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Hartford
Lawful Good



Registered: 11/27/19
Posts: 1,106
Loc: Tennessee
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Living according to a set of principles 1
#26406476 - 12/29/19 02:40 PM (4 years, 1 month ago) |
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There's an interesting phenomenon that I have been given the chance to see in this crazy world, and it is chiefly this, that it is very difficult for cultures or even whole families (father, mother, child) to live according to a set of principles (whatever those principles be).
It's easy for individuals to do, but difficult for families, and I think it's by design.
What I was wondering is if anyone at the shroomery lives according to a set of principles or knows someone who does. And how has your struggle played out against breaking those principles when you were tempted to abandon them?
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,531
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Hartford]
#26407234 - 12/30/19 04:41 AM (4 years, 30 days ago) |
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somewhat Human to live by principles or commandments more or less with your families in an orderly society...
situations arise that do not map so easily into the contexts that preconceived principles address.
errors appear, and for that we need graceful error recovery.
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RJ Tubs 202


Registered: 09/20/08
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Hartford]
#26409249 - 12/31/19 12:15 PM (4 years, 29 days ago) |
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Principles are sometimes referred to as values. I'm unsure if consistently acting from a foundation of values is easy for individuals to accomplish. Maybe it's easy to do but many are unwilling?
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sudly
Darwin's stagger

Registered: 01/05/15
Posts: 10,798
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Hartford]
#26410160 - 12/31/19 11:07 PM (4 years, 28 days ago) |
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I had little to no principles to follow and no father figure other than perhaps David Attenborough in film.
It was nice. It still is.
For me, absolute language, like ‘never’, ‘always’, etc. is a principle I try to follow, I also like to add that ‘I think’, in situations where it’s my opinion or belief in a subject.
A hard one to follow is that people don’t make us angry, that you decide to be angry. The principle that says we have self control. If we curse at two individuals, one may laugh while the other cries.
It’s different really, imo, when the family is split early.
My dad left us when I was 7. We signed a paper agreeing that if we misbehaved he’d leave. He also told me on Father’s Day, after I wished him a well Father’s Day, that he’s not a father. He’s not a dad. And he’s been overseas ever since, visiting perhaps every second year or so.
Family dynamics are dynamic.
I don’t think my family helped to curb my principles, I experienced my own hardships and I think that was the group of experiences that had the most influence on my principles.
Still to this day they evolve as I face more hardships and joys.
Slowly but surely my principles have developed.
Personally, it seems at least my own principles have cracks.
When individual principles collide, when two people meet, and try to bond those principles, it can mix in many ways.
-------------------- I am whatever Darwin needs me to be.
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RJ Tubs 202


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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: sudly]
#26410784 - 01/01/20 11:26 AM (4 years, 28 days ago) |
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Quote:
sudly said:
It’s different really, imo, when the family is split early.
My dad left us when I was 7. We signed a paper agreeing that if we misbehaved he’d leave. He also told me on Father’s Day, after I wished him a well Father’s Day, that he’s not a father. He’s not a dad. And he’s been overseas ever since, visiting perhaps every second year or so.
wow - that's heavy Sudly
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laughingdog
Stranger

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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Hartford]
#26414665 - 01/03/20 04:20 PM (4 years, 26 days ago) |
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Quote:
Hartford said:
It's easy for individuals to do, ....
Until "push comes to shove"; apparently you never watched any good movies, ( as a great percentage are about what happens once the pressure is on), or read any history, or.... 'got out of the house'.
On the other hand, are 'high minded' people, who are always self consciously trying to be good, any fun to be around?
hmmm...
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CountHTML
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: laughingdog]
#26414894 - 01/03/20 06:21 PM (4 years, 26 days ago) |
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I find that most of my values are unarticulated but I nonetheless act them out. I think that like most people, I rationalize post hoc about why I behaved in certain ways. Likewise, I can sit and opine or walk through hypothetical scenarios and how I’d act but when confronted with the actual scenario, I’d probably act differently.
We act out our beliefs. Rationalizing about a lot of this stuff is more or less a hobby. To make small tweaks to our value system is no small feat, painstaking but possible.
These things are susceptible to factors like stress and how much we did or did not have for lunch today. It’s not as trivial as people think.
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laughingdog
Stranger

