Why do most people avoid philosophical thoughts and just focus on the "superficial" aspects of life?

Question

In my 28 years I've only had a handful of people bring up philisophical discussions and when I try and discuss them I usually get laughed at or told I am crazy. Why do most people usually avoid these conversations like the plague? I just want to discuss things other than fashion, sports, music, movies or any other thing I use to temporarily make myself feel better and distract me from the real issues of the world. I see people going around like robots, day in day out doing the same things over and over again not questioning what's happening around us, what's happened before us, or what will happen in our future. What percentage of the population do you think actually thinks "deep" and wants to know more? Do most people have these thoughts but they don't voice them? Are they too scared to think about it? Does living day to day like a robot bring them comfort and distraction? Do they already have answers that satisfy them? Or do most people really not think about it at all?

Answer 1

In reality, almost everyone is insignificant. No need to think too deep. It just complicates the matter of the daily grind of work, commute, family. If one starts to think too deeply, one ends up depressed for not achieving the status of those who do matter in life.

Answer 2

I do not know that people like us are any deeper than anyone else, I just know that we have fewer people who outwardly share our interests. I have often said that I am most lonely when I am with others. The reason I feel this way is because there is never anyone I can talk to. At jobs I have had I try to start conversations on ideas and possibilities only to be greeted with what you have described, laughter and dismissal. I tried to like sports just so I could talk to someone about something but that did not work, for the partaking in of sports related discussions almost made me physically ill. I have gotten better responses from my dog Barney, God rest his soul, for I saw more interest in his big brown eyes than I have in the eyes of a human being for quite sometime.

Answer 3

"Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore, I am.) The reverse is also true: Sum ergo gogito. (I am, therefore, I think.) Virtually any time a sentient organism is awake and conscious, it is producing thoughts. What we generally call "thinking" is the action of controlling and directing those thoughts. Because this requires a deliberate and conscious effort, too many people regard it as "work" and consequently seek to avoid it.
Adolf Hitler is reputed to have said, "It is fortunate for those in positions of power that the people do not think."
As appalling as it is to imagine that such a person could be right about anything, he was spot-on with that comment!

Yet, there ARE people who actually ENJOY "thinking". To some of us, a mental challenge is one of the highest forms of "fun".

It has been said that in a world of the blind, the man with one eye is King, but in actuality, this is far from true. What he REALLY IS is a sad, lonely, rejected OUTCAST. What this says about sight can also be related to intelligence levels. Most common minds do NOT ADMIRE that which they desire but don't have. Rather they RESENT, even HATE it. Hence they coin cutesy little sayings like "There's a fine line between genius and insanity." in order to make that which they mistakenly think they cannot attain for themselves look less attractive. They flock to movies where the "good-guy" hero of common, everyday "average" mental capabilities inevitably defeats the super-intelligent, evil villain. In books, movies, TV shows, etc, we see mental mediocrity glorified and intelligence villified day after day, week after week and year after year. (Our children are seeing this, too, and learning all the wrong lessons from it.)

With all our electro-mechanical labor-saving devices freeing up our time from the once all-consuming struggle for basic survival as well as the massive new sources of information and data provided by the existance of the "mass media", we should be a nation, a culture, of advanced thinkers. Too often, though, what SHOULD be the RULE, ends up being the EXCEPTION in our society - which is a sad and regrettable state of affairs.

Answer 4

It's too easy to see yourself in those kind of things. Most folks, given their druthers, don't want to know what others think about them.

A couple of years back, there was a survey ran by some news organization or another that asked as one of the questions, "do you want to view the results after you vote?". The overwhelming response, in the high 80's, was "no".

It's ok to feel however you feel about something. Positive or negative. Good or bad. Right or wrong. It's only yourself that you have to convince that you're being rational about whatever it is. Asking the deep questions, however, forces you to lay whatever you think is right out for others to see and judge. Most folks just don't want to know.

Does that make any sense?

Answer 5

Most people today are only concerned with themselves and trivial details of their lives. And actually, to become a good conversationalitst, we need to ask about and listen to these details because people usually talk about what is important to them.

As for Philosophy, most people haven't studied it, as well as Ethics or Religious Studies, or Logic, so how can they think "deeply" ?

I prefer rousing discussions on any Philosophical subject, and you are probably too intellectual for others, and I think that is part of the problem.

You will find someone sooner or later who finds these discussions stimulating and refreshing also. Maybe you need to change your friends ?

Answer 6

I know exactly what you mean. I have had the same experiances (laughter, being called crazy). People are no longer accustomed to thinking, they let the media think for them and whatever they hear or read they believe without any fight or struggle. If all of the news channels came on right now and said that the sky would be green tomorrow, know one would question it. Its a shame that we have become so superficial that all that is on our mind's are material things. Im glad you posted this, its good to see that someone is outside of the box.

Answer 7

People usually avoid discussing philosophical issues because they are poor at communicating. Maybe they do have an opinion or idea but don't know how to express it.

Another reason may be controversy. Avoid politics, religion, etc... People may not like discussing those topics because they know they have different opinions than you. You aren't going to change their opinion, they aren't going to change yours, so why bother?

Yet another reason may be that the topic is boring to them. Do we really exist? How do we know we really exist? I was about sick of those questions by High School.

Answer 8

- Deep people in the world 30%. (In the U.S. I'd say 15%). There are people who value the deeper aspects of life, and actually love open conversation. I'm married to one.
- I think "deep" people aren't afraid to voice their thoughts.
- People think they have the answers all the time... they're the ones shouting.

Good Question! I tend to just humor people a lot.

Answer 9

It's easier to follow the herd and try to fit in. You don't have to think, just do it.Society leaves little room for thought when you're in the whirl wind of it all. I wonder if it's a plan to distract or if it's a result of people running from the questions they fear.

Answer 10

If people thought deeply it would end up with many of them changing their perceptions about everything they have been taught and conditioned to believe.......Basically we are conditioned to believe what we are told and taught to not question or try to get to the bottom of things. Its become a mundane and shallow world where those of us that are deep thinkers are discouraged, critisized and made-fun of.