In an earlier article (this article), I mentioned a conflict between determinism and free will. Determinism makes it sound like all our struggles will be in vain, and that makes us believe it is important to continue working hard without changing our will.
However, I have recently understood that being a rational slacker who changes his mind flexibly can also improve his life. Although I don’t regret my past passions, I now prefer such a relaxed lifestyle.
The change in my belief
I used to believe that having an indomitable spirit and continuous hard work would improve my life. Although it worked well in terms of social success, it broke the balance of my life.
That experience told me that it is not a teaching for logical people. If I teach one thing to logical people, I will say in short words, “Be rational.”
Logically speaking, what are we fighting against? To have ‘indomitable spirit’ and ‘unconquerable will’ requires an enemy. However, there is no need to fight to make things more efficient. As long as we are rational, we can improve our lives without making enemies to destroy. There is no need to wield our justice.
The same goes for continuous hard work. What is the purpose of working? Some say it is for the happiness of others, while some say it is for their life. There would be various answers, and each one is correct. No one can deny another person’s purpose of living. It is pointless to worship only hard work and despise being at ease without thinking of the intention of one’s life.
For example, someone with logical sense used his creativity instead of hard work. Someone sociable sought help from others rather than putting in the effort themselves. What is wrong with that? Nothing is wrong.
Even if someone’s behavior lacks virtue, that is also their way of life. Living beings survive by eating other living beings, so what is virtue? Someone who denies wars and murders, so what is reality? That means they deny reality and the laws of nature.
From the perspective of rationality, we cannot deny anything. It includes our lives.
How to live in chaos
In other words, we need a philosophy of what we value.
This world is filled with chaos. Living in such a world requires balance and flexibility rather than an indomitable spirit. Unconquerable will is meant for those who are irrational and love conflict.
If we balance our lives, our talents are combined.
In my case, I am empathic and logical. After I began to live rationally, strangely, I started to live spiritually.
One typical example is determinism, as I explained in an earlier article. I have come to live according to the guidance of fate.
In other words, rationality stimulated my spiritual aspect. I let go of my will. Then, I have come to make rational judgments based on empathic information.
In my current opinion, this is the most comfortable way of living for those who are empathic and logical. We can immediately stop worrying about the future. However, since we feel anxious at least once, we can take rational measures. Reasonable decisions eliminate fear. That is the stability of our lives.
It can be said to be a philosophy of death. In my case, that made me feel that life and death are inevitable. If I continue to make rational judgments and then die, that is nothing but fate. The concept of one’s will is for those who act irrationally and randomly.
From the objective perspective, my way of living is spiritual and logical. Although they look contradictory, I live based on them.
Conclusion
That is my current philosophy on how to live my life well.
If I teach one thing to logical people, I will say in short words, “Be rational.”
That feeling might help you to live more comfortably.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
