Originally posted by arc I think Douglas Adams had it right...
There is a theory which states that if ever for any reason anyone discovers what exactly the Universe is for and why it is here it will
instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
And then there are those who say that this has already happened
My paradigm requires me to add to Douglas Adam's observation...
...And it's happened numerous times already.
Originally posted by Ariel As far as the meaning of life, again I believe that there is more than one single answer and that having
multiple perspectives or ideas about it enriches one's view of life.
Yeah, I try to see situations form different points of view. "You'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend entirely upon our own point of
view."--Obi Wan Kenobi.
I find that it's easier to understand something if I can "step outside of myself" & look at it from different angles...Sort of like pretending that
I'm *all* of the blind men at once, while they examine an elephant. If I were to use only *one* point of view, then I'm missing out on the extra
information that could help me put all of the pieces together into a whole picture.
Take religion for example: I study a whole slew of different religions & different scriptures...And I find that, deep in the core, behind the
contradictions & lies thrust into their scriptures, they mostly talk about the same beliefs & the same sources of inspirations. They're merely
writing about different histories & different ways of viewing the same thing. Yes, there's many differences between the different religions, but they
all (all of them I've studied, anyway) seem to share a common, basic set of concepts. The main reason that there *are* so many different religions in
existance today is because they all have disagreements about the petty details.
Many times though, I wonder if I'm looking in *enough* different angles to see the whole thing...And most of the time I wonder this, I realize (or
learn it later, the hard way) that I can never really see *all* of the angles...Never really know *everything* about any situation...At least, not
during my mortal life here on Earth.
So, all I can do is the same that *anybody* can do...Do my best & hope that it's enough.
Originally posted by newparadigm ...i have never heard of that theory. when someone figures out the world it will change. i dont see why
it would change if someone figured it out. interesting concept though!
Douglas Adam's wrote that philosophy intending *humor*...It's part of his five-book trilogy (That's an interesting story in itself) about the
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. However, even though he approached the writing of those books with a sense of humor, he *does* put question
to things that people *assume* they know everything about:
For example, in The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, he questioned the vegetarian's concept of "eating meat is being cruel to the animal being
eaten". As part of the storyline, he writes about an animal that was genetically created to *know* that it's whole purpose in life was to die for
another person's table...And psychologically modified to be pleased with that idea to the point of being able to express that pleasure, clearly &
distinctly.
"My liver *must* be tender by now. I've been force-feeding myself for months. Can I offer you something off my shoulder? Perhaps braised in white
wine?"
"What? You're offering me your shoulder?"
"Of course sir...No one else's shoulder is mine to offer."
I'll just nip off to the kitchen & shoot myself now." Putting his hand on Arthur Dent's shoulder, the "meat" says, "Don't worry sir...I be
*very* humane about it."
All of this is typical of Doug Adams...questioning the very *basis* of society and humanity in general. Talk about "different points of view"...
In a way, we must do the same for ourselves...If we're to learn any *real* truth about ourselves. HOw can you question anything else if you can't
question yourself first?
Originally posted by newparadigm i guess i just want a quick fix answer to things that take many years to learn and understand. ?? who
knows!
That seems to be a common problem nowadays...For (at least) the past few generations, people have been raised to want that "instant gratification
factor"...
All I can say to this is, "Patience, Grasshopper."
[Edited on 3-3-2003 by MidnightDStroyer]
