| AUFKLARUNG Germany. August 24 2012 03:01. Posts 211 | Profile # |
After a few days of self-exile with a few philosophy books in preparation for a few papers and exams coming very soon, I had a little epiphany: while I enjoy reading on the grand questions on life how others approach the issue, I had a sudden clarity on the specific things that motivate me in life. This is no mere reflection on philosophical issues of existence and being, and I wouldn't even claim to understand most of what I read, but I found it liberating to have had the opportunity to step back and evaluate my intentions honestly and see through the ephemerals of life and have a full grasp on things with enduring value.
What I think I'm trying to say here is that I had a clear picture of things that motivate me, why I wake up every day, why some difficulties are more bearable, and why I look forward to the future.
For me there are two, related, things. First is that I am meant to contribute something to education, not only as a university teacher (which I hope to become eventually), but also as an advocate in early education. I have not thought thoroughly yet about how to do this, but a little school for kids in the community or a nongovernment research group on alternative education would be a good start. Second is that I'd publish a book or two on philosophy, particularly on Hume and Rorty.
What about you? Share some things that motivate you, be as specific as you can, and let's have a discussion on it.Last edit: 2012-08-24 03:11:57 |
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| obesechicken13 United States. August 24 2012 03:05. Posts 4240 | Profile Blog # |
Bookmarking for future review though I suspect most answers will be like "other people" or 'happiness" or "God".
I have many motivations but none have lasted long.
If you value education why would you not consider working in a large education company where you could make a larger impact?Last edit: 2012-08-24 03:06:25 |
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| AUFKLARUNG Germany. August 24 2012 03:10. Posts 211 | Profile # |
On August 24 2012 03:05 obesechicken13 wrote:
Bookmarking for future review though I suspect most answers will be like "other people" or 'happiness" or "God".
I have many motivations but none have lasted long.
If you value education why would you not consider working in a large education company where you could make a larger impact?
Teaching is part of the plan. but I also want to target small-scale but direct projects, like community work/classes to kids during summer and/or research on new/effective methods. |
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| Shiragaku United States. August 24 2012 03:12. Posts 2919 | Profile Blog # |
I am no nihilist, but I often wonder that myself. Why do I eat to preserve an existence that is potentially meaningless? Fear of death? Fear of leaving behind anguish. Or is the motivation to live in life subjective, and the only real answer the subjective truth? I think I have an idea for myself, but I will not reveal it to anyone until I am certain and not full of nonsense.
On August 24 2012 03:05 obesechicken13 wrote:
If you value education why would you not consider working in a large education company where you could make a larger impact?
I am sure that question alone can be discussed in a separate thread.Last edit: 2012-08-24 03:14:31 |
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| AUFKLARUNG Germany. August 24 2012 03:16. Posts 211 | Profile # |
On August 24 2012 03:12 Shiragaku wrote:
I am no nihilist, but I often wonder that myself. Why do I eat to preserve an existence that is potentially meaningless? Fear of death? Fear of leaving behind anguish. Or is the motivation to live in life subjective, and the only real answer the subjective truth?
Let me share my experience with nihilism and existentialism and relate it to my motivation. At one point, you have to ask, what is the point. What is the value in asking about the meaning of existence of the meaning of meaning. Life has to be productive. To me, and this might be a phase, but I have strong emotions about this, life is more meaningful if you contribute. |
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| .ImchEEzy Canada. August 24 2012 03:16. Posts 105 | Profile # |
I am not motivated slightly in terms of goals because I do not have any goals in life, but yet I study and earn good grades. I guess one of my motivations would be survivability. In this society, for the majority of the people, you need education to live a moderate life. Another would be pride. Pride to not be mediocre but the best, to not live a shit life where you are looked down upon but rather someone who is looked upon for guidance. Or simply we live to express our feelings and freedom.
Ever look in the mirror and wonder is that really me, how am I me. Billions of people and yet you are concious and can feel and move and do what you want with that body you are in. Your mind is unlimited but your body isn't. |
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| Severe August 24 2012 03:24. Posts 26 | Profile # |
| What motivates me is my Belief in god, and my views on what will happen in the future. Knowing that i have a fuller prospect in life,then just 80 years.. |
| | enjoy life, live for the present, not for the future. |
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| Shiragaku United States. August 24 2012 03:25. Posts 2919 | Profile Blog # |
On August 24 2012 03:16 AUFKLARUNG wrote:
Show nested quote +On August 24 2012 03:12 Shiragaku wrote:
I am no nihilist, but I often wonder that myself. Why do I eat to preserve an existence that is potentially meaningless? Fear of death? Fear of leaving behind anguish. Or is the motivation to live in life subjective, and the only real answer the subjective truth?
Let me share my experience with nihilism and existentialism and relate it to my motivation. At one point, you have to ask, what is the point. What is the value in asking about the meaning of existence of the meaning of meaning. Life has to be productive. To me, and this might be a phase, but I have strong emotions about this, life is more meaningful if you contribute.
I have not read the Myth of Sisyphus for a really long time. However, the idea that life is a boulder that roll up the hill and it eventually rolls back down normally sounds angsty teenager, but it is very convincing and really ruins your hopes. But then I realized that life was meaningless and the goal of life was to be productive as you and many people say, but rather, it is rebellion. In my sense, it is about rebelling against what I am naturally suppose to do, basically, free will.
