A daily lesson

 

            How finally I relate philosophy to my way of thinking. Thanks to Martin Heidegger, Leo Tolstoy, Emile Zola and Marck Forster. Of course, philosophy is a part of my life without I can understand it. And I'm the only one to blame for. I'm a pre-philosopher, my philosophical potential is not born yet. It's like women (or any groups unfairly treated) who cannot understand they are oppressing by society because they  have no idea who they are. Marx said it more than a century ago about a russian working class who didn't see themselves as a class. So I'm a philosophical object denied by myself, mostly because living without questioning is easier. I choose values that I can relate to, that help me to grow. And these 3 authors and this director talked to me, introduced themselves by each other. Let me explain : I wouldn't understand Heidegger without Forster as I wouldn't understand Zola without refeirring to Tolstoy.

 

            So what ? So the principle explained is simple, is modern and will always be. The former hipsters in the Antiquity said Carpe Diem wearing their fashion toga, today with sunglasses, bio tea and beanie said YOLO (You Only Live Once). My little sister with her new YOLO sweatshirt (Unfortunately true) is spreading a philosophy inheritance of centuries of philosophers. Even if she has no conscience of it.

Teenagers see in that message an excuse to : do not care we're all gonna die so bro do whatever you want (It can be stupid and dangerous. It must be actually.) I used to get really confused about the message. If it's a way to overcome your fears then it's great and I would encourage everyone to adopt the YOLO style. Everyone in sunglasses and beanies, so stylish.

 

You're welcome.

 

If it's a way to be stupidly reckless, then no. Don't, trust me and don't. Because you have forgotten the YOLO/Carpe Diem rule number one : enjoy life. This being said mingle be brave and take stupid risks is certainly not the best way to enjoying life. Indeed it seems to shorten life instead.

I find Carpe Diem more attractive, firstly I love beautiful images, and what you can translate as seize the day is infinitely more poetic than YOLO (more down to earth). Secondly it is a gentle reminder of the importance to find authenticity.

How can you find authenticity? At this moment I can refer to films and novels. Life, and being is related to death and not being anymore. We all are going to die, we all know this limit to our life. The knowledge of death is one, if only, the most important thing in life. It creates life changes. It can bring despair, dread and anxiety, it can make the life an absurd limited moment (Big up to Kierkegaard) or instead it can make you truly live according to yourself.

I admit I’m a deep optimistic. And I prefer see the experience of death as a revelation to authenticity. Ivan Ilitch and Harold Crick discovering they’re going to die have in common a review of their priorities. Even if they have humdrum lives, they understand their death is closer than they think. Because they have suddenly a deadline, they want to properly their lives meaning this is absurd to live without being. Being happy in preference. It’s like a paper, if you don’t have a deadline you won’t do it. Or if your holidays were infinite you wouldn’t enjoy them as you do. The knowledge of the finite in my opinion is creating intensity. Christmas is, or is supposed to be, an happiness time because it happens once a year.

There is a dilemma raised by this thinking. Experimenting death is understanding that there is a concrete end. It changes you. But while Ivan Illitch or Harold Crick free themselves from their sad life, it can also paralyze. The fear of the end can be that strong you can’t handle it. I recently watched a video where women talked about their first death experience. One of them explained that she was so terrified she planned her own death, she decided to kill herself because living with a Damoclès Sword under her head was not acceptable. Death is a threat, because it is spontaneous (or almost). We can compare this state to phobic behaviour. People who are scared of vomiting, do everything to avoid any situation that can lead to vomit. In extreme situations, these phobic won’t eat pastas with sauce, or drink milk, or drink a beer. They are prostrated in their own fears.

Why YOLO couldn’t induce the same ? After all, you only live once, bring back to our vulnerability.

So, two reactions can be created by the knowledge of death : being anxious by the idea of our soon death ; being true by the idea of hurry up by the emergency of living.

There is no, clearly not, what teenagers apply on their lives (or I’m maybe becoming an old lady, scared of any risk).

 

There is even a holy sense given to life. Life is precious, take care. But the religious side stopped with the following : enjoy. (Just kidding I love believers)

More than a poetic tattoo Carpe Diem compare each day to a new flower (in French carpe is translated by “cueillir”). The idea of catching the day because time flies is a wonderful image. An image that I try to apply. Every past day is gone, I only have few days to live, so why should I waste my time doing things that doesn’t make me happy. And I’m certainly not taking about : doing the dishes, clean my room. I do not consider these as “annoying things I will never do again … “ But as first order conditions to my happiness. I do not enjoy fully doing the laundry, but I like to wear clean clothes. Instead of complaining during boring time of the day, I try (hardly) to enjoy. Breathe. Enjoy. I’m alive now and this is all that matters. 

Then :

The experience of death makes you more active or contemplative ?

For example : you realize that you have lot of stuff you want to do or you suddenly take your time and enjoy ?

Am I becoming an old lady, thinking that being reckless is the contrary of carpe diem ?

 

Do religion avoids YOLO with life after death ?

 

Have fun and CARPE DIEM style :*