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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: CountHTML]
#26415448 - 01/04/20 02:12 AM (4 years, 25 days ago) |
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Quote:
CountHTML said: ...These things are susceptible to factors like stress and how much we did or did not have for lunch today. It’s not as trivial as people think.
Sounds like you're familiar with the study of those on a parole board who had lunch, and their verdicts, vs those who had no lunch & thus lower blood sugar & satisfaction, & their verdicts.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Judges+who+had+no+lunch%2C+%26+parole&ia=web
Indeed folks generally flatter themselves. Its another one of those things where the more certain folks are sure they don't do it, the more certain it is that they do. Bunch of silly primates, we are.
Edited by laughingdog (01/04/20 02:05 PM)
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RJ Tubs 202


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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: CountHTML] 1
#26416241 - 01/04/20 03:56 PM (4 years, 25 days ago) |
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Quote:
CountHTML said:
I find that most of my values are unarticulated but I nonetheless act them out. I think that like most people, I rationalize post hoc about why I behaved in certain ways. Likewise, I can sit and opine or walk through hypothetical scenarios and how I’d act but when confronted with the actual scenario, I’d probably act differently.
For values to be useful, I believe they need to be spelled out (at least in a simple fashion). I've been in group discussions where people revealed their core values and it was interesting. But you are right in that someone can claim they hold the value of self-care but then treat their body like crap and eat unhealthy food and huff paint and pop pills.
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,531
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: RJ Tubs 202]
#26417196 - 01/05/20 09:12 AM (4 years, 24 days ago) |
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I find it odd that people can simply state their values in a group session. personally I would have to spend quite some time alone to draft up something that might be consistent.
I am aware that my thoughts words and actions are not consistent with any set values, as they represent more isolated self completing complexes (differently for each context) more than any organized self expression. Other people in my world are the same and I have avoided calling them out as they immediately become defensive.
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laughingdog
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: redgreenvines]
#26417750 - 01/05/20 03:15 PM (4 years, 24 days ago) |
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exactly:
Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind by Robert Kurzban | May 27, 2012
"We're all hypocrites. Why? Hypocrisy is the natural state of the human mind.
Robert Kurzban shows us that the key to understanding our behavioral inconsistencies lies in understanding the mind's design. The human mind consists of many specialized units designed by the process of evolution by natural selection. While these modules sometimes work together seamlessly, they don't always, resulting in impossibly contradictory beliefs, vacillations between patience and impulsiveness, violations of our supposed moral principles, and overinflated views of ourselves.
This modular, evolutionary psychological view of the mind undermines deeply held intuitions about ourselves, as well as a range of scientific theories that require a "self" with consistent beliefs and preferences. Modularity suggests that there is no "I." Instead, each of us is a contentious "we"--a collection of discrete but interacting systems whose constant conflicts shape our interactions with one another and our experience of the world.
In clear language, full of wit and rich in examples, Kurzban explains the roots and implications of our inconsistent minds, and why it is perfectly natural to believe that everyone else is a hypocrite."
4.2 out of 5 stars
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Everyone-Else-Hypocrite-Evolution/dp/0691154392/ref=sr_1_2?crid=P91SUBQD8YUV&keywords=why+everyone+else+is+a+hypocrite&qid=1578262303&s=books&sprefix=why+everyone%2Cstripbooks%2C264&sr=1-2
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RJ Tubs 202


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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: redgreenvines] 1
#26418478 - 01/05/20 10:07 PM (4 years, 23 days ago) |
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Quote:
redgreenvines said:
I find it odd that people can simply state their values in a group session. personally I would have to spend quite some time alone to draft up something that might be consistent.
The reason some folks can simply state their values is that they put in the work to get to the root of what is important to them. It's not easy! The fact it can be difficult is fascinating, because we are creatures that routinely spew gigantic volumes of thoughts - why would it be so hard to describe what is important to us - our values? I wonder if someone could make the argument that if you are unable to verbalize your values, you don't have any, and you just live your life tossed around like a tissue in the wind. And sometimes a hurricane.
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laughingdog
Stranger

