Open Side Menu Go to the Top
Register
The Absurd Man (TLDR) The Absurd Man (TLDR)

05-08-2018 , 06:26 PM
Here is the full transcript, of what I'm now unsure is what you are talking about:

I am not trying to sell you on this idea in the sense of converting you to it, I want you to play with it. I want you to think of its possibilities, I am not trying to prove it. I am just putting it forward as a possibility of life to think about. So then, let’s suppose that you were able every night to dream any dream you wanted to dream, and that you could for example have the power within one night to dream 75 years of time, or any length of time you wanted to have.

And you would, naturally, as you began on this adventure of dreams, you would fulfill all your wishes. You would have every kind of pleasure during your sleep. And after several nights of 75 years of total pleasure each you would say “Well that was pretty great”. But now let’s have a surprise, let’s have a dream which isn’t under control, where something is gonna happen to me that I don’t know what it's gonna be.

And you would dig that and would come out of that and you would say “Wow that was a close shave, wasn’t it?”. Then you would get more and more adventurous and you would make further- and further-out gambles what you would dream. And finally, you would dream where you are now. You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today.

That would be within the infinite multiplicity of choices you would have. Of playing that you weren't god, because the whole nature of the godhead, according to this idea, is to play that he is not. So in this idea then, everybody is fundamentally the ultimate reality, not god in a politically kingly sense, but god in the sense of being the self, the deep-down basic whatever there is. And you are all that, only you are pretending you are not.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
05-08-2018 , 06:29 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacOneDouble
And finally, you would dream where you are now. You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today.
I don't think the use of the word "finally" here implies that the process ends there. You'd dream other worlds afterward too.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
05-08-2018 , 06:33 PM
In any case, I'd rather not gamble on another 75 years in another world. I've always been curious as to why people who believe in an afterlife assume it will be good. Blame it on the K, though.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
05-08-2018 , 06:38 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacOneDouble
In any case, I'd rather not gamble on another 75 years in another world. I've always been curious as to why people who believe in an afterlife assume it will be good.
If indeed eternal, it's not so much a matter of it being good or bad. It's a matter of necessity. To experience variety. What else is there? What do you do here? Sit there and happily choose to experience the same thing day in, day out?

Variety is the spice of life?
No.
Variety is the reason for life.

Last edited by VeeDDzz`; 05-08-2018 at 06:48 PM.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
05-08-2018 , 07:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by VeeDDzz`
If indeed eternal, it's not so much a matter of it being good or bad. It's a matter of necessity. To experience variety. What else is there? What do you do here? Sit there and happily choose to experience the same thing day in, day out?

Variety is the spice of life?
No.
Variety is the reason for life.
Assume that an afterlife is a good idea, then, if you prefer, and what I meant.
I don't think of this world as black and white as good or bad, of course.
Though I can imagine worlds that are totally bad, because I spent some time in one, time being the interesting word here, because I was conscious of such a notion and believed the experience to be eternal.

Likewise I spent time in a world that was totally good, where there was plenty of variety, but time wasn't a thing, at the time. And that's the thing.

Both of these experiences were during the same setting I might add, which I like to remember as hell and heaven respectively.

I realize other people may be wondering what the hell am I talking about. But you know what I mean.

But I don't think I want to have this argument again. We did it a few times.

Last edited by MacOneDouble; 05-08-2018 at 07:39 PM.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
05-08-2018 , 07:43 PM
Very acute observation. True suffering and mental anguish during the moments of a "bad trip" appear eternal. True happiness and ecstasy during the moments of a "good trip" appear timeless.

If this is to what you refer then I understand. Otherwise, no.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
05-08-2018 , 08:26 PM
I often notice this in most threads but tell me; if I can't be "subjective" just how can I ever find anything of truth, beauty and goodness ?

If I can't be "subjective" doesn't this mean that I have to give up thinking and dare not make any comment, any comment, upon the object of my study ?

Isn't my not allowing myself to be "subjective" the same as placing myself into "oblivion", animal like, with total loss of any identity ?

I don't get it.

And oh yes, if I can't be anthropomorphic what can I be ?

Last edited by carlo; 05-08-2018 at 08:33 PM.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
05-27-2018 , 04:33 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by carlo
I often notice this in most threads but tell me; if I can't be "subjective" just how can I ever find anything of truth, beauty and goodness ?
You can't.

No one, but the dogmatic empiricists, are devaluing the subjective.

It's unfortunate, yes, that this is the modern state of affairs. Religion replaced by dogmatic empiricism.

Beliefs change. Dogmaticism persists.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
05-27-2018 , 08:06 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by VeeDDzz`
You can't.

No one, but the dogmatic empiricists, are devaluing the subjective.

It's unfortunate, yes, that this is the modern state of affairs. Religion replaced by dogmatic empiricism.

Beliefs change. Dogmaticism persists.
cool
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote
06-10-2018 , 08:52 PM
Life is boring, dull and absurd only if you don't play poker.

Camus is self-dramatazing a bit too much, especially when he says: "There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn".

Last edited by tirtep; 06-10-2018 at 09:06 PM.
The Absurd Man (TLDR) Quote

      
m