What makes a successful human being?

Forums: Success, Philosophy, Morals, Ethics, Education
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Hey guys, there is a lot of different definition of "success," not just in a philosophical, metaphysical way, but in practicality, in reality. so...

1.what do you guys think a successful human beings are like? what history, accomplishment, attributes, character would define your "successful person". Of course, depending on what our life goals are this definition would range in the full spectrum, and don't feel shy to say what you believe. If you think money, fame, luxury has a place in "success", then say so, it would help us all if you can explain why so we know where you're coming from (ex: we should have some level of desire for luxury, for that is what drives us to do good, or actually put ourselves into action. Without these incentives we would all be sloths, unmotivated to do anything at all, good or bad.)

2. What does one have to do to become this "successful person"? What goals, what procedures, what habits, anything. Let us know what you have seen. Let us know what you have done, what you want to do, what's some obstacles in attaining this, what helps you to attain these characters/ accomplishments? How you have seen others attain this.

i'll start us off with an simple example.
1. a successful human being to me is someone that is aware, rational, thoughtful and true to one's beliefs. They would have to be skilled in creating situations, business, influence that will be conducive to rational thinking, insightful thinking, critical thinking for the sole purpose of creating a environment where everyone and everything is at harmony and simply put, "happy". Their actions are not illproportioned to greed or selfpropagation. Their actions are always done to make the world a "better place". They are an prime example of a human being with the Aristotelian definition of "rational" and harboring virtue ethics.

2. This is attained through constantly practicing critical thinking skills promoted by "how can i make this world a better place?" Uninterrupted by entertainment, media, advertisement, dogma, ignorance, fear, corruption, norm, popularity, etc. Education is key. Not "attending schools", but actually thinking and educating for the purpose of learning to become a better, smarter, insightful, reliable, wise person. Practicing seeing things for what they are and their nature, constantly questioning whether what is currently being done, or what one is currently doing or is thinking makes rational sense through the lens of "harmony" and "collective happiness" (plant, animal, and earth). Some questions that can be asked today is, "Is obsession to movies/entertainment/cars/fashion conducive to happiness to everyone; those in Africa as well as Southern America?" "Am I being manipulated by public relations? If so how, why and what are some of the direct, indirect, individual and collective effects of this both on the receiving end (consumers and civilians) and the market (those who pay for these advertisements)." "Are cars and dependence on them, as well as fossil fuel the right thing to do? And what can I do to help prevent what is wrong." The ability to relate cause and effect, action with reaction. And always doing what one can do, within their own capacity and ability to do what they think to be the best and to use one's life as a lifelong experiment and adventure of finding the answer to all the problems in the world, utilizing any and every opportunity as well as resources available.

Something like that.

Note that I hope that this is an open discussion where we share our views without any form of criticism, and I would like it if all of you do not put any posts of question, let alone any criticism towards this. Relating this post I can already hear some people asking, "well how do we know what is "right"?" or "we are never capable of doing all of this." etc... these don't help. I just want your honest opinion from your experience.

I hope this can become a discussion that helps us all become what we said out to be.

Thanks

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@55hikky,

The success will differ from country to country, person to person. It all depends on the morals, ethics and laws which upon the success is messured.

Usually we messure the success by money, social status and the person(s) intelligence.

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@HexHammer,

HexHammer wrote:

The success will differ from country to country, person to person. It all depends on the morals, ethics and laws which upon the success is messured.

Usually we messure the success by money, social status and the person(s) intelligence.

I'm guessing Plato would agree with you, probably Aristotle as well. Sad we haven't moved beyond that.

1 Reply

@dyslexia,

dyslexia wrote:

Sad we haven't moved beyond that.

As long as we'r these emotional beings, who will choose the obvious and easy ways, we'll enslaved by present norms of success ..unfortunaly.

0 Replies

@55hikky,

yes we all know success differs country to country, person to person and that it depends on morals, ethics and laws...
and yes we all know we usually measure success by money, social status and person's intelligence...

and both of you guys, I'm not bringing this discussion based on what does the book/philosophers define what success is...

what is YOUR definition of success.
are you successful according to yourself?
if not, why?
what do you do, or others you have seen that makes yourself/others successful?

1 Reply

@55hikky,

I have tryed to messure and judge, but the criteria of success spans over too much and 1 success may be shadowed by another failure, and how excatly do you messure the scale of 1 success versus a faliure? Sometimes a success isn't a success, but only a compromise of principles. Is a "Purus Victory" a success or faliure?

1 Reply

@HexHammer,

hrm i'm not sure i understand EXACTLY what you are saying, but I get your point. I'll ask you questions though.

