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I now question everything

smokey111
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Posted 03/11/08 - 08:19 AM: Subject: I now question everything	#1
Having recently experienced a depressive illness, I found myself questioning many deep and unsolvable topics such as the reason for life, existence of god/ afterlife. In the depths of depression, I found these to be most troubling almost to the extent of torturing. Over time I have managed to comfort myself that these are simply questions that have faced millions of people over thousands of years. Yet since my discovery of philosophy, my outlook on life has become somewhat distorted. Although I appreciate it is a very vague question, I was wondering what other people felt about the link between the onset of depression and the discovery of philosophy? It feels like I have opened a pandora's box of life's questions which now dominate my thinking. Can philosophy be seen as a solace to depressive illness? Edited by hyena in petticoat on 03/11/08 - 09:47 PM. Reason: Illiteracy.

figster63
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Posted 03/11/08 - 11:57 AM:	#2
It is important to question everything but even more important to know you know nothing.

Kreius
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Posted 03/11/08 - 12:13 PM:	#3
figster63 wrote: You know nothing. Or at least very little, in comparison to all the information out there. You would at least know that you know nothing, though this small percentage of knowledge would be so small compared to what can be known that it could, in a mathematical sense, be 'nothing'. But I digress, to the op: Philosophy is about as good of a solace for depression as Viagra is. If another reference to Socrates may be made here: 'Give me a man who thinks, and I shall show you a man who frowns'. This is what happens if you begin to treat philosophy as your blood-line/food/insulin/etc., your depressive state will actually increase in ferocity (if that's the right term). So, if you study philosophy 'purely', then you will find no solace. I mean, if philosophy isn't destroying your world by now, you're not doing it right (the good kind of destruction). We, who choose to fight this depression, have our own ways of dealing with it. I personally treat the whole universe as a big joke (not like that weird saying my immediate peers use frequently: 'I feel like the world is one big joke and the joke's on me'), in other words, every situation has an enormous amount of hilarity, it's just that this hilarity is dormant until someone insane enough decides to bring it up to the surface (where it then is blinded by light, and the joke gets even more funny). I used to be depressed, then I discovered philosophy. Then it just plummeted (this was around the time I hooked up with one of my exgirlfriends, so that might really be the underlying cause) to an all-time low. Then I found out what 'fun' was. Maybe we get depressed in philosophy if we formalize it too much? Finally, Philosophy isn't really that vague; though it has that effect on the unprepared/uninitiated. In my experience, it's incredibly concise, clear, and rigorous. If it really is vague, I'd lke to see some good examples.
"Challenge your professors, even when you agree with them." -Herr Iosity

yasashii
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Posted 03/11/08 - 01:07 PM:	#4
This is not deppression. What it is, is your brain learning how to think. Ever heard the saying "Ignorance is bliss." You see there are two opposing forces in this world the Yin, and the Yang. And within everything lies its exact opposite. Wich brings me back to my point. Acting stupid may get you a few laughs and a few good times, but in the end it leaves you dissatisfied and full of regret. Being wise and benevolent may bring you sorrow, but in the end you will be completely satisfied. Stay true to yourself, and stay pure. Show benevolence daily to your peers. Plus we are all going to die someday, everything and everyone, so cheer up pal, I will be your friend.

johncee1945
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1 of 1 people found this post helpful Posted 03/11/08 - 03:12 PM:	#5
"Can philosophy be seen as a solace to depressive illness?" Philosophy is a compass and guide through life and its basic premise and mission is a search for the truth. It should be mentioned that there are those reactionaries who deny that there is any objective truth. And just to prove it even write reams on the subject, never for a moment suspecting, what they are replacing it with! Philosophy is a historical gain, building and learning on all the insights of past philosophers. So that you are in control to a degree of your life and not like flotsam and jetsom, swept between pillar and post. All the other sciences come together and merge in the house of philosophy to give understanding, an all rounded understanding. The science of all sciences. When you view things critically, well that is what a scientist does, in order to EXTRACT from what is being studied - to gain new knowledge - from what is actually there and not imprint your own subjective interpretations or distortions. So that you get an objective appraisal of qualities, characteristics and insights. Even deeper understanding if you include the subject matter under investigation being analysed from its real historical life or evolution. Every aspect including your findings viewing it critical. It is important to know there are only two philosophies idealism and materialism and for myself turned to historical materialism. Often the onset of depression is located within the economic breakdown of society, which brings in its wake job destruction, housing loss, breakdown in relationships and creates instability and hardship. AS well as taking away the immediate future by CONSIGNING billions of workers to everlasting uncertainty and doubt. Today multi millions of workers who are undeveloped and potentially useful are consigned to the scrapheap. Soon easy credit is going to dry up and that will have further devastating consequences for production and jobs. But people are taught to take these problems subjectively, feeling worthless and not see them objectively, as the direct product of a system that has failed them.

180 Proof
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Posted 03/11/08 - 09:33 PM:	#6
Read: Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius.
The question isn't "Which explanations do I believe?" but rather "Which explanations do I least disbelieve?" Absence of evidence THAT MUST BE THERE (i.e. implied by any claim, concept, or (its) predicates, that affects changes in/to the world) entails evidence of absence. [What cannot be done?[What cannot be hoped?[What cannot be known?]]]

ktmoser
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Posted 03/17/08 - 05:33 AM:	#7
Depression inevitably leads one to philosophy. I would be wary, however, of viewing it as a solace to such an illness. If one is depressed, their perspective on the world is considerably skewed in a negative way. Philosophy has no definitive answers, and therefore is subject to the bias of the one studying philosophy. I am in no way trying to deter anyone from approaching philosophy, but if someone is depressed, it is best to deal with that first before trying to deal with the uncertain nature of human existence.

jimRH7
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Posted 03/18/08 - 11:05 AM:	#8
well, i think it's important to ask philosophical questions anyway, otherwise, what's the point of being alive?

Kreius
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Posted 03/18/08 - 12:07 PM:	#9
jimRH7 wrote: well, i think it's important to ask philosophical questions anyway, otherwise, what's the point of being alive? Sex, drugs, friends, etc. Philosophical questions are fun, but they ruin your life (or so I hear, I wouldn't really know) if you take them seriously enough.
"Challenge your professors, even when you agree with them." -Herr Iosity

Lex
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Posted 03/21/08 - 09:00 PM:	#10
Kreius wrote: Sex, drugs, friends, etc. Philosophical questions are fun, but they ruin your life (or so I hear, I wouldn't really know) if you take them seriously enough. True. By the time you start caring enough about them, you stop caring about other worldly pursuits as too trivial. Bang. You're a psychopath. That is not to say that is a bad thing. Philosophical questions rule (inhales).

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