Category: Philosophy of Life

Question:

What philosophy related to, living a truthful life, can you extract from the essay ‘Of Truth’ by Francis Bacon?

Of truth essay was written by Francis Bacon in 1625. In this essay Bacon explains about the different perspectives of the truth and also shows the difference between truth and lie. Bacon uses the didactic tone in his essay of truth. This is essay primarily consist about the importance of the truth that how truth made human life peaceful and calm in its actions and its consequences. In his essay Bacon asks questions regarding truth in his essay that why people did not speak truth and how lie is different from the truth. Now if we talks about the philosophy that is to be taken as relates with our life in contrast with the essay of Bacon. In my point of view philosophy is something that makes you to life your life good and healthy without any bad influences and also without taking the rights of the other people who are living around you. Philosophy also helps us to make our thinking’s very critical and also more experimentally to be taken as in our everyday matters we think about the things that are going around us more critically more efficiently with the questions that we observe in the society and goes for their answers either it is taken as very effectively or it may consumes over time but if we are determined to find our answers on one day we will find our answers definitely but for that answers we need to be patient and also calm in order to get our answers we did not need to be curious like Pilate who were without knowing the truth gives the decision of the crucifying of the Christ. We do not need to be too much dubious in our thinking in our answers to the questions. For living a truthful life one must be needs to live with the truth or stick with the truth. For living a truthful life we must need to be very straightforward in our actions and also to be does not takes helps from the lie. Truth is considered to be essential soul of life without truth life cannot be successful in any case either we take help from the lie it may be get our attraction but in the end it will surely harms us. Bacon mentions TRUTH is very important for us if anything happens we have to be with truth always in any condition. Francis Bacon quotes about the truth in his essay

“Truth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl, that showeth best by day; but it will not rise to the price of a diamond or carbuncle, that showeth best in varied lights”.

If we take this quote seriously it depicts that how truth affects our philosophy of true life. As we compares our life with the pearl it shows that truth is like a pearl having no spot of stain on it. It reflects that if we were remain stick with the truth as pearl glows in the light and it can be seen with the close eyed or naked like similarly our life will be like of that pearl and gives us happiness in our life and everything we needed with great prosperity and also helps us to know about the realities of life and it get us closer to GOD day by day if we practice truth with our keenness. It surely brings joy in our life although we get pains and suffered from the hardships of truth in order to finding that but ultimately it rewards us. But if that philosophy is corrupted with lie it is not those things that can be seen in realistically because it will go towards the darkness of the life because only immortal things can be show in complete darkness or the things that have no element of truth in it. Truth is necessary for living a true or actual life it soothes our soul and also relaxes our mind and it will help us to please GOD. Truth is considered to be the most essential source of living a prosperous and happy life. Having truthful life brings honor and respect but if we connect with the lie or falsehood it will brings disgrace to us and it destroys our moral character very badly. We do not need to be think in this world but we have to be thinking in the world here after. By doing right things in this world we will be rewarded in the other world but if we did not right things we will have to be suffered and also face its consequences. Therefore according to Bacon we have to be with the truth in any case either it is good for us or bad for us whatever problems we face or hardships we face we did not lose our grip on the truth we have to hold the truth with strong force and strength. Every person who is following the footsteps of the pious caliphs and also keep his belief firm on the truth will not face disgrace in his life but those who do not follow these footsteps goes with the misdeeds will surely have to face its consequences . A true philosophy of life is that we treat our problems with dedication and remain stick with the holiness of GOD and also remains firmly with the truth because these are the things or the essentials that will make our life very happy and also makes our philosophy of life very good and true. But if we are in guilty of our doings we will have to face GOD in doomsday and answers those misdeeds that we were in doings our life and GOD will not forgive us and throws us into hell. For being happy in the world here and the world here after and also to make our philosophy of life true and good if we are holding our grip tight to the truth as Bacon says in his essay that we must have to be with truth . We need to be with truth in all fields of life it is not only related to theology and philosophy it is related with all doings of our life. For living a veracity of life we need to be with truth always and it also helps in achieving our ideal philosophy of life.

The student must examine the relationship between philosophy and science —the two are not dichotomous in their relationship. There is a deep relationship between the two as one leads to the other and again comes back in a circular order. Scientific psychology is not to deny the significance of philosophical avenues of thought and explanations, rather seek the validation of philosophical ideas through explanations vis-a vis human behavior and practices. Psychology as a subject is not a cross between philosophical thought and scientific practices, rather it is an independent subject having deep relationship with scientific experimentation and data gathering along with seeking deeper understanding based on philosophical musings.