"1 success may be shadowed by another failure," well the outcome of an action is not really of interest; highly dependent on situation and circumstances. but what is consistent is one's feelings, intentions, drive, belief.

'sometimes a success isn't a success' yea but that's sort of your opinion. how was one supposed to know? how was one know it wasn't a success (perhaps it is in fact a success 40 years down the line).

so i guess my question should be refined to "what is it that one strives to do to be proud of oneself, irrespective of outcome i guess"?
how would you answer this question?

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@55hikky,

55hikky wrote:

hrm i'm not sure i understand EXACTLY what you are saying, but I get your point. I'll ask you questions though.

"1 success may be shadowed by another failure," well the outcome of an action is not really of interest; highly dependent on situation and circumstances. but what is consistent is one's feelings, intentions, drive, belief.

'sometimes a success isn't a success' yea but that's sort of your opinion. how was one supposed to know? how was one know it wasn't a success (perhaps it is in fact a success 40 years down the line).

so i guess my question should be refined to "what is it that one strives to do to be proud of oneself, irrespective of outcome i guess"?
how would you answer this question?

You seek an answer with absolute perfection, that will answer the whole wide sprectre of success, which in the end would be overly complex to evaluate for others, as too many parameters may be subjective, relative, emberrasing ..thus hidden ..etc, therefore the answer is to use simple and brute prerimiters to messure success, which is uniform and easily understandable ..returning us to the classical form of evaluation.

We are humans, not gods who are all seeing, therefore we must rely on fallible things. It's the basic principle about ideal and optimal. You seek the ideal which can never be achived in current state of evolution, but you must accept the optimal.

..on a side note, it's very importaint for you to understand the principles in a "Purus Victory", a victory not worth winning. I think the King Purus utterd "another victory and the cause is lost" (he won a great battle but with extreme casualty rate, only having few soldiers left, which leaves him vunerable) ..there are other consequenses in such Purush Victory which you also must read up on.

1 Reply

@HexHammer,

"You seek an answer with absolute perfection"...no i'm asking for your answer...
" which in the end would be overly complex to evaluate for others, as too many parameters may be subjective, relative, emberrasing"...yes, that's why we don't seek success in EVERY parameter... we pick and choose to emphasize certain ones; justice, pragmatic, empathy, community service, dedication to family, etcetera. again, i don't need you to give me a general definition of success that applies to all human beings...

"We are humans, not gods who are all seeing, therefore we must rely on fallible things. It's the basic principle about ideal and optimal. You seek the ideal which can never be achived in current state of evolution, but you must accept the optimal."
...I don't need you to keep giving me book definitions of ideas, notions, and "basic principles". What is YOUR principle?

"..on a side note, it's very importaint for you to understand the principles in a "Purus Victory"... ...there are other consequenses in such Purush Victory which you also must read up on."
...i don't need you to tell me what to read (u don't know what i have and haven't read). I chose to ignore your previous mentioning of "Purus Victory" because it was irrelevant, and it's still irrelevant. and on the side note, who the **** are you to tell me what is and isn't important. I thought is was YOU that shared with us, "The success will differ from country to country, person to person. It all depends on the morals, ethics and laws which upon the success is messured." You're illuminating the fact that everything is subjective and relative and this applies beyond the parameters of "success". So how the heck would you know if the notion of "Purus victory" is or isn't of value to me? but i'm glad you know what it is and you were able to show off your intellect; now everyone knows you're smart.
one of three things will happen next:

1. was your point in the past few posts exactly what you call success? The goal of your life is to show off your intellect irrespective of what the discussion is about? if not, you certainly do display this behavior a lot in this forum (next to abusive criticism). So if this post is replied with some tawdry facts or criticism of my post, I will take this to be true.

2. you're actually going to write an comment that is relevant to the discussion topic.

3. you won't answer.

if you choose to do 1, i will take the liberty of not answering your comment, (even though this is my discussion and it is my duty to answer all comments posted) unless I find it worthy of addressing.

2 Replies

@55hikky,

55hikky wrote:

...i don't need you to tell me what to read (u don't know what i have and haven't read). I chose to ignore your previous mentioning of "Purus Victory" because it is irrelevant, and it's still irrelevant. but i'm glad you know what it is and you were able to show off your intellect; now everyone knows you're smart.

You are a light hearted fool, you should heed such importaint words of wisdom.

55hikky wrote:

is that what you call success?The goal of your life to show off your intellect irrespective of what the discussion is about? if not, you certainly do display this behavior a lot in this forum (next to abusive criticism of comments).

Stop being an idiot, I try to teach people. I'v seen the disasters of ignorence, which I so fiercely try to prevent, and ignorents like you only takes it as an insult.

