Being too intelligent could be a curse?

@Andarius1,

What do you take intelligence to be?

It would seem to me, from my understanding of intelligence, that you would conclude in the exactly opposite direction -- that life has value, that reproduction is fun, and so likewise you should take proper action towards both ends. (in a responsible manner, of course)

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@Huxley,

It seems to me that intelligence (leaving aside the question of what that is, and whether anything about it is observable or measurable) has nothing, or at any rate nothing directly, to do with concluding either meaninglessness or meaningfulness in respect of life as a whole.

However, an intelligent person is likely to have respect for science, a respect amounting even to awe (for the material world, and for the scientific mind which illuminates it), and in modern culture as it is, such respect, coupled with justified contempt and loathing for the evils, stupidities and insanities perpetrated by organised religion throughout history, is likely to predispose him or her to scientism, which, if he or she takes it too seriously, i.e. if he or she is really intelligent, is liable to make him or her see the whole of life as meaningless, and therefore despair, and become depressed. I am of course not in any way talking about myself here. Smile

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@Andarius1,

Andarius1;173001 wrote:

Because you realise that life is probably without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value and our descendants will inevitably become extinct so why reproduce?

Yeah I must not be intelligent at all because I don't seem to have any difficulty determining my own subjective meaning for life, purpose and value. I am a biological organism or community of organisms if you want to get technical. I have biological urges to continue my species. However; I have personally decided that I do not want to pass on my specific dna down the gene pool. The future of humanity would progress too much too fast if my dna were to continue so I have made a choice. Regardless of that fact, it has not stopped me from having sex. Not to mention that I find living life to have quite a high level of value.

I reflect often on how great I have it in this moment in time. Compared to the millions of people who lived a hundred years ago and further back, I live like a great king. Sure I might not have high status within the society that I live in but I don't care about my current standing. It is enough for me to see how great I have it now, so I don't have anything to complain about. Not only that but I know there are people living right now that don't have even one hundredth of the the amenities that I have. So the value I place on my life is something that comes from my own philosophy and outlook. Once I am dead, I will never be able to do anything ever again, so why not enjoy this existence while it lasts? Why not try to make the best of what I can, within my own means? I care nothing for leaving behind a legacy or it does not haunt me to realize that once I am gone there won't be very much trace that I was even here. I am fine with that.

I place my existence within everything that I do. My work, my leisure and the people I associate with. These things actually give me value rather than I give them value. I try to reset those moments when you are taking life for granted. I try to wipe my outlook and not just expect life to always serve me. I like to force myself into situations in which they are not always accommodating. I think it is almost silly to complain about worth or value when it is constantly bombarding you from every angle. Why do you need to have a purpose? That is like asking a painter, why use paints or brushes? It is an absurd question.

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@Krumple,

I guess I'll try, thanks for the answers.

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@Andarius1,

Andarius1;173001 wrote:

Because you realise that life is probably without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value and our descendants will inevitably become extinct so why reproduce?

Imo this qualify as overly negative and depressed, not too intelligent.

If you were overly intelligent, it would have caused to see a chance to change things, Ghandi changed the fate of India with mere words and starvation.

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@Andarius1,

Andarius1;173001 wrote:

Because you realise that life is probably without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value and our descendants will inevitably become extinct so why reproduce?

Just because your (or my) life may be without an external reason, or intrinsic value, doesn't mean that you must personally hold your own life as meaningless. Also, I'm not quite sure how you have divined extinction as an inevitability.

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@apehead,

So I must brainwash myself that my life contains meaning, purpose and intrinsic value ? If that were so I would just be as bad as a creationist? haha

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@Andarius1,

Andarius1;173039 wrote:

So I must brainwash myself that my life contains meaning, purpose and intrinsic value ? If that were so I would just be as bad as a creationist? haha

Not at all, but I don't understand how you are so assured that your life has no objective meaning. It may, it may not. But, since (I assume) you are a mere mortal, you can't know either way, so leave it at that.

The real question should be, why do you care if your life has objective meaning or not? What would it do for if you knew either way (which I bet you don't)?

Do whatever pleases you. Determine your goals, and act upon them. If uncertainty is that detrimental to your worldview, then you must be completely incapacitated by the thought of the future, or of death.

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@apehead,

apehead;173040 wrote:

Not at all, but I don't understand how you are so assured that your life has no objective meaning. It may, it may not. But, since (I assume) you are a mere mortal, you can't know either way, so leave it at that.

The real question should be, why do you care if your life has objective meaning or not? What would it do for if you knew either way (which I bet you don't)?

Do whatever pleases you. Determine your goals, and act upon them. If uncertainty is that detrimental to your worldview, then you must be completely incapacitated by the thought of the future, or of death.