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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: RJ Tubs 202]
#26418490 - 01/05/20 10:15 PM (4 years, 23 days ago) |
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Is it more important to articulate values, or to actually simply be a decent person? Animals have empathy but do not articulate it. Where as the Taoists pointed out long ago much concern & proclamation of morality, usually leads to its opposite.
The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the Primates 1st Edition by Frans de Waal (Author)
"In this lively and illuminating discussion of his landmark research, esteemed primatologist Frans de Waal argues that human morality is not imposed from above but instead comes from within. Moral behavior does not begin and end with religion but is in fact a product of evolution.
For many years, de Waal has observed chimpanzees soothe distressed neighbors and bonobos share their food. Now he delivers fascinating fresh evidence for the seeds of ethical behavior in primate societies that further cements the case for the biological origins of human fairness. Interweaving vivid tales from the animal kingdom with thoughtful philosophical analysis, de Waal seeks a bottom-up explanation of morality that emphasizes our connection with animals. In doing so, de Waal explores for the first time the implications of his work for our understanding of modern religion. Whatever the role of religious moral imperatives, he sees it as a “Johnny-come-lately” role that emerged only as an addition to our natural instincts for cooperation and empathy. But unlike the dogmatic neo-atheist of his book’s title, de Waal does not scorn religion per se. Instead, he draws on the long tradition of humanism exemplified by the painter Hieronymus Bosch and asks reflective readers to consider these issues from a positive perspective: What role, if any, does religion play for a well-functioning society today? And where can believers and nonbelievers alike find the inspiration to lead a good life?
Rich with cultural references and anecdotes of primate behavior, The Bonobo and the Atheist engagingly builds a unique argument grounded in evolutionary biology and moral philosophy. Ever a pioneering thinker, de Waal delivers a heartening and inclusive new perspective on human nature and our struggle to find purpose in our lives."
https://www.amazon.com/Bonobo-Atheist-Search-Humanism-Primates/dp/0393347796/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FK7T4HFMAXTK&keywords=the+bonobo+and+the+atheist&qid=1578287383&s=books&sprefix=the+bono%2Cstripbooks%2C267&sr=1-1
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RJ Tubs 202


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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: laughingdog]
#26418513 - 01/05/20 10:33 PM (4 years, 23 days ago) |
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Quote:
laughingdog said:
Is it more important to articulate values, or to actually simply be a decent person?
Can we be "decent" people without values? Maybe. Or maybe not. I'm unsure.
My point is, if you don't know your values, how can you use them to make decisions and choices in life? Values guide our actions, so if we don't know our values, how can we use them?
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: RJ Tubs 202]
#26418802 - 01/06/20 06:39 AM (4 years, 23 days ago) |
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I value being kind, truthful, and keeping calm.
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laughingdog
Stranger

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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: RJ Tubs 202]
#26419302 - 01/06/20 01:12 PM (4 years, 23 days ago) |
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Quote:
RJ Tubs 202 said:
Quote:
laughingdog said:
Is it more important to articulate values, or to actually simply be a decent person?
Can we be "decent" people without values? Maybe. Or maybe not. I'm unsure.
My point is, if you don't know your values, how can you use them to make decisions and choices in life? Values guide our actions, so if we don't know our values, how can we use them?
Well what about maternal instinct? Just about all mammals have it. Seems to me a lot of us are so "up in our heads", that we assume concepts are prior to everything else.
But perhaps being loved as a child is where the capacity for gentleness originates or is nurtured. If we are human, of course we are specifically taught to be fair and share, but other creatures of course manage without verbalized concepts. I think you would enjoy the book: The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the Primates by Frans de Waal also available from Hamilton Books at a discount, or perhaps a library.
When it comes to values, we all like be seen as having good ones -- but that itself is not a value we particularly want others to know we have, especially when it is overpowering.
It also seems that, when 'push comes to shove' , the question often boils down to how much courage we have, and not just how noble our thoughts are.
So perhaps ultimately, if the issue of values, seems important to us the next questions need to be: How does one cultivate courage? and How does one cultivate indifference to (or transcend) physical pain?
Native cultures (&Buddhism, etc.) actually confronted this:
"Typically, the Sun Dance is a grueling ordeal for the dancers, a physical and spiritual test that they offer in sacrifice for their people. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, young men dance around a pole to which they are fastened by "rawhide thongs pegged through the skin of their chests."[3]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Dance
https://duckduckgo.com/q=american+indian+sundance+ceremony&iax=images&ia=images
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=american+indian+sundance+ceremony&ia=web
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laughingdog
Stranger

