Philosophy pisses me off. People become so obsessed with particular authors that they seem to become devoid of any original thought, idolizing long dead fellows as their gods. What they don't realize, however, is that these people they love so much are just that: people. The only thing different about these philosophers is that they happened to write down their thoughts, and then coincidently pay hundreds of dollars to get them published. This does not make then geniuses; this makes them practical.
People all over the world are capable of thinking on their own behalf, and yet most choose not to. Any one particular person is perfectly fit for devising their own notions concerning the universe and the nature of it, yet they choose to only look to people who have thought about it for them. It is my personal belief that everyone should come to terms with how they perceive reality and their idea of godly ways, and become content with it. Sure, many won't have the same interpretation, but it is something that one is comfortable with. When one feels completely comfortable and content with themselves, one will also become comfortable and content with their idea concerning heavenly ideals. It is then that one can come to a peaceful and relaxing relationship with what they feel is a godly way of looking at things. Though one may feel that another does not follow the same way of thinking, they can be content with the fact that they personally are following their own ideals to the T, and have nothing to worry about.
Really, it is people's insecurity and fear of the unknown that sparks such intimate and violent hatred between the religous followings of the world. Hardly anyone thinks for themselves, and it shows.
I agree that no body thinks for themselves. We tend to allow media in all forms to dictate our lives. Magazines say how we should dress, news tells us what to think and believe about the world. Hardly anyone in the world has a original thought. Even in colleges people have the the hardest time writing papers that deal with their own thoughts.
Philosophy I did enjoy, mainly because I like to read other peoples thoughts and ideas. I don't adopt them as my own, I agree with some, I disagree with some. I formulate my own thoughts based on theirs as well as my own life.
"Take me in your arms and caress me close
Take me to a place where freedom flows"-- "Steadly Unstable" The 25th Hour
I suppose what really bothers me is the people who read a certain philosopher, and then completely idolize them, condemning all other ways of thought. This also happens in Psychology, and just about everything else, really. It's just aggravating. :(
I like to call this the savior syndrome. People desperately want to know how to live, so instead of working it out for themselves they find somebody to tell them how to live. Punk and the DIY ethic stood strongly against this idea in popular music that rock was for rockstars. Instead of idolizing the bands on the arena circuit punks picked up guitars and became their own heroes.
I wish something similar would happen to the popular thought process.
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.
I totally agree. I've posted blogs elsewhere that are similar to this one. What pisses me off more than people that obsess about philosophers are people that take cliches and sayings like "everyone is special" for granted to be true instead of thinking for themselves about what those sayings mean. I swear, if I hear "everything happens for a reason" one more time, I'll pull my hair out. THESE people prove that not everyone is special simply by accepting ideas that don't really mean ANYTHING!
Answer me this: If everyone is unique, what is the value in being unique?
You seem like you might know the answer.
I'm kind of off the topic, but... there it is.