I'm one of those people that just seems to be lost in life. I did ok in school but according to an IQ test (not a cheap on-line test=P) I am a genius. Huh? Pftt, a genius? Yea right. So I'm this alleged genius yet I can't figure out this enormous puzzle called life. I guess I don't really know what I believe in. I want to believe in something (do I?) but I"m starting to think that I'm not capable. I question everything that is taken as fact (or as close to fact as it can get) in regards to human origin, universal origin, life, death, etc. Evolved from monkeys? Perhaps. Planted here on Earth by meteorites? Maybe. Crafted in a short span of time by a greater power? Who knows. But can a person really, truly understand all this without accepting certain knowledges as absolute fact? I tend to think not. And that's where my problem is. I question. And it's not a bad thing, it just makes it rather difficult to cement any kind of trust in a certain belief. Any ideas?=)
2007-10-19 22:45:33 · 6 answers · asked by ethereal_slumber 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I trust that you have seen The Matrix. Rather than believing that there lies a "true world" (the matrix) behind the "apparent world" - the shared world we humans live in on this planet -, I believe there are only two options: either this shared world exists independently of me, or it does not, and is merely a figment of my imagination. You may for simplicity's sake regard the latter position as solipsism (it's really more complex, but nevermind that now). Nothing and nobody can possibly convince me that he, she or it exists outside of my mind: for any "evidence" they would provide me with they would have to present to my mind.
Such solipsist skepticism is ultimately nihilist. The only reason I have to rather take the former position, i.e., to believe in an independently existing, shared world, would be that I encountered things or beings in it that I would like to believe in as not being merely imaginary - as truly existing. I would then *believe* in their existence, and thereby in the existence of the world in which they as well as I exist as independent beings, because I would hold that idea dear. This is the original meaning of "belief":
"believe
O.E. belyfan, earlier geleafa (Mercian), gelefa (Northumbrian), gelyfan (W.Saxon) "believe," from P.Gmc. *ga-laubjan "hold dear, love," from PIE base *leubh- "to like, desire" (see love)."
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=believe
That is, as you can see: I would believe in them because I would love them. Likewise, this Ronald Reagan character in The Matrix *wants* to believe in the apparent world, for instance the steak he is eating, because he loves it - its smell and taste, in the case of the steak.
Your place in life, then, shall be the condition in which you'll live for the things you love. And if you don't know yet which are the things you love - the things you would live for -, you should live for finding that out.
2007-10-20 02:55:42 · answer #1 · answered by sauwelios@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are a genius. But we have to except facts of life, there is nothing we can do about it. So dont stress and disturb your mind with too much of thought. Just chill, cool it and relax. Or else you will be heading for a mental break down. Take life one day at a time and keep time for happiness and admire nature and the beautiful earth and all around. Life is what you make of it. Think positive and be happy.Lighten up.
2007-10-20 05:51:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Understanding evolution and origins will be your place within Earth´s life only if you decided to truly research and discover its unknown.
By reading about things will give you meaning only if your life´s goal is writing a book about everything you have learned. Or such.
Therefore, your true place in life is your decision on what you are going to do about all the knowledge you have collected so far.
Life is synonymous with now, and now is synonymous with action.
When we missing the "action" part, we naturally missing our place in life.
2007-10-20 10:46:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being sceptical is absolutely amazing! So, to question things is great.
I was in a similar situation, and now in a very good place.
I thought the best way to answer your question would be to tell you how I got to the place I'm at. I used the following things, and found them extremely effective:
Inspiration, book by Wayne Dyer
Get The Edge, audio program by Tony Robbins
www.agapelive.com - I subscribe to their weekly talks!
2007-10-20 10:07:43 · answer #4 · answered by Katie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sound a helluva lot like me âº
But the fact is that there -are- things you can believe in. You just have to learn what they are -for- -you-. And it isn't an easy journey. You have to be totally honest with yourself about yourself. And you may not even like some of the things that you find. But, until you know yourself, you'll never be happy with who or what you are. And you can't let anyone else tell you who you are or what to believe in because they -aren't- you.
Doug
2007-10-20 06:06:40 · answer #5 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you spend all your life wondering why you're here and waiting for something momentous to happen to you then, before you know it, most of it will have passed you by.
Stop navel-gazing - get out there and enjoy your life, especially with the god-given talent you've been given.
This is your life - accept the fact that you're here and get on with it.
2007-10-20 05:51:30 · answer #6 · answered by the_lipsiot 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