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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: RJ Tubs 202]
#26421967 - 01/07/20 08:42 PM (4 years, 21 days ago) |
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Quote:
RJ Tubs 202 said:
Quote:
laughingdog said:
Is it more important to articulate values, or to actually simply be a decent person?
Can we be "decent" people without values? Maybe. Or maybe not. I'm unsure.
My point is, if you don't know your values, how can you use them to make decisions and choices in life? Values guide our actions, so if we don't know our values, how can we use them?
Frans de Waal's insights on the subject are also available for free on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frans+de+waal
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sideroxylon
paññā


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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: laughingdog]
#26422764 - 01/08/20 11:07 AM (4 years, 21 days ago) |
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The family, like the state, is pure construct. It is not something tangible like, say, wood. There is nothing permanent in a family. Wanting values to be permanent is more often than not a slippery slope.
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: sideroxylon]
#26422820 - 01/08/20 11:35 AM (4 years, 21 days ago) |
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is this about family values? I have heard this phrase used many ways, mostly manipulatively, politically, and psychologically.
I reduce "family values" to caring for the people you are close to, and yourself, and not interfering in other people's family dynamics.
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Huehuecoyotl
Fading Slowly


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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Hartford]
#26443721 - 01/20/20 07:14 PM (4 years, 8 days ago) |
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I live by a set of principles...but they change based on by case basis nearly every day and every minute.
-------------------- "A warrior is a hunter. He calculates everything. That's control. Once his calculations are over, he acts. He lets go. That's abandon. A warrior is not a leaf at the mercy of the wind. No one can push him; no one can make him do things against himself or against his better judgment. A warrior is tuned to survive, and he survives in the best of all possible fashions." ― Carlos Castaneda
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Kickle
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Huehuecoyotl]
#26445900 - 01/22/20 09:12 AM (4 years, 7 days ago) |
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Quote:
Huehuecoyotl said: I live by a set of principles...but they change based on by case basis nearly every day and every minute.
There must be something overarching that stimulates that change then? Otherwise why change unless some broader value was urging it?
-------------------- Why shouldn't the truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense. -- Mark Twain
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Kickle
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Hartford]
#26445905 - 01/22/20 09:15 AM (4 years, 7 days ago) |
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Quote:
Hartford said: There's an interesting phenomenon that I have been given the chance to see in this crazy world, and it is chiefly this, that it is very difficult for cultures or even whole families (father, mother, child) to live according to a set of principles (whatever those principles be).
It's easy for individuals to do, but difficult for families, and I think it's by design.
What I was wondering is if anyone at the shroomery lives according to a set of principles or knows someone who does. And how has your struggle played out against breaking those principles when you were tempted to abandon them?
As a certain poster once brought up for dialogue, those who have been hurt tend to not want to hurt others. There are exceptions.
I personally think this may have a lot to do with the Buddhist philosophies. If life is suffering, who in their right mind would want to add to that? And so you get some tenants about limiting one's additions...
IMO most value systems stem from some form of this. And of course I am including my own here.
-------------------- Why shouldn't the truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense. -- Mark Twain
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laughingdog
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Kickle]
#26450749 - 01/24/20 08:23 PM (4 years, 4 days ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
As a certain poster once brought up for dialogue, those who have been hurt tend to not want to hurt others. There are exceptions.
I personally think this may have a lot to do with the Buddhist philosophies. If life is suffering, who in their right mind would want to add to that? And so you get some tenants about limiting one's additions...
IMO most value systems stem from some form of this. And of course I am including my own here.
Indeed simply being harmless is often seen as unambitious; but when one looks at what goes on in the world, and how hard it often is to be harmless in unexpected situations, then one realizes that having a lot of fancy principles is not necessarily helpful.
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BrendanFlock
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: laughingdog]
#26450881 - 01/24/20 10:04 PM (4 years, 4 days ago) |
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So the principles you espouse...they must be ones that correctly come to terms with the situations that you are frequenting..
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laughingdog
Stranger