..well besides all that, you may ask what good is ritches and fame if you don't know how to handle it, without wisdom and knowledge it may consume you, also a spiritual intellect. Not many would respect a simpleminded fool only because he is ritch and famous, it takes a certain amount of intellect too.

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@55hikky,

55hikky wrote:

display this behavior a lot in this forum (next to abusive criticism).

I'm not denying this, but I'm qurious, so please provide examples.

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Success? Those actions that help secure Man's future.

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@Chumly,

Chumly wrote:

Success? Those actions that help secure Man's future.

Ah, violating laws of moral, ethic and what not.

Stealing, lieing, killing, demagogery, oppotunism ...oh wait, wasn't this what brought all great nation, regime, kings and busnesses down? All these corrupt things will in the end weaken the core of leadership.

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to feel good , about just being a good Man and Women towards others

1 Reply

@north,

north wrote:

to feel good , about just being a good Man and Women towards others

to reach the full intelligence and wisdom of Humanity , it will take both sexes to do so

1 Reply

@Chumly,

agreed with hex. you're going to have to answer my question #2; how is one to pursue this avenue? to clarify what you mean by the claim.

1 Reply

Success is simple, acheiving goals. But I don't think that's what you're looking for.
Perhaps we intend to be successful in acheiving the goals of contentment and happiness. We seek security and self worth as an end. The methods are as numerous as there are people.
Personally, I believe success is the mastery of self. This is the work of a lifetime and success must be measured in degrees. So much stands in the way, so many fears and insecurities, so many false influences.
To be real and true, to look with both eyes wide open and seeing.

1 Reply

@55hikky,

55hikky wrote:

you're going to have to answer my question #2; how is one to pursue this avenue? to clarify what you mean by the claim.

You act like a terrible dictator, demanding answers TO YOUR satisfaction, stop this sick behaviour.

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@HexHammer,

...you definitely have a fling for sickness and mind diseases...

0 Replies

@HexHammer,

not to agree with fil, but i think you lack the ability to pay attention, or read english or something...
not only did you fail to answer any of my questions in any of your previous replies in this discussions, but you continue to fail to understand the concept of a discussion and what i'm asking for, why I'm asking, and how i'm asking...

the discussion topic was
1. what is 'success' to you
2. how do you achieve it.

if beings do not have anything to say about these, they do not need to answer, i'm not coercing them.

this discussion was set up by me and i have the right to ask what I want. if you don't like how I progress my discussion, feel free to step out.

if they are going to answer, it would be nice if they answered the full question.
so I asked that he answer the full question since he didn't even answer it, i'm not making him answer in any distinct, specific way.

"demanding"? i'm not demanding anything...

"demanding answers to my satisfaction": what's wrong with asking someone that already has enough interest to read my post and actually took their time to answer part of it to answer fully, to explain himself; especially after the bashing you gave him/her.

"stop this sick behavior":
1. all of this "sick behavior" is just your premature assumption and understanding about the situation, the purpose and nature of the discussion, and the reason of why I asked him to answer #2.
2. Who are you to judge my behavior, labeling as "sick". wasn't it you who was calling out to moral relativism and subjective interpretation of reality?
3. for someone that just stated "you act... ...sick behavior" seems like YOU are the one demanding me to do, or not do something. now that i look at your quote,
"You act like a terrible dictator, demanding answers TO YOUR satisfaction, stop this sick behaviour."
this is a great paradox.

also if you actually read my original post there is a part that says...

"Note that I hope that this is an open discussion where we share our views without any form of criticism, and I would like it if all of you do not put any posts of question, let alone any criticism towards this. "

"You are a light hearted fool, you should heed such importaint words of wisdom." is a criticism, assumption, judgmental attitude towards me

"Ah, violating laws of moral, ethic and what not. " and then again toward chumly

also i'll just use this opportunity to reply to one of your previous posts.

"Stop being an idiot, I try to teach people. I'v seen the disasters of ignorence, which I so fiercely try to prevent, and ignorents like you only takes it as an insult."
why didn't you just put this in the first place.
btw, i did not take the meaning of what you said as an insult (whatever it is that you are refering to). what I took as an insult (if that is how you see it...) is how you were posting irrelevant replies on my discussion.

probably not as much as you, but I have seen much ignorance as well; in myself i find daily, and in my society i can find hourly. America, in my opinion, and through observation, seems that it is only capable of functioning with the predisposition that every being in the society is ignorant of the holistic situation; let alone global issues, but neighboring, local issues as well. This is something I am trying to fight with as well. My notion was to establish a school, or at least become a teacher to do whatever it is that I can do.

if you don't mind, what measures and means do you participate in/practice in your life fulfilling your 'trying to teach people to prevent disasters from ignorance'

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What makes a successful human being?

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