Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Philosophy Club

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

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


Fear is a feeling, and bravery is a choice.

The only thing a person needs to be brave is fear.

A fearless person can't be brave.

Likewise, a person can't be self-disciplined (a.k.a. free-spirited) without at least some kind of feeling or urge such as fear, anger, hunger, pain, discomfort, etc.

Hunger, anger, fear, pain, and discomfort are like water. Self-discipline (a.k.a. spiritual freedom) is like choosing to swim. Spiritual slavery/imprisonment is like drowning, or at least the feeling of drowning. It's drowning without dying.

It's like waterboarding yourself, which is fine if that's what you choose. To each their own.

We live in heaven, but some choose hell.

In heaven, if you want to waterboard yourself, you get to.

In heaven, even the hell-wishers get their wish.

In this beautiful perfect heavenly world in which we all live, the hell of cowardice is yours for the taking, just like the joy of bravery is.

In this beautiful perfect heavenly world in which we all live, the hell of imaginary slavery is yours for the taking, just as is the graceful joy and invincible inner peace of honest spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline).


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In addition to having authored his book, In It Together, Eckhart Aurelius Hughes (a.k.a. Scott) runs a mentoring program, with a free option, that guarantees success. Success is 100% guaranteed for anyone who follows the program.
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In the most heavenly of heavens, even the hell-wishers get their wish.
even-the-hell-wishers-get-their-wish.jpg (37.52 KiB) Viewed 2257 times

[Kajori Sheryl Paul]

I love the swimming analogy. Also, completely agree that "In this beautiful perfect heavenly world in which we all live, the hell of cowardice is yours for the taking, just like the joy of bravery is."

[Jennifer Coxon]

I would agree that it is a choice although I'm not sure that spiritual freedom has anything to do with it, personally. It is about a person's perspective and mindset. Some will never choose to be brave and step out of their comfort zone long enough (or at all) to experience the freedoms of that choice. Others have such a negative perspective and outlook on life that they don't even realise there is that choice available to make.

[Celestine Adhiambo]

Life often presents us with choices, where bravery can lead to joy, and cowardice may lead to a self-imposed hell. It's up to us to navigate these paths in our journey.

[Erikpume Victory]

Life often presents us with choices, where bravery can lead to joy, and cowardice may lead to a self-imposed hell. It's up to us to navigate these paths in our journey.

It's very true about what you said, bravery truly does lead to joy.

[Gee-Q Mdluli]

I totally agree, and as someone from a society where having opinions that are too different from the mainstream can get you in trouble and your choices are either suffer in silence or speak up and suffer the punishment, no matter how severe the punishment is, it tends to pale in comparison to the satisfaction of knowing that your life is truly your own.

[_Rhea Jacob]

"A fearless person can't be brave." I love this sentence because we wouldn't be courageous or brave if we didn't face any kind of obstacles or challenges in our lives.

[Vane Manyenga]

In this grand tableau, the choice between the tranquil embrace of heaven and the fiery crucible of hell becomes a testament to the human spirit's resilience. Each decision, whether born of courage or crippled by fear, paints strokes upon the canvas of our lives, creating a narrative uniquely ours in this grand cosmic theater.

[Agoms Collins]

The statement "In this beautiful perfect heaven, the hell of cowardice is yours for the taking, just like the joy of bravery is" suggests that in an ideal or utopian world, individuals have the freedom to choose their paths and behaviors. Even in a seemingly perfect environment, the experiences and outcomes depend on personal choices. Here’s a breakdown of this idea:

Imagine a perfect world where everything is beautiful and serene. This can be seen as a metaphor for a situation where opportunities and positive conditions are abundant. In such a place, people still face choices about how they live their lives and respond to situations.

The "hell of cowardice" refers to the negative consequences of choosing to act with fear and avoidance. Cowardice involves avoiding challenges, difficult decisions, or standing up for oneself and others. Even in a perfect world, choosing cowardice can lead to feelings of regret, self-loathing, and missed opportunities. It’s like living in a personal hell where one's potential is never fully realized, and fear dictates actions.

On the other hand, "the joy of bravery" represents the positive outcomes of choosing courage and boldness. Bravery means facing challenges head-on, making tough decisions, and standing up for what is right. In a perfect world, acting bravely leads to a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, and happiness. It’s like living in a personal heaven where one feels proud of their actions and decisions.

The essence of the statement is that the environment alone doesn’t determine one’s experiences. Even in the best of circumstances, personal choices shape individual realities. You can choose to live in the "hell" of cowardice, where fear controls your actions, or in the "joy" of bravery, where courage leads to personal growth and fulfillment.

Ultimately, the statement highlights the power of personal choice and the impact it has on one’s life. Even in a perfect world, the responsibility of choosing between fear and courage lies with each person. This choice determines whether one experiences a personal hell or heaven.