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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: BrendanFlock]
#26452587 - 01/25/20 08:53 PM (4 years, 3 days ago) |
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Many people have the very basic principle of taking care of family as a priority. Of course most mammals do the same thing, and we call it instinct, which raises the question of why some humans need to flatter themselves with fancy words, like 'principles' rather than 'instinct'.
Interestingly the training of soldiers/marines is: 'no one left behind', so the training mimics the family instinct, to include those who are not relatives, (ie. to include those who share fewer of the same genes). So that they will risk their own life for their comrades. The brutality of training, where all suffer together, bonds them. There is a science to the method. And bonding is necessary so that they learn to trust one another, in life and death situations. So what is desired, is not being able to discuss morality and principles, but being able to act, against selfish interest, without thinking immediately and spontaneously.
Edited by laughingdog (01/25/20 08:56 PM)
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Hartford
Lawful Good



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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Kickle]
#26453959 - 01/26/20 05:53 PM (4 years, 3 days ago) |
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Some principles, like calling no man on the earth your father is counter-instictual, and in those kinds of cases, calling it instinct is inappropriate
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skywhisp
Student


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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: laughingdog] 1
#26453981 - 01/26/20 06:08 PM (4 years, 3 days ago) |
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Quote:
laughingdog said:
Quote:
Kickle said:
As a certain poster once brought up for dialogue, those who have been hurt tend to not want to hurt others. There are exceptions.
I personally think this may have a lot to do with the Buddhist philosophies. If life is suffering, who in their right mind would want to add to that? And so you get some tenants about limiting one's additions...
IMO most value systems stem from some form of this. And of course I am including my own here.
Indeed simply being harmless is often seen as unambitious; but when one looks at what goes on in the world, and how hard it often is to be harmless in unexpected situations, then one realizes that having a lot of fancy principles is not necessarily helpful.
I think striving to be harmless in everything you do will ultimately produce more suffering. Consider, "being cruel to be kind." The most effective learning we do in life usually stems from failure. Failure usually produces feelings of suffering, but this is good for you. If you are resilient enough to be able to learn from it, that is. Consider the trope of the overbearing mother. In her ambitions to reduce the suffering of her children, she limits their negative experiences of the world. Sheltered children usually have fewer psychological tools for coping with the world, which is brutal and will leave you for dead if you are unwitting. Humans need a little bit of suffering to develop properly.
On the broader topic, I think values/principles are helpful because they give you a scaffold for decision making. Humans are only animals but we have the capacity to reason. I think reasoning about what is ethical in a decision is a fundamentally good thing, even if what is good is still subjective. Beats living like so many predatory mammals which commit infanticide to further their own genetic line. Humans absolutely have a history of doing this but it is good that we have the capacity to condemn it and strive for better. If families, and more broadly society, can adhere fairly well to a shared set of values, that society has a good chance of functioning well.
We are currently experiencing a tumultuous period where there are many clashes of values/principles from lots of different groups, which is why so many public conversations are extremely hostile. We have religions clashing, generations clashing, and sub-cultures clashing. It seems to me if we focused on the values that we all share right now, we might have a bit more societal cohesion.
Anyway, that is my two-cents. Cool topic of conversation.
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laughingdog
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: skywhisp]
#26454066 - 01/26/20 07:10 PM (4 years, 2 days ago) |
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It depends on how you define "harmless" doesn't it? Buddhism may not always be what some expect: Best I could find, but this is misleading--they actually hit hard.
even this is play, demonstration of keisaku is at end
and much of Zen practice is a bit like boot camp
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redgreenvines
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: laughingdog]
#26454151 - 01/26/20 08:08 PM (4 years, 2 days ago) |
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my principles: a sense of dignity, and of empathy otherwise, keep on learning, and staying in the moment,
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kitten6
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: Hartford] 1
#26455123 - 01/27/20 12:55 PM (4 years, 2 days ago) |
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I think principal is not a set of rules but rather the product of your morality. There are no rules set in stone, set beforehand. Instead you live life avoiding doing things that make you feel guilty or cause regret (the product of going against morals). When I refer to morals, I mean morals without the bias of emotion. When you are calm and collected and tranquil that is when your morals show in their purest form. Everyone's emotions work differently from each others and that is based of physical body chemistry/the mind, for example women who have their period every month have certain times where it is difficult for them to stay in control of their emotions. Some don't realise it, some do but either way they may do things they regret after. And it is up to the people around them to remind them of themselves.
From the top of my head, there are things that people do that start giving warnings on my moral compass. For example gossiping or joking about other people/making fun of people. All the time on TV or whatever you see comedians making fun of certain people, and people laughing those are the shit comedians. Its this finger pointing behaviour that's bad.
But for me every time I abandon my principles even for a second, I will regret it for the rest of my life. And for me the only way of coping with past mistakes is to smoke a cig and let bygones be bygones.
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AZZI
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: kitten6]
#26455399 - 01/27/20 03:04 PM (4 years, 2 days ago) |
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Principal is the head of a school.
Just being a smart aleck.
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RJ Tubs 202


