"We may handle any how, if we only have a why."

Playboy

"We may handle any how, if we only have a why." - Nietzche

Just wondering what people's 'why?' is in life. How do they find meaning and what thinkers have influenced their perspective on life the most? With the rise of postmodernism and decline of religion, is it now harder to find a why?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

religion didn't give a why to people, people took it from religion. the same way loads of people take it from star trek all around the world. People will always find some way to give their lives meaning depending on what's trendy in their generation. it's never been easier or harder, it's the same as it's always been because people are the same.

DadaKopf

People are the same? How?

Aren't people also different?

sophiemarie

Peolpe 'Why?' because they seek solutions to problems in society.
Q. How should we fix the irrigation system?......
The Why being?...
Because without it these peolpe will have no clean water system and therefore will suffer drought and disease.

Scigaithris

Mordeth wrote:

People will always find some way to give their lives meaning depending on what's trendy in their generation.

Social constructions of reality? Peter Burger and W.I. Thomas have suggested this, among others. In general, this may hold, but how does this account for those who fail to find meaning, as suggested by E. Durkheim (Suicide) or Viktor Frankl (Man's Quest for Meaning and the loss of hope)?

it's never been easier or harder, it's the same as it's always been because people are the same.

Same? B.F. Skinner might agree to some extent with a notion of sameness, but what about individual differences? Not sure what you meant by "same." Although people as a species (as well as other cultural, social, behavioural, etc., influences) may share some things in common, what about their uniqueness? Clarify?

Red Hand

Scigaithris wrote:

Same? B.F. Skinner might agree to some extent with a notion of sameness, but what about individual differences? Not sure what you meant by "same." Although people as a species (as well as other cultural, social, behavioural, etc., influences) may share some things in common, what about their uniqueness? Clarify?

Perhaps Mordeth (not putting words in his/her mouth) means that down through the ages, the same emotions/drives are present in people? People have dealt with purpose and trying to find a meaning to life 100, 1000, 10000 years ago.

Which might lead lead one to think of when exactly Homo first needed meaning in his life. 10000? 20000 years ago? 50000?

One could go further and speculate that perhaps in the past off-shoots of humanity (like Neanderthals) may have possessed extra emotions. (Just an idea!)How many emotions are there generally thought to be? Might there be others that most of us don't know of? Would Buddha in a state of peace/Nirvana have expeerienced this/these emotion(s)?:)

(Sorry for going off topic!)