But I am still in high school so existentialism is probably just a phase I am going through like many other high schoolers.
However, unlike most high school existentialists, I am not a fan of Nietzsche. |
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| The KY United Kingdom. August 24 2012 03:25. Posts 6235 | Profile Blog # |
Stubborn pride motivates me. Through a series of bad times in the last few years I would sometimes reach the point of despair, to which my solution was always the same. Get angry and ask myself; are you really going to let a little depression/unemployment/homelessness beat you? Are you so weak? NO. Fuck that. You're fucking [insert my name]. FUCKING [INSERT MY NAME]. People go through worse than this every day and they don't give up. Are you telling me that they can do it but you can't? I don't fucking think so.
So that's why I force myself to work like a dog at my minimum wage job 50 hours a week, while also doing 3 full time A levels at home. So in a couple of years I can look back with grim satisfaction and say FUCK YOU I'm [insert my name].
No sob story intended, my life is pretty cool atm. |
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 Silidons United States. August 24 2012 03:29. Posts 2785 | Profile Blog # |
| i want to be able to make good money, find a woman that i love, and make her life as good as i can make it. if i can do that i can die happy. |
| | "God fights on the side with the best artillery." - Napoleon Bonaparte |
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| S:klogW Austria. August 24 2012 03:31. Posts 342 | Profile # |
| Work for CERN. I know I will. |
| | E = 1.89 eV = 3.03 x 10^(-19) J |
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| NewbieOne Poland. August 24 2012 03:36. Posts 560 | Profile Blog # |
| I'm motivated religiously, which involves the pursuit a more personal relationship with God, as opposed to only staying on the good side of a set of commandments. Of other significant motivations, I want to break free of the sadness from some things in my past (and some in the present), find some joy in life. This is incredibly hard but I'm fighting on, like for every smile, every good moment. Otherwise, don't know. Finding my place in life, some type of vocation (I've actually got two jobs if not more, but I doubt in all of them). SC2 is a bit of a carryover. Games were a huge part of my life when growing up, very important to me. While I'm almost 30, I'd still like to become good at one. Always been like average. |
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| dzovan Serbia. August 24 2012 03:40. Posts 37 | Profile # |
I`d like to write a book or a SF novel. Also would like to take on questions and science related stuff that aren`t that popular in my country (physics and mathematical based). Someday maybe find a field in physics I`m strong at and to push it, finding ways for the industry and ppl to use my knowledge and maybe bring my countryman some wealth and respect...
These all are wishes, not strong motives. One`s motivation is quite a dubious topic but my take on it is somewhat simple.For example I have never understood what motivated me to enroll and why I study theoretical physics when I could easily studied programming or languages. I like it, I fucking enjoy it! From my perspective motivation is linked to personal statisfaction with some job or venture one does and take upon. If you enjoy doing dishes, you go and do them..if you enjoy playing sc2 you go and play...if you dont like your studies go and quit or study smt else...
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| dzovan Serbia. August 24 2012 03:42. Posts 37 | Profile # |
On August 24 2012 03:31 S:klogW wrote:
Work for CERN. I know I will.
Oh no you wont! I`ll beat you to it. xDLast edit: 2012-08-24 03:42:30 |
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 intrigue  Washington, D.C. August 24 2012 03:45. Posts 9273 | Profile Blog # |
| i am extremely determined to have a great time during this brief instant wherewhen i exist |
| | TL Premium Gold User! http://castlesmusic.net | |
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| svi August 24 2012 03:45. Posts 344 | Profile # |
survival...
going to college and all these other things are just a means to that. |
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| Phant United States. August 24 2012 03:47. Posts 726 | Profile # |
I am motivated entirely by personal gain and/or satisfaction.
If I donate to a charity it is because i gain satisfaction, when I work it is for personal gain and satisfaction. When I watch a movie it is for satisfaction etc. etc.
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| Kyrillion Russian Federation. August 24 2012 03:49. Posts 575 | Profile # |
On August 24 2012 03:42 dzovan wrote:Oh no you wont! I`ll beat you to it. xD
See you later then.
What motivates me ? Nothing is worse than regrets, and nothing begets more regrets than not trying one's best. Also, that Chinese saying, I know there's someone somewhere waiting for me.Last edit: 2012-08-24 03:51:07 |
| | If you seek well, you shall find. |
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| Yurie August 24 2012 03:52. Posts 2098 | Profile Blog # |
"Dreams" (not the sleeping kind). I keep having goals that always changes yet motivates me for a short while. It then quickly dies and another takes over. I havn't been motivated by a single thing for more than a weekend. I have kept at some things due to momentum or time killing (short term satisfaction) though.
I was at first tempted to say survival instinct or nothing since they feel about as accurate. This could also be translated into a hope for a better tomorrow. Which is shallow since I could change it yet am not motivated to do so.
As I keep growing older the things I look for and what motivates me seems to change. So I think in something like 5 more years this post would look totally different. I am not nearly as suicidally inclined as I was 5 years ago. |
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| dzovan Serbia. August 24 2012 03:54. Posts 37 | Profile # |
[QUOTE]On August 24 2012 03:49 Kyrillion wrote:
[QUOTE]On August 24 2012 03:42 dzovan wrote:
[QUOTE]On August 24 2012 03:31 S:klogW wrote:
Work for CERN. I know I will.[/QUOTE]
Oh no you wont! I`ll beat you to it. xD[/QUOTE]
See you later then.
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