75 Philosophical Questions

[UPDATE IT[

Philosophy relates to the study of, and attempts to understand, the root nature of reality, existence, and knowledge. There are many questions in life for which there are no set answers, or such diverging opinions on answers that just raise more questions. Here are 65 deep philosophical questions for you to ponder. Meditation is often useful in helping people to search inside for their own answers and meanings.

1. Is it worse to fail at something or never attempt it in the first place?

2. If you could choose just one thing to change about the world, what would it be?

3. To what extent do you shape your own destiny, and how much is down to fate?

4. Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture?

5. Should people care more about doing the right thing, or doing things right?

6. What one piece of advice would you offer to a newborn infant?

7. Where is the line between insanity and creativity?

8. What is true happiness?

9. What things hold you back from doing the things that you really want to?

10. What makes you, you?

11. What is the truth?

12. What is reality?

13. Do you make your own decisions, or let others make them for you?

14. What makes a good friend?

15. Why do people fear losing things that they do not even have yet?

16. Who defines good and evil?

17. What is the difference between living and being alive?

18. Is a “wrong” act okay if nobody ever knows about it?

19. Who decides what morality is?

20. How do you know that your experience of consciousness is the same as other people’s experience of consciousness?

21. What is true strength?

22. What is true love?

23. Is a family still relevant in the modern world?

24. What role does honour play in today’s society?

25. If money cannot buy happiness, can you ever be truly happy with no money?

26. How do you know your perceptions are real?

27. How much control do you have over your life?

28. What is freedom?

29. Isn’t one person’s terrorist another person’s freedom fighter?

30. What happens after we die?

31. What defines you?

32. What do people strive for after enlightenment?

33. Do we have a soul?

34. What is intelligence?

35. How should people live their lives?

36. If lying is wrong, are white lies okay?

37. Is trust more important than love?

38. Is it easier to love or be loved?

39. Is it better to love and lose or never to love?

40. Do aliens exist?

41. The structure of DNA appears to be intelligently designed, what are the implications?

42. If everything evolved from amoebas, how does the world still have amoebas?

43. Is life all a dream?

44. When does consciousness begin?

45. What are numbers?

46. Can we have happiness without sadness?

47. How did the universe begin?

48. Is there a supreme power?

49. What is education?

50. What will happen at the end of the world?

51. Is there a reason to life?

52. Where does the soul live?

53. Is it more important to be liked or respected?

54. Does sound happen if nothing is present to hear it?

55. What is infinity?

56. Where does the universe end?

57. Does observation alter an event?

58. Does the Law of Attraction exist?

59. How does gravity work?

60. Where were people before they were born?

61. What is beauty?

62. Where do thoughts come from?

63. Is mind or matter more real?

64. What is time?

65. How can people believe in truths without evidence?

These next ten are a bit special….

66. Can You Kill 10 People To Save 100?

67. Do We Have Free Will?

68. Is There Absolute Morality?

69. Is There A Meaning Of Life?

70. What Is Mathematics?

71. Are We In The Matrix?

72. Is There An Alternative To Capitalism?

73. What Is Consciousness?

74. Is There A God?

75. Can We Really Know Anything?

addiction

missing someone can be taxing on immune system, cause there is nothing else left to do than to eat.

the sadness powered by repeat playlist of time spent with beloved and endless iterations of new scenarios in which she is wooed, impressed, and won leave little time and energy to do anything else. why is that? why?

physical and geographical separation is an added blessing for the demons of love, further adding gasoline on fire. you miss her going to bed, getting out of it, nothing you do is somewhat unrelated and hence futile if it can't help get her. daydreaming becomes reality, and real life takes a back seat. you start missing deadlines, get sad, unenergetic, blue... why???

out of nowhere comes short lived bursts of hope and euphoria where beloved looks back with love and care and acceptance - moments as fleeting and short-lived as a fleeting thing...

in the back of mind there lurks painful "reality" or perception that beloved won't accept you as you are and you can't have her in your arms unaccidentally... avoidance of real world puts you in a downward spiral in fifth gear

Principle of Life Expectancy in Pakistan

Due to delays in conclusion of trials or disposal of appeals in criminal cases, courts granted convicts or accused incarcerated relief of adjusting the time period spent in jail against the sentence imposed - this was the rule of thumb quarter century ago. This was eagerly exploited by litigators who defeated the intention of common law by purposefully delaying disposal of cases so as to avail the relief of equitable principle of life expectancy. Hence, Pakistani courts moved against it (so did Indian, perhaps), and tended not to grant the said relief. In a relatively recent judgment[1], in para. 20, Hon. Jst. Asif S. Khosa reviewed the case from Indo-Pak jurisdictions and stated the current status of the principle of life expectancy as following:

"20. The discussion made above shows that as of today the following principles of practice are being followed by the courts of this country in respect of the principle of expectancy of life: 

(a) In a case where delay is occasioned in final disposition of a legal remedy being pursued by a convict sentenced to death on a charge of murder and where the undergone period of his incarceration is less than that of a term of imprisonment for life there the principle of expectancy of life for its use for the purpose of reduction of the sentence of death to imprisonment for life stands abandoned by the courts of this country.  

(b) In a case where the State or the complainant party is seeking enhancement of a sentence of imprisonment for life of a convict to death and before or during the pendency of such recourse the convict serves out his entire sentence of imprisonment for life and he has, or has not yet, been released from the jail there the principle of expectancy of life is still relevant for not enhancing the sentence of imprisonment for life to death. Article 13(a) of the Constitution is not directly relevant to such a situation but the spirit of that Article may be considered in such a case as a factor along with the other factors like expectancy of life and the facts and circumstances of the case, etc. for not enhancing the sentence of imprisonment for life to death at such a late stage.  

(c) In a case where a convict sentenced to death undergoes a period of custody equal to or more than a full term of imprisonment for life during the pendency of his judicial remedy against his conviction and sentence of death there the principle of expectancy of life may be a relevant factor to be considered along with the other factors for reducing his sentence of death to imprisonment for life."

In the instant cited case, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of Pakistan while applying the principle of life expectancy as stated above reduced the sentence of the two appellant from death to life imprisonment and extended them the benefit of undergoing their punishment for being incarcerated for the time spent during the pendency of trial and appeals. The Court distinguished the case from principle of double jeopardy and reasoned it as following:

21. We have also observed above that the stark reality staring us in the face is that both the appellants have already spent in custody a period more than a full term of imprisonment for life and if we uphold their sentences of death at this late stage then the appellants would, for all practical purposes, be punished with death after spending a period in custody which is more than a full term of imprisonment for life and such a bizarre situation may run contrary to the letter and the spirit of section 302(b), P.P.C. which provides for a sentence of death or a sentence of imprisonment for life. Such a case may not strictly be termed as a case of double punishment but it can more appropriately be called a case of an unconscionably delayed punishment, delayed to such an extent that the punishment is aggravated beyond the contemplation of the relevant law itself.

___________________
[1] Pakistan Law Digest 2013 Supreme Court 763

Access to Power

If you're not born into a place or happen to study somewhere that has direct access to corridors of power and greatness (of political and technical superiority), then at certain age you stop dreaming or even having a vision of being captain of the ship (ie the world). Yet how near the access can be eludes our well tamed mind. Steve Jobs realised early (before becoming Apple's CEO again) that the world outside him was not smarter than him. Conversely, we live on same crust of earth and breathe same air that 'masters' breathe. But why do it rarely happens for underdogs, poor and powerless to break new grounds? It isn't simply a history of lack of resources. It may well be lack of vision.

Al Qaeda has got some smart people in its analysis team. No matter how much I dislike them, they know how to play the game. They used American's superiority and turned it into their weakness by drawing them into the pit of hell called Afghanistan by a single act of destroying two buildings. So many stones and metal is destroyed on a daily basis. So many die every die. But it was their vision and understanding of their enemy that despite having no army of their own they dragged the Empire and pricked it with death of its 2000+ expensive killing men and just a trillion dollar.

My concern however is simply that I have lack of belief about being in the shoes of say Obama, Bill Gates, or terror monster such as Baghdadi (alumni of American prison in Iraq).

5-11 Jan Weekly Plan

5 Jan

1 Read land law ch 2
2 Serve parents
3 Read trusts ch 7 s 1 + identify key areas for 12 Jan assignment
4 Ponder on BIT # 1
5 Write arguments for and against a debate topic (and speak)
6 Meet Yasir

Finish time 10:00 PM

6 Jan

1 Read and make notes for Land law ch 2 (finish)
2 Jog and exercise
3 Read chapter 7 section 2
4 Write questions on company law aspect of Arbitration moot
5 Read case study of moot Indian
6 Work on Trusts assignment

Finish time 7:00 PM

7 Jan (Wed)

1 Review a question for land law ch 2
2 Read section 3 of ch 7 of Trusts
3 Talk to an old friend
4 Read company law notes of veil
5 Recall Azam and Furqan and search some 20 emails of moot
6 Spend an hour on trusts assignment

Finish time 9 PM

8 Jan (Thurs)

1 Co-ownership (do before severence)
2 Run a mile
3 Read formalities till Vanderval + spend another hour on trusts assignment
4 Solve a company law paper: corporate personality (only outlines)
5 See a question on coownership
6 Search 20 more mails for moot

Finish time 5 PM

9 Jan (Fri)

1 