Author Topic: What is one to do with one's life?  (Read 363 times)

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Nation of One

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What is one to do with one's life?
« on: April 16, 2017, 09:25:50 pm »
Every now and then I get this flash of anxiety which seems to say, "What are you doing with your life?"

Well, that's the thing.  I think that once you reach a certain point, you don't try so hard anymore.  You don't expect much.  It is enough to just endure the moment, to get through the day, to get through the night, to get through THIS.
Things They Will Never Tell YouArthur Schopenhauer has been the most radical and defiant of all troublemakers.

Gorticide @ Nothing that is so, is so DOT edu

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Holden

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Re: What is one to do with one's life?
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2017, 12:58:37 pm »
Yes,but how to reach the point of no return? How to lay bare the true nature of the world?How to quieten this restless striving?
Schopenhauer found suicide to be ultimately useless in the grand scheme of things. Sure the little part of the Will that constituted one would be gone, but the rest of the eternal grind of suffering would continue regardless while flies use the corpse as food.  Asceticism is better because  one is actually continually denying the Will.

La Tristesse Durera Toujours                                  (The Sadness Lasts Forever ...)
-van Gogh.

raul

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Re: What is one to do with one's life?
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2017, 03:17:53 pm »
Herr Raskolnikov,
Yes, I have been having this anxiety. As you say "it is enough to just endure the moment, to get through the day, to get through the night, to get through THIS. Most can endure life by drinking, having sex until exhaustion, practicing extreme sports, going to work, killing people , a pretext for fighting for freedom, joining secret lodges, going into politics, allegedly helping poor people (the way Angelina Jolie does to be more famous) and so forth.  So far you have been enduring and struggling. Stay safe. Raúl 

P.S. Do you know the meaning of the name "Raskolnikov"?

Nation of One

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Re: What is one to do with one's life?
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2017, 06:01:22 pm »
All I knew was that this character from Dostoevsky's novel, Crime and Punishment, was referred to as "the former student".  He did not appear to be employed, and he lived an impoverished existence.

I chose this name in an attempt to capture this feeling I have that my only identity is that of "former student".  I do not wish to identify myself as "former maintenance worker".   Choosing this name was also inspired by HT's choosing Holden as his name, the main character of Salinger's novel with this infamous and unreliable narrator.

Upon reading your question, I did a little research, and here is what I found.

The name Raskolnikov is derived from the word “raskolnik,” which refers to a person who opposed the reforms of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century. More broadly it means a dissenter and also contains the idea of “splitting apart” – as the church did ultimately split at that time. As well as the clear religious allusions, perhaps Dostoevsky is drawing attention to Raskolnikov’s dual nature.

I guess I also have a kind of dual nature.  On the one hand, I promote the study of mathematics as well as the philosophy of Schopenhauer, and, on the other hand, I am mystified by the dry, boring formalism found at the foundations of mathematics.  And I'm not really too crazy about Kant's writings (please don't tell this to Schopenhauer's ghost, as he might think less of me for it).

With each day I have a less and less clear idea of who or what I actually am or what I even think.  I'm not sure I could even explain with formal rigor what a "number" actually is ...  :P

[and I still wonder, is it Dostoyevsky or Dostoevsky?   It appears to be Dostoevsky as it does not have the red line under it as Dostoyevsky does]


Russian Names


The middle name of all male characters end in "ovitch" and of all female characters in "ovna." This ending simply means "son of" or "daughter of" the father whose first name is converted into their middle name and is called a patronymic. For example, Rodya and Dunya's father was named Roman Raskolnikov. Thus, Rodya's middle name Rodion Romanovitch means son of Roman and Dunya's middle name, Avdotya Romanovna, means daughter of Roman.

Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov (Rodya, Rodenka, or Rodka) A poverty-stricken student who conceives of a theory of the "Ubermensch" or extraordinary man who has the right and/or obligation to transgress the laws of the ordinary man in order to give a New Word or idea to all of humanity. He uses this theory as a justification or rationalization to commit murder.

« Last Edit: April 17, 2017, 06:47:54 pm by Raskolnikov »
Things They Will Never Tell YouArthur Schopenhauer has been the most radical and defiant of all troublemakers.

Gorticide @ Nothing that is so, is so DOT edu

~ Tabak und Kaffee Süchtigen ~

raul

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Re: What is one to do with one's life?
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2017, 09:46:35 am »
Herr Hentrich,
Thank you for your response. Russian names are very difficult indeed. In a way you are a dissenter. Going against the current is risky in this world. In a world where dog eat dog, nobody is safe and nobody leaves with no injuries mentally and emotionally. You have written extensively how those who truly see and live the madness will suffer the worst. Humanity is well beyond repair. A failed experiment. Be safe. Raúl

Nation of One

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Re: What is one to do with one's life?
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2017, 10:45:50 pm »
I still like to spell Dostoyevsky with a y.   Is this acceptable?   It can also be Dostoevsky.

duh-stuh-yef-skyee

Dosto - normal, like it's written
ev - it's yev(like yes),
ski - it should be pronounced like skiy, more like long iiiiiiii at the end


Dostoevsky
Dostoyevsky
Dostoevski(i)
Dostoyevski(i)
Dostoejewski(i)

(I'm reading Demons [the possessed] after 1AM)

I'm pretty sure Maughan said that he studies the Russian language, and I think he confirmed that I had been spelling Dostoyevsky in an acceptable manner.  I often see it spelled the other way:  Dostoevsky.   Damn, it's times like these I could use a stiff drink.

But, no, I am ok.  Back to the math ...  :P   :'(  :D  >:(  :-X  :-\

Maybe it's Dostoevski.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2017, 10:47:38 pm by Raskolnikov »
Things They Will Never Tell YouArthur Schopenhauer has been the most radical and defiant of all troublemakers.

Gorticide @ Nothing that is so, is so DOT edu

~ Tabak und Kaffee Süchtigen ~