Do you have a personal philosophy, i.e. a set of rules you use to make
life decisions?

How did you develop it?

What were some of the biggest influences, books or people or ???, on
your personal philosophy?

42 responses total.

Might as well be nice.
(I like to keep it short)

Oh, I should add "unless the party in question is an asshole" in which 
case I like to just grimace and let life take its course. I hope against
hope that random probablity that every asshole has his day (in court, or
wherever).
Otherwise, I just try not to screw anybody over.
I followed the "antisocialman" school of philosophy until I was able to 
put my past into perspective, and say, "Wow, that specific thing had
this specific effect on my head," and so on. Now I've broken out of that 
limiting mode, and can let my true inner light shine free over the world.
(cough)
I've never really found any revelations in my readings, but I admit to
shying away from philosophical works as generally "icky" and over-
intellectualizing.

<mythago pounds on bad's back>
  
I don't have a specific Set o' Rules... but I have found that "what
comes around, goes around" is very often true.  Not in the sense that
poetic justice is supreme, but that generosity and consideration for
others often takes little or no effort, and may even make its way
back to you someday.

Think there might be a Golden Rule in there?

No.

<Sigh...>

I believe the Dalia Lama said something about life being often taken as a
path to a destination, and that life was actually a path in and of itself,
to itself. Works for me.
d

My rule is:  "Constant change is here to stay."  Recognizing that every
person, thing, and situation in life is impermanent, puts it all in a
perspective that allows me to grasp a little less, and give a little more.
The trick is to remember the rule when it is most needed.

This is very true... it is also very difficult to have a relationship that
is lasting without being a permanent bond, a relationship with virtually
anything. Love everyone, enjoy everything for what it is and at that part-
icular time, and you won't be dissapointed.

Apologies for the typo. Dali Lama.

   Yes, I have a personal philosophy, but it's not easy to
encapsulate in a few words.  It's from a combination of books
and life experience.  Here are the books:

   J.S. Mill's      "On Liberty"
   Orwell's         "Homage to Catalonia"
   Hofstadter's     "Godel, Escher, Bach"
   S.J. Gould        various (influencing my philosophy of 
                    science and knowledge)
   Jos. Campbell's  "The Hero with a Thousand Faces"

<shudder>

   At what?

   Jos. Campbell, 'o course.

I'm an anti-universalist...probably wouldn't be good to get into a
debate about it here, though.

I'd agree with that.  That it wouldn't be good to get into a debate about
it, that is.

(Why?)

Not here, that is.

   Anyone for starting a philosophy, religion and mathematics conference?

Why that particular intriguing combination?  In any case, sure -- I'll
even volunteer to co-fw it.  Just propose it in the New Conferences item
in co-op.

   That particular combination (and I should have probably
included physics) because those topics are (at least some
parts of them) concerned with the nature of reality and the
universe.  

   I realize we could start one if we want, but is there
really enough interest?  I have enough sleepy conferences
on my cflist as it is.

(I'm interested.)

A way to find out if there's enough interest is to start it and
see if it gets activity.  My guess is that if the people who've
expressed interest so far are reasonably energetic about getting
discussions going in the beginning, it'll attract participants.

Re #21:  Is that to be interpreted:  "I volunteer to be a co-fw?"

(I won't have much spare time for the next few months, but could be
a co-fw if there are no other volunteers.)

My philosophy of life is:  'Don't try to please others.  Attempt only
to please yourself, and enjoy life thoroughly without letting others
hinder you.  However, if it pleases you to please an other, then
do it for your sake.'

Various sources, both personal contact-type and the synthesis
of books (with the synthesis of people too). Occassionally I'll
remember the specifics of one source or other, but it all comes
together at an appropriate time, whether I remember the attributable
source or not. 
  
Some sentences that have stuck might seem like little bits of
wisdom but onethat I remember from my dad is "you can work with
you mind or you can work with your back." Since this wasn't a
tedious exhortation and it offerred a choice, I figured it was
worth remembering exactly. (he did have to repeat it a lot though.)
Knowing what that thought "is" got me to find out what it "means"
and by having the experience of knowing, I -only now- (well recently,
anyway) have had a the opportunity of excersizing the inherent choice
part of the thought.

Here's mind I'll be mellow when I'm DEAD!

(re#26:  isn't that from a Weird Al song??)

Mine is to just let life take its course.  If we mess with
it, then it'll suck.

Philosophe du jour:  "Go with the flow, and the flow is Thou."

The way I try to live life: "Have a good time, all the time" following the
teachings of Vince from spinal tap...
To spread this ideal, would anyone care to help form a religion based on
Grimace, the psudo purble walking blob from the McDonaldland family,
who slurps down shakes all day, and who the hell knows what he is, where
he came from and when he will lead humanity to a syrupy salvation...

Re 29:  geezer...*Grimace*?  That's the weirdest idea I've heard in
a long time...  and I prefer to follow the philosophy of 
Diamond Dave (David Lee Roth)  "Don't sweat the little shit."  and
"It's ALL little shit."  (Although look where it got him...he
got busted for buying a joint from someone in a park a couple of
weeks ago...)   Hmmmmm.

Grimace kicks bahoonky.

        Here's mine, worded as succinctly as possible:
                "Be nice. Play fair. Have fun."

Re 32:  Sounds good, timdole.

        Gee... doesn't seem like this is a very "happenin'" Item...
        Oh, well. I guess I'll go back to my
                "Being nice. Playing fair. Having fun."
                        

tim was right about the lack of happenin'...

I have a personel Philosophy.
My request to every one in this conferece is  read " COMPLETE WORKS OF SWAMY
VIVEKANANDA".Atleast read volume one of this book.

where would we find a copy of that book?

My personal philosophy is fairly simple:

                Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Yet, despite its simplicity, a lot of people can't seem to get the hang of
it. I'm going out on a limb, here, and *assuming* almost everyone would kind
of dig this philosophy.

Not necessarily.  I'm really playing Devil's Advocate here, and arguing more
with your wording than with your sentiment, but...for example, I appreciate
honesty more than tact, some people don't.

Okay, okay, I'm nitpicking.  Don't mind me...

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss