Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Philosophy Club

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

This is a discussion forum topic for the November 2022 Philosophy Book of the Month, In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All.


My book, In It Together, contains possibly my favorite statements from any philosopher ever, and that is this statement from Albert Camus: "One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

However, here is another quote from Albert Camus, from the same book, which is likewise a very powerful and very famous quote in philosophy:

There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy. All the rest— whether or not the world has three dimensions, whether the mind has nine or twelve categories—comes afterwards. These are games; one must first answer. And if it is true, as Nietzsche claims, that a philosopher, to deserve our respect, must preach by example, you can appreciate the importance of that reply, for it will precede the definitive act.

Do you agree with Camus that the only truly serious question in philosophy (or, at least, the most important question in philosophy) is the question of whether life is worth living and why?

I imagine a lot of pseudo-philosophers who don't read books might like to play philosophy as a way to romanticize their angst or hateful pedantry. Consider an angry teenage rebel-without-a-cause who has never actually read a book but fanboys for Nietzsche (somehow, despite not having read any of his actual books). Or consider the many quick-to-anger ad-hominem-throwing folks on the internet getting into unproductive flame wars, whether in social media comment sections or even on "philosophy forums", who would love to mislabel what they do as serious philosophy.

Nietzsche literally wrote a book titled "The Science of Happiness" (with the title more often alternatively translated as "The Gay Science"). It's kind of easy to tell when someone who claims to love and agree with Nietzsche hasn't actually read any of his work. Many people use the false label of philosophy to falsely romanticize their seemingly self-chosen misery, instead of doing something really philosophical such as reading a book titled "The Science of Happiness".

Please don't read a tone into my words or otherwise between the lines. I say it all with friendly love.

Any book from the self-help section of a book store will be more than a million times more philosophical than the angry rants of an angry person about anything. Even when anger or hate is dressed up as refined intellectualism, which is even funnier when it's done by people who haven't read a book in years (if ever), it's still just what it really is under the flimsy mask.

In fact, if a book store has a self-help section--or, even better, an "inner peace and true happiness" section--then that would presumably have much more truly philosophical books than the so-called philosophy section. Man-made printed labels can be deceiving.

And there's a reason one type of book sells way more the other: One's audience is people who actually read.

And it's only that audience that contains real philosophers.

What do you think? Do you agree with Camus?

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[Surabhi Rani]

I enjoyed learning about the link between philosophy and spirituality in the above post. If a book store has a self-help section - or an inner peace and true happiness' section - then that would have much more truly philosophical books than the so called philosophy section. Printed labels can be deceiving!

[Kajori Sheryl Paul]

I do believe that Camus' opinion that the only or most important question in philosophy is the question of whether life is worth living holds some credence.

Also, I completely agree with you. People who romanticize their suffering in the name of philosophy especially without reading any books, can produce nothing remotely close to philosophy.

[Jessica Cole 3]

This philosophical question is certainly up there as one of the most difficult ones to answer. Anytime I've heard about a suicide in the news, I always wonder what the mental struggle was and what finally made the person give up the fight. It comes up so often that it cannot be disregarded as a top problem. We see it displayed in life and media. Even Shakespeare penned, "To be or not to be? That is the question."

However, I think there is another question that could rival that one, which is also a moral dilemma: To save yourself or someone else? I posit that if people had the choice to only either save themselves or save anyone else, it would result in an internal struggle that is even more of a philosophical problem than suicidal thoughts. The situation could be dire (life or death) or trivial (finding a wallet with money and ID inside). The word "save" could be replaced with "help", and the same would ring true.

At the very least, this should be considered as a second serious philosophical issue, because it's about serving oneself or one's fellow man/woman. Perhaps many would love to help others, but would they do it at a "cost" to themselves? Of course, the "cost" would be not helping themselves. I would like to know your thoughts on this.

[Sondang Hotmauli]

Albert Camus posits that the most crucial question in philosophy is whether life is worth living. This inquiry encapsulates the essence of human existence and confronts us with the pursuit of happiness, inner peace, and the significance of our lives. While there are other intriguing philosophical topics, Camus argues that this question takes precedence, as it lays the foundation for deeper philosophical exploration. But it's important to understand that philosophy covers a broad variety of topics and viewpoints. Although they provide insights into human development, self-help books may not go as far into existential issues. Genuine engagement in philosophy necessitates a combination of intellectual inquiry and personal reflection. Regardless of agreement with Camus, contemplating the worthiness of life leads to profound insights and personal development, enabling individuals to find meaning and navigate the complexities of existence.

[Nicholet Haumann]

I truly strive to be happy and to find happiness and peace. I sometimes feel like life is short and I don't want to run out of time or miss out on lining life or on being happy in this short amount of time we have.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

think there is another question that could rival that one, which is also a moral dilemma: To save yourself or someone else?

That's certainly an interesting question.

Some might be quite stumped by it. However, as I hope my book explains well, I am not stumped at all by that question for two reasons:

First, I don't believe in morality or evil. To me, they are just superstitions.

Second, fundamentally speaking, I believe we are all one. In other words, I believe the difference between self vs other is an illusion. In yet other words, I believe that what book calls "the real you" and what my calls "the real me" are actually the same exact one thing.


For more elaboration on the first idea (that evil/morality doesn't exist), please see the following topic of mine:

What the word "evil" means to me, and why I believe evil (as I use the term) does not exist.


For more elaboration on the second idea (the oneness of you and I and everything), please see the following topic of mine:

The lion & the antelope share a spirit. Even your worst enemy is but a friend—you yourself in fact—in playful disguise.


With love,
Eckhart Aurelius
Hughes

[Mikespice Mike]

I totally agree with you inner peace and happiness always makes our live smooth and simpler without any worries nor complications

[Omollo Joseph]

The question of whether life is worth living and the pursuit of happiness and inner peace are fundamental philosophical inquiries. Different philosophical traditions offer diverse perspectives on what constitutes a meaningful and fulfilling life. Some emphasize the importance of personal happiness, while others delve into ethical or existential considerations. Ultimately, the quest for understanding the purpose and value of life is a complex and subjective journey, drawing from various philosophical, religious, and cultural viewpoints.