I am not assured that it has no objective meaning, but it is as likely there is one as there are flying unicorns, I believe I can say it in the same sense that Richard Dawkins says about god in which is that he cannot prove that god doesn't exist same as you can't disprove the existence of the flying spaghetti monster, but it is as likely as the flying spaghetti monster, I will use likely in the same manner here.

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@Andarius1,

Andarius1;173043 wrote:

I am not assured that it has no objective meaning,

Don't feel bad, no body is.

Andarius1;173043 wrote:

but it is as likely there is one as there are flying unicorns,

Why?

Andarius1;173043 wrote:

I believe I can say it in the same sense that Richard Dawkins says about god in which is that he cannot prove that god doesn't exist same as you can't disprove the existence of the flying spaghetti monster, but it is as likely as the flying spaghetti monster, I will use likely in the same manner here.

:nonooo:

Unfortunately, I think you might be an ideologue. Shame, really, and rather ironic.

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@apehead,

Well I thought that was a good example to use in reference to this, I'm open to all idea's, just put them to me and I will look at them.

At the moment I'm going to try brainwash myself I guess that my life contains meaning, purpose and intrinsic value and force myself to go after goals I set my self I guess.

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@Andarius1,

Andarius1;173001 wrote:

Because you realise that life is probably without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value and our descendants will inevitably become extinct so why reproduce?

What is objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value?

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@Andarius1,

Andarius,

Just because your life has no externally-applied meaning doesn't mean it has NO meaning. Isn't any meaning you could ascribe to your existence - self determined meaning - better than anything that could be applied to you externally? And to whom might this lot of "objective judgement" fall? Who better than you?

On Value: To say that we have no intrinsic value is - I believe - accurate. But again, that is not to say that it has NO value. Again, in order for value to have worth, must it be applied from some external source? Is it only valid if it comes from someone or something else?

Value, meaning and purpose are relative attributes; they're abstract and inexact. That we have none of these unless they're self applied is occasion for great celebration; not depression. But, I suppose, this is one of those fantastic aspects of being a self-aware, intelligent creature: That we know and must wrestle with the nature of our existence. We're a product of life that needs no purpose to exist and has no value except that which we give it.

These explanations (of which it seems you and I think somewhat similarly) may feel sobering, depressing and somber realizations. But this is - I think - egotistical to look at it this way. Reason: Because who said we ever had any objective worth anyway? It is our lot to give value and find meaning on our own. We are well within our rights to realize these brutal truths and wallow in emotional pain and mental pity; but why? To what end?

Respectfully; it sounds like its time to stop lamenting the loss of that which was never there and begin defining your own worth, purpose and meaning.

Good luck - thanks for the thread

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@Zetherin,

Suppose this: Do you like ice cream? Movies? Making love? Eating? Talking to people? Doing drugs? Taking naps? Reading? Thinking?...

... you get the idea. I'd say if you enjoy doing anything, then the value of life is apparent. It doesn't need an overarching cosmic significance to have value. It can just be nice to be alive because there are things in life you enjoy and because you want to do things.

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@Andarius1,

Andarius1;173001 wrote:

Because you realise that life is probably without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value and our descendants will inevitably become extinct so why reproduce?

I suppose this sentiment is in line with the Eden story about eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good, Evil...and the Absurd.

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@Andarius1,

Is must be a continuation of "Is smart people more sad" thread.

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@Andarius1,

Andarius1;173056 wrote:

Well I thought that was a good example to use in reference to this, I'm open to all idea's, just put them to me and I will look at them.

At the moment I'm going to try brainwash myself I guess that my life contains meaning, purpose and intrinsic value and force myself to go after goals I set my self I guess.

You sound like a defeatist to me. Any answer given is not good enough or won't be good enough. Probably because you have already made your decision. Which is okay that you have, you are allowed to do that. I think you posing the question isn't about trying to work out a solution or find an alternative but rather to state a position that since you find no meaning then how can anyone find any meaning?

I don't believe in objective meanings, and never have. I don't see why there need be an objective purpose to life. I think one of the greatest attributes about life in general is that it can be viewed so subjectively. Some people like rainbows and others hate them. Some people like and enjoy violence and others despise it. If life had a subjective purpose I think it would be horrible, because it takes away the freedom to come up with your own. Id rather be free to decide than have someone decide for me. It doesn't even matter to me if what you chose to do is against my morality, because you have the right to no matter what it is. I don't have to support it but I'll acknowledge it in some way.

Life is art, living it is the expression and freedom is the brush.

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@Krumple,

I am so sad...., it must be a curse!

Now, if only the rest of world can eat my ****. That would be be great. How likely is that?:whistling:

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@TuringEquivalent,

TuringEquivalent;173073 wrote:

I am so sad...., it must be a curse!

Now, if only the rest of world can eat my ****. That would be be great. How likely is that?:whistling:

What in the world are you going on about over there? No, I'm not going to eat your ****. Please stop offering.

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Being too intelligent could be a curse?

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