Deep Questions Answered by PhilosophersPick the Brain

If you’re a seeker of wisdom, chances are you’re always looking for deep new questions to ask.

After all, there’s nothing like a good deep question to fire up your brain cells and get you thinking about life, the universe, and everything.

But where do you find these deep questions? Once you find them, how can you respond to them?

Fortunately, you’re not the first person to ask these types of questions. Throughout history, there have been many famous philosophers and thinkers who have wrestled with the same profound questions that you are struggling with now.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of these famous philosophers and how they approach these profound questions. Perhaps their answers will give you some clues about how you can answer your own deep questions.

Deep Question #1: What is the meaning of life?

Every person at some point in his life asks himself the question: “What is the meaning of life?”

This is a question that has been debated by philosophers for centuries and is still very relevant today. Let’s take a look at how the great philosopher Aristotle answered this question.

Aristotle was born in Stagira, Macedonia in 384 BC. His father was a physician in the service of King Amyntas III of Macedonia, and Aristotle grew up with an appreciation for medicine and science.

He then attended Plato’s Academy in Athens, where he befriended another young student named Alexander (later known as Alexander the Great). After leaving the academy, Aristotle traveled to Asia Minor and Lesbos before returning to Macedonia, where he became Alexander’s tutor.

It was during his time teaching Alexander that Aristotle began to seriously consider the question of what the meaning of life might be.

He knew it was a question debated by philosophers for centuries, but he felt he could add something new to the discussion.

So Aristotle set out to find an answer that was both logical and satisfying.

Aristotle’s Definition of Happiness

Aristotle began his search for the meaning of life by looking at the concept of happiness. He believed that if humans are rational beings, our lives must have a goal or purpose.

Furthermore, he believed that this goal was always to achieve good. But what is this “good” we strive for? Aristotle concluded that the “good” or ultimate goal for humanity is Eudaimonia.

Eudaimonia is often translated as “happiness”, but it should be noted that Aristotle’s concept of happiness is quite different from what most modern people understand the word.

For Aristotle, Eudaimonia is not a fleeting feeling or emotion; rather, it is a long-term condition that results from living a virtuous life. So how to achieve Eudaimonia?

According to Aristotle, there are two main components:

1. to use the mind well
2. to engage in virtuous deeds.

Good Use of Reason

Aristotle believed that humans are unique among all other life forms in the entire world because we have the ability to think at a deeper level. This ability distinguishes us from animals and gives us great potential for growth and development.

In order to realize our full potential as human beings, we must make good use of our Aristotelian reason. It means constantly seeking knowledge, asking personal questions, and understanding both ourselves and the world around us.

To engage in virtuous action

A second component of achieving eudaimonia is engaging in virtuous activity. For Aristotle, virtue refers to excellence or goodness—doing what we ought to do (as opposed to vice or vice—doing what we ought not to do).

The key here is moral virtue—action done because it is intrinsically good or worthwhile, not out of fear of punishment or hope of reward. Thus, living a virtuous life means acting in accordance with the moral virtues—doing things because they are good in themselves, not just because they lead to some other end, such as wealth or pleasure.

In conclusion, we can see that Aristotle’s search for the meaning of life led him to the important lesson that our ultimate goal as human beings is to achieve Eudaimonia – a long-term condition resulting from the good use of reason and a virtuous life characterized by attractiveness. in virtuous action.

While this may not be the answer everyone is looking for, it provides a logical and satisfying explanation of why we exist and what we should strive for in our lives.

Deep Question #2: What is the nature of reality?

Another deep question that has puzzled philosophers for centuries is what is the essence of reality? Do what we see and experience in our daily lives really exist? Or is there more to reality than meets the eye?

20th century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein grappled with this question and concluded that “the limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”

In other words, our understanding of reality is limited by our ability to understand and communicate it.

But how did Wittgenstein come to this conclusion? Here are some examples of how Wittgenstein personally wrestled with this question in his own life.

Ludwig Wittgenstein was a 20th century philosopher who was deeply concerned with the question of reality. He has struggled with this question throughout his life, both in his personal life and in his professional work.

Wittgenstein was known for being a very private person, and he did not share his inner thoughts with many people. However, those closest to him knew that he was constantly struggling with big questions about life, death, and the nature of reality.

A famous story about Wittgenstein illustrates this struggle perfectly.

Wittgenstein was once sitting on the beach with a friend, looking at the ocean.

A friend asked him what he was thinking about, and Wittgenstein replied: “I wonder if I am really here or if I am just dreaming.” This story perfectly encapsulates Wittgenstein’s struggle to come to terms with the nature of reality.

Wittgenstein’s belief is that our understanding of reality is limited by our ability to understand and communicate it. He came to this conclusion after many years of struggling with the question of whether what we see and experience in our daily life really exists.

Wittgenstein understood that we can understand and explain reality only through language. Because language is limited, so is our understanding of reality.

This may sound like a negative result, but Wittgenstein saw it as a positive thing. He believed that our inability to fully understand reality is what makes life interesting and meaningful.

If we could understand everything about reality, then life would be boring and predictable. But since we can only look at reality through the lens of language, we are constantly discovering new things about it.

Deep Question #3: How should we live our lives?

How we choose to live our lives is ultimately up to us. But that doesn’t stop us from wondering if we’re living our lives right.

The ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius wrestled with this question and came up with his own set of rules for living a good life. He said we should “do unto others as unto you” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” Doesn’t this sound familiar to what Jesus said?

But how did Confucius come to this conclusion? Here are some examples of how Confucius personally wrestled with this question in his own life.

As a young man, Confucius was appointed to a small government post. But he soon became disillusioned with the corruption he saw around him. He resigned from his position and began to travel around China, teaching the people morality and ethics.

During his travels, he met a man named Lao Tzu, who was so impressed by the wisdom of Confucius that he gave him a copy of the Tao Te Ching, which had a profound influence on him.

Confucius eventually settled down and started a school where he taught his philosophy to students from all over China. His teachings became so popular that the emperor invited him to court to advise him on how to rule the country.

However, not everyone agreed with Confucianism. There have been many debates between Confucians and other schools of thought such as Mohism and Legalism. In the end, Confucianism prevailed and had a lasting influence on Chinese culture.

In general, Confucius believed that we should treat others with kindness and compassion and always strive to improve ourselves. His philosophy has survived for centuries and remains relevant today. As we wrestle with our own deep questions about how we should live our lives, it’s worth considering what Confucius had to say on the subject.

Deep questions to ask – Conclusion

These are just a few of the many profound questions philosophers have asked throughout history. As you can see, there are no easy answers to these types of questions.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask them. In fact, it’s often important to ask those tough questions and face your biggest fear.

For more related information, read Ancient Philosophy and Modern Personal Development.

In this way, we can better understand ourselves and the world around us. So don’t be afraid to ask those tough questions—you never know what insights you might gain from doing so.

Jared Levenson is a blogger at Eating Enlightenment. Jared, a former Zen Monk and Intuitive Eating Consultant, blogs about mindfulness and journaling to treat overeating and emotional eating.