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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: skywhisp]
#26455891 - 01/27/20 07:49 PM (4 years, 1 day ago) |
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Quote:
skywhisp said:
We are currently experiencing a tumultuous period where there are many clashes of values/principles from lots of different groups, which is why so many public conversations are extremely hostile. We have religions clashing, generations clashing, and sub-cultures clashing. It seems to me if we focused on the values that we all share right now, we might have a bit more societal cohesion.
The lines have been drawn and now many people are more committed to identifying with a sub-group (skin color, sexual preference, political affiliation, etc.) than as human beings. So we wallow in orgies of outrage as many of these sub-groups embrace victimhood and stand their ground. As the anger grows and grows.
I think we can strive to not cause ourselves and others harm - while not trying to eradicate the natural suffering we all experience. I don't think a parent who allows their children to be exposed to a reasonable amount of suffering or failure is causing harm or is being "cruel to be kind."
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laughingdog
Stranger

Registered: 03/14/04
Posts: 4,828
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Re: Living according to a set of principles [Re: RJ Tubs 202] 1
#26456013 - 01/27/20 08:51 PM (4 years, 1 day ago) |
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"I think we can strive to not cause ourselves and others harm - while not trying to eradicate the natural suffering we all experience. I don't think a parent who allows their children to be exposed to a reasonable amount of suffering or failure is causing harm or is being "cruel to be kind."

Seems often 2 sources provide answers that already exist: Nature and the Tao Te Ching Animals don't coddle their young.Today their are many nature documentaries on youtube where one can see this. To equate harmlessness with weakness, is just one possible association. But weakness that cripples others or oneself is harmful, hence equating harmlessness with weakness, seems a less than optimal way to define it.
The Tao Te Ching , acknowledges paradoxes in everything. It is "because" of dualistic thinking. which loses sight of the paradoxical, that people identify with fixed positions, & concepts, & proclaim their principles & virtues.
http://albanycomplementaryhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/TaoTeChing-LaoTzu-StephenMitchellTranslation-33p.pdf
19) Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing. Throw away industry and profit, and there won't be any thieves.
from (38) The kind man does something, yet something remains undone. The just man does something, and leaves many things to be done. The moral man does something, and when no one responds he rolls up his sleeves and uses force. When the Tao is lost, there is goodness. When goodness is lost, there is morality. When morality is lost, there is ritual. Ritual is the husk of true faith, the beginning of chaos.
from #57 Therefore the Master says: I let go of the law, and people become honest. I let go of economics, and people become prosperous. I let go of religion, and people become serene. I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes common as grass.
Tao Te Ching written by Lao-tzu Translation by Stephen. Mitchell
and so on... the down load is free and various translations are available and its only 33 pages of short verses
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=tao+te+ching+pdf&ia=web
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