 'incontinence'). It's the problem of why, when we know certain actions are probably bad for us, we do them anyway. Plato saw it as a battle between our appetites and our reason for influence over our will. Sometimes reason wins and we choose not to do the bad thing, but often our appetite wins and etc. How is it that desire can overrule reason? That's the question.

Answer 3

(I wrote this in answer to another question, but it kind of applies to this question as well.)

In the past couple decades I used to live two steps ahead, and it helped me get ahead in the world. But as I got into middle age I found that I was living too guarded, not sharing enough of myself with the world, was wound up too tight, and that I needed to get back to my younger days and try out new things just for the sheer sake of change.

These days I live one step at a time. I more into diversion, novelty, being expansive and keeping things light and fun with the people around me, and laughing off the screw-ups, failures, and losses. I don't worry about what's going to happen in a year or even next week. I abide by the rules of the road and let the system work for me rather than trying to beat the system. Overall, this attitude seems to be working a lot better for me. I get along with people better, good things come my way easier, and I like my life better.

Naturally, it's easy to live one step at a time these days in my middle age now that I'm comfortably off. It would have been more of a stretch ten or twenty years ago when I was still trying to scratch out a place for myself in the world and get my piece of the pie. So I guess I did what I had to do.

I guess you do whatever works for you.

Answer 4

Life is full of risks, and some think the only time you really feel alive is when your taking risks. I am not sure why people do not take life seriously, but I do know that it takes all kinds to make life interesting.

Answer 5

People who do not take life seriously have not suffered a great lose or have so much they don't care about the costs of there consequences for their actions, these people might not have GOD in their lives.

Answer 6

Saturn in the Horocope is in a debilitaing position and Venus dominating.Jokes apart,life is different to each ones perception.The ultmate goa is happiness.Yet,when it runs away from them,they stop taking life seriously--a mental fatigue.

Answer 7

Because they view life merely as a joke. For sure, these people have the biggest regrets on their deathbeds wishing that they could turn back the hands of time so that they can undo what they have done in their lives - which obviously cannot be done anymore.

Answer 8

Why do some people not take life less seriously?

Answer 9

cuz u cant enjoy life if u take things n urself 2 seriously

Answer 10

They do it anyway, because they're serious about life, they don't want to waste time doing things they don't fancy. Life is short.

Answer 11

I think the family , friends and social bonds play a great role in this.The man having loose bonds will be less serious and the one with better ties will be serious.