The actual question - "Why don't you kill yourself?"

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by greenberg, Mar 26, 2008.

  1. greenberg until the end of the world Registered Senior Member

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    The actual question in life isn't "What is the meaning of life?" or "What is the purpose of life?".

    The actual question is "Why don't you kill yourself? What is keeping you here to stay alive?"
     
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  3. sowhatifit'sdark Valued Senior Member

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    made me think of camus:
    for me: I like life, despite the suffering, etc.
     
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  5. Myles Registered Senior Member

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    My genes won't let me
     
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  7. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    I am 'programmed' to survive.
    Eh.. what Myles said..
     
  8. clusteringflux Version 1. OH! Valued Senior Member

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    Genes?

    Well, the largest reason is fear of death. To say otherwise is silly. Suicide bombers are even scared and they think that their eternal soul depends upon it.
    Christians have been known to refuse medical treatment and simply fade. Others have been burned at the stake and sang gleefully to the end.

    I think as some people get older they realize that there is nothing to seperate life and death and then choosing to live is more difficult. IMO that is not the most healthy attitude and would instead believe that the same "painless existance" can be acheived in life if you can get your brain to kick out the right chemicals.
     
  9. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Where do you think that fear comes from ?

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  10. clusteringflux Version 1. OH! Valued Senior Member

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  11. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Yep..

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  12. clusteringflux Version 1. OH! Valued Senior Member

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    Discussion forums aren't as fun with one word replies
     
  13. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    I thought you got it. What do you want to know ?
     
  14. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    I have tried to commit suicide on a few occasions. It was very difficult to do. When I tried to hang myself the limb of the tree broke that I was suspended on. I tried to take a bunch of pills, vicodin, but I only went to sleep for about 30 hours. I am a failure at dying so I've given up trying.

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  15. Repo Man Valued Senior Member

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    As others have mentioned, the self preservation instinct is very strong. Animals with no fear of death would be very quickly selected out of the gene pool. As would ones that couldn't be bothered to eat when hungry, or that found sex unappealing, etc.
     
  16. sowhatifit'sdark Valued Senior Member

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    Man, what you guys can only intellectualize your answers and refer to theories.
    Genes.
    Self preservation instincts.
    Is this how you experience yourselves?
    Are you afraid your molecular biology professor is tracking all your communications?
    As if genes were something other than you or another way of describing you.


    How about desires to experience certain things?
    love of certain individuals?
    not wanting to hurt certain people?
    not wanting to rule out this or that might happen or get better?
    curiosity?
    lust for knowledge?
    Lust in general?


    I swear to god the way people think they know themselves is such a joke. We'll all be walking around talking about ourselves in the 3rd person.

    The genes would like a sandwich now.
    My genes believe in determinism.
    My sexual instincts seem to be focusing on you now, shall we go up to my apartment and mingle gametes?

    Seriously, this makes me sick.

    Self-abstraction is the opiate of the people.
     
  17. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    No offense but it's what you are.. how come it makes you sick ?
     
  18. clusteringflux Version 1. OH! Valued Senior Member

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    You still have free will , genes or no genes.
     
  19. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    I don't think so. Depends on how it's defined I guess. Anyway.. I don't see how that is an answer.
     
  20. clusteringflux Version 1. OH! Valued Senior Member

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    An answer to what?
    If genes determine everything , it removes the possibility of free will. Free will is not to say you're free to do as you like but rather that you have the ability to make a choice for yourself.
     
  21. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Where do you get the idea that genes do not determine everything ?
     
  22. shorty_37 Go! Canada Go! Registered Senior Member

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    Too many ppl would miss me

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  23. clusteringflux Version 1. OH! Valued Senior Member

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    My point is that it doesn't matter. I would like you to convince a judge that your genes made you commit a crime and that you had no choice in the matter.
    You and your genes would go sit in a cell, padded or otherwise.
     

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