"If we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed."
— Chris McCandless
im not quit sure i understand where he is coming from w/ this one.
2007-12-20 10:19:05 · 9 answers · asked by Dare to ask? 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Reasons give us a convenient out, an excuse, for doing things one way versus another. We lose the ability to live our lives in full color, in the moment, with love, joy and full self-expression when we rely on reason. We give those things because we have a reason to, like it's too hard, my husband/wife won't let me, I don't have enough money, I'm not good enough to do those things.
When we let reason make our choices for us, we lose who we are, and consequently the desire to for the most important things life offers.
2007-12-20 10:36:54 · answer #1 · answered by livemoreamply 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it means that they are trying to say that human life can never really be ruled with reason at all. No one thinks a like or feels the same way about things so you can not reason with everyone the same way. There will always be someone that does not agree and if we only left it up to reasoning to control humans then we would all be destroyed because we would all fight between each other and nothing would ever get settled.
2007-12-20 10:31:35 · answer #2 · answered by craft painter 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He's saying that human life should not be completely ruled by reason. The only way that human life came to be is out of circumstances that were elicited without reason. Without something other than reason affecting the way human life develops, life would be empty and meaningless even if we did not all kill one another. I'm not sure if he's trying to say that we WOULD all kill eachother (which we probably would -> Garret Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons - individuals acting in their own rational self interest will lead to ruin for all in a commons), or if the quality of life would no longer be reminiscient of human life ruled by more than just reason.
In my opinion, there is no opposite to reason. While some would say "emotion" or "irrationality" I think that emotions might really just be results of inductive reasoning; that are based largely on the context of the event. Irrationality, I think, is not the opposite of reason, but simply a mistake or miscongruency in rational thought processes.
2007-12-20 12:17:24 · answer #3 · answered by Absent Glare 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mr.McCandless is saying..or supposing...that if people believe "human life" can be ruled by "reason"...well it might be ruled, as we know it..by "reason".and that is pretty obvious if you look at the state of things in the world today.
And YES..it is being "destroyed" LIFE is being destroyed at an alarming rate!!
and the reason why...LIFE is being destroyed. According to Mr.McCandleness---is that the people responsible..the so called "rulers"..are all ruling through "reason"..
Now MY question is what would be the opposite of reason?..is it "emotion"..love..soul?..because if that were the case..if the "rulers" would rule using more ..emotion..love..soul..well I DO think we would be MUCH better off.
but that is "a dream" In todays world reason rules every single piece of our minds and hearts!
hense the caos!!
2007-12-20 11:19:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Reason is the combination of logic with empiricism. Logic itself can be meaningless....if a=1 and b=1 then a=b. But that gives few answers to many complex questions. That is where experience comes into play. The point of the quote goes beyond this though. Its saying that human actions and relationships often leave behind reason and follow passion. Passion is unpredictable but necessary. So if we followed reason we would have to ignore the heart...and that would be the end of humanity and the lives we pursue.
2007-12-20 10:53:12 · answer #5 · answered by D Low 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If life is as trivial as we believe, then there is no future.
If we admit existence is just a collection of thoughts and actions, then life never existed and does not exist.
"Yesterday is an invention of today, which is only possible if tomorrow exists."-Exousia Skotos
2007-12-20 11:28:20 · answer #6 · answered by Exousia Skotos 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Looked at with pure reason life is untenable.
2007-12-21 07:52:05 · answer #7 · answered by ptery 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"If we think humans could live by the rules, life would not be fun."
2007-12-20 10:32:07 · answer #8 · answered by Mims 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it means that people have to control the world. because if it's controled by reason then people won't know anything.
2007-12-20 11:02:18 · answer #9 · answered by theplayakid 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