Philosophical Perspective of Psychology in Other Parts of the World

Throughout the history, humans have engaged in an endless search for permanent and indisputable philosophy of life and get an answer for a perennial but also fundamental question regarding the meaning of existence. Search goes on despite the huge technical improvements and innovations in controlling life, but they have no solution for the growing anxiety in dealing with one’s existence and search for meaning of life. Some answers have been observed in existentialism which grew out of the conviction that what the future will bring cannot be known in advance. This fundamental characteristic of existentialism may be grasped in Kierkegaard’s philosophical commitment to freedom and value as a reality for every individual. The act of choice does not terminate in that choice, and man alone realizes this intrinsic value/attribute of choice which ultimately culminates into his/her freedom. Existentialism continuously remind the human being of his/her responsibility not only towards self but his/her relation with the world outside. A synergistic relation which is there inside the human being and what is there outsidePlease check, is the fundamental contention of existentialism along with a wholistic thinking and search for real-world value. Action, freedom and decision are the main stay of existentialism, which has a deep implication of the psychologist Kierkegaard, Nietzsche emphasized subjectivism, basically reflecting personal experience, and one’s own convictions are essential for realizing truth.Not clear

The Eastern Traditional Wisdom emphasizes not only on individualistic approach to understanding the human psyche, but also highlights the fact that psychological problems are caused by people’s way of thinking and life. Eastern approach to life is mainly relational. Happiness, for instance, is based on fulfilling duties ensuing from social roles and responsibilities. Positive thoughts are achieved by way of self-cultivation during which an individual aspires to develop modesty and sensitivity towards the needs of others in the context of a tendency to unite opposites. Eastern cultures perceive happiness and unhappiness in mutual unity. People are internally motivated to reach a state of inner balance, a precursor for inner peace and harmony. Eastern concepts are holistic and interconnected, they are difficult for Westerns to grasp as the Western science is based on Aristotelian logic.

Hindu philosophy of Yoga which literally means addition (connection between two as more), outlined by Patanjali in 2nd century B.C., is based on eight limbs: yamas (ethical rule), niyamas (individual principle), asanas (positions), pranayam (breath control), pratyahara (retraction of senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (self-realization or enlightenment). Yoga is not a breath technique or physical exercise as the West may believe; it is a spiritual way of connecting the mind and the body. It provides strength to see and deal with personal conflicts, apprehensions, hopes, fears and self-realization. It provides endless energy to the human being to empower the mind and body both.

Buddhism also is a major contributor to understanding human psychology. It provides the basics for understanding emotions, cognition, behavior, motivation, embedded within the greatest Buddhist ethical and philosophical metaphors and principles. Buddhism’s ultimate goal of life is Nirvana, the total bliss without fear of death or worldly attractions. For understanding psychology from Buddhist point of view is its methodology and that is introspection and phenomenological self-observations.not clear

In “A Defence of Poetry,” Shelley portrays his philosophy of life towards poets. He described a poet as a person who can see the essential harmonies of the world under the disturbing images that people may find in their everyday lives; he assigns the poets responsibility that no regular man could uphold. Shelly wrote, “Poets, according to the circumstances of the age and nation in which they appeared, were called, in the earlier epochs of the world, legislators, or prophets: a poet essentially comprises and unites both these characters.” Shelley calls out to the poet and assigns a higher calling. He claims to want the revelation of the truth about life and the promotion of universal betterment to be spread. He proclaims this by writing, “A poet participates in the eternal, the infinite, and the one.” This specific poet does not see poetry as a craft, but instead, Shelley announces that an authentic poet is a visionary who is stimulated to create essential art that exhibits nature in the world. He proves his point by stating, “A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds; his auditors are as men entranced by the melody of an unseen musician, who feel that they are moved and softened, yet know not whence or why.”

Shelley’s view of the philosophy of life is evident within “Mutability”; he sees human elements of human life as something similar to human nature. Shelley speaks of midnight clouds blocking the sun and how quickly they are gone. The idea is the same to human life; daily joys experienced are gone in a flash. “We are clouds that veil in the midnight moon;/ Night closes round, and they are lost forever:” I see this as an indication that nature is continually changing and passing, just like the briefness of life.

In the second stanza, Shelley moves on to compare human nature as a lyre. “One mood or modulation like the last,” I read it as an example of a person never staying exactly as they are now, similar to nature. A human eye cannot see life exactly as it is now within the future.

In the fourth stanza, Shelley’s overall thoughts become clear. He claims, “The path of departure is still free.” It is evident throughout this poem he believes that nothing will last forever, no person nor nature, except change itself.

I found that Shelley’s philosophy of life in “Mont Blanc” explained that there is an entity that is a manifestation from the world beyond a physical form. Shelley uses strong imagery throughout this poem, while they allow the reader to imagine the sights, these observations reveal to be only a gateway into seeing something more. (Insert lines 1-6). The author refers to this something as Power. The mountain prevails in the visible world as a mountain, but upon perceiving this mountain and the things around it the reader can distinguish a great force has composed itself into this illustration that may look like a mountain, but in reality, is something entirely more weighty. Shelly does not want to explain this view; his reader must observe and respond to those observations with his own emotion or feeling. By doing this, the reader can gain the ability to see beyond the physical world to the world that lies beneath it (the spiritual world). (Insert 12-17)

The third stanza begins to approach how a person may be affected by having this experience. There is talk of death and dreams, and while given very particular details about the substantial world, those characterizations mold as a bridge towards the spiritual world outlined in the poem. (Insert line 60-61) Shelley’s use of words and language serve as another link between the physical and mental realms. As this stanza concludes, the reader infers that faith in nature and the spiritual world represents strength to overcome the doubt and uncertainty of life. The benefits are of this trust and made manifest as Shelley wrote: “Thou hast a voice, great Mountain, to repeal/ Large codes of fraud and woe;”. Nature ultimately shows to be a positive guiding force based on its intimate connection with the spiritual world, and by putting faith in this trust, one can navigate the uncertainties of life. (Insert line 74-79) (Insert line 80-81)

In the continuing stanzas, the concept is further developed as the Shelley wrote, “All things that move and breathe with toil and sound/ Are born and die; revolve, subside, and swell. / Power dwells apart in its tranquility,”. (Line 94-96) I found that this meant if we do not put our faith in nature, the power associated with the mountain remains in its tranquility, the mountain will endure well beyond our mortal life spans. Faced with the alternative of the grasp of the instinctive order and finding purity in nature and the world around us; or exsisting in uncertainty and consequently arriving at the equivalent certain end of life. He seems to say that it is not enough for someone to see the world to be indeed be able to connect with the spiritual world. (Inset Line (142-144) Shelley seems to have a philosophy that there is a connection with nature and the spiritual world appears to offer a cordial difference to distrust and anxiety when one considers that either passage directs to the same outcome.

We all know that we have a different understanding about philosophy but for me philosophy is about knowing yourself. There are many philosophers but among those philosophers Socrates is the one who really drawn my reflections in life`s realities or experiences and also my view in life. He is the Father of Western Philosophy in the Western Era. Socrates thought me many realizations in my life. I like Socrates because he likes to ask a lot of questions and this helps me also to find answers that I`ve been questioning all by myself. That`s why for me the meaning of philosophy is about knowing yourself because according to Socrates , the ultimate wisdom comes from knowing yourself. The more a person knows, the greater his or her ability to reason and make choices that will bring true happiness. Socrates thought us that in order to live worthily, we should open our mind ,seek for wisdom and acquire knowledge.

An unexamined life is not worth living as what Socrates say. With this statement it draw my reflections in life that I live in this world with a purpose. From waking up in the morning , from making decisions and discoveries. Throughout our life we do choices but sometimes there are things in life where in we don`t have any freedom at all. Just like me even if I`m 18 years. Of age now , I don`t have any freedom to go somewhere places that are far from our hometown, actually, even if it`s near I need to ask permission to my mother. I can say that by living in life I discover many things especially to myself. Before, I`m so dependent to the people around me. I always want a buddy or a friend to lean on but as I grow older and as my age increases, I learn to be independent and by that I slowly discover myself. I slowly understand what life really is.

I discover a lot of things that before I think I cannot do it, but now I discover what my passions and talents really are. One thing that I learn in knowing myself is by exploring the things that you want to do and also by saying always to myself “try it first , if it will work then it`s for you”.

For me Socrates philosophy in life helps me a lot to build myself. It taught me to explore new things and to don`t be afraid to have mistakes because if you don`t make mistakes you will not learn and you will not discover yourself.

Another Socrates statement that really drawn my reflections in life and experiences is ‘Knowledge is a Virtue’. It really reflect this to me especially in my life and in myself because whenever I have a problems in life knowledge is very useful why? Because by knowledge it can be used in everything. It can be used in solving problems not just mathematics but also in real life situation. I`m very lucky to have a knowledge that can easily understand in everything. Knowledge is necessary for a person to live with virtue. They are both important because they are the basic qualities especially for our happiness. Having knowledge is also having the ability to know what is wrong and what is right.

There are a lot of people whose self is not yet discovered because they are afraid in trying and afraid in committing mistakes. Some are lack of confidence in trying the things they want to try but in finding happiness and finding the answers of our questions that we ask everytime what we are doubting of especially in ourselves , we need to go out to our comfort zones for us to explore new things and to learn many things in life. If you want to enjoy life, you need to know yourself and your own uniqueness. We need to know ourselves, also the people around us and also in our society so that we can find the meaning of it and live a worthy life. I agree to Socrates that knowledge is a virtue because god gave us knowledge and it`s a gift from him that we need to keep and also to share to others. By having knowledge and virtue it can lead to better communication, understanding and also acceptance.