How Should One Live?
After asking a few people this question, I got a few different answers. One person said that she wished that everyone could be treated equally. She thought that some people use their race or a special circumstance as a crutch to get treated differently than other people. Doing this not only hurts society, but it also holds that person back. She believed that if we treated everyone equally and all wanted to be treated equally, life for everyone could improved.
Another person that I talked to thought that we should be conscience of how abundant our quality of life is in America. We are the wealthiest country in the world, and things that are considered luxuries in other countries are things we take for granted. For instance, “many people in this world live on $2 a day, and many Americans spend more than that on coffee every day.”
Another friend talked about how life can become so much better when you find God, people, things, and a profession that you love. There is nothing more fulfilling than finding a career that lets you help other people, and there is nothing better or more therapeutic than hanging out with friends. Finding a piece of art or something that you love to look at is also important.
Thinking about this question brought a few things to mind. My initial response was that one should live by treating others the way they would want to be treated. I think if everyone really tried to do this, the world would be such a better place. I also think that you should live a simple life. My belief is that simple living and realizing what is important in life is the key to happiness and fulfillment. You should also know what you stand for, and approach each and every situation with all your might and energy. Doing this might hurt you in the short run, but I think it will be worth it one day.
After researching the subject, two facts grabbed my attention. I found out that Socrates was a poor, humble man, who was considered to be very wise. The Web site also talked about how Socrates always did the right thing before doing something for pleasure, (http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Socrates.htm). I think that his background combined with his intelligence helped him to see the world in a different way. It seems like it also made him question certain things. I also think that doing the right thing and putting others before yourself brings you happiness.
Next Questions:
What do you think makes you feel fulfilled?
What can we do to help others?
2 comments:
Everyone in your writing has something interesting to say, but the person in the first paragraph is the one with a point. Equality in theory paints a pretty picture, but in practice people have bent and abused its meaning for their own gain, hypocrites all of them. Nussbaum explains this phenomenon thusly, “Theories of justice need to be abstract… But when we do that, there’s also a risk, and that is that we will be too abstract. We’ll forget some very important things that the real world contains.” (Examined Life 116) The challenge, then, is coming up with a concept of equality that works better in practice.
You mention living “a simple life,” but what exactly is a simple life? Is this the sort of life that a Buddhist monk lives, with no need of material goods, seeking instead inner enlightenment, or should a more literal interpretation be implied? Perhaps a simple life is the sort of conformal life which would involve being married with two kids and having an average job, or maybe this isn’t about the specific lifestyle, but the way in which that life style is carried out. In other words, one should take time to relax and enjoy life rather than overburdening themselves in order to “get ahead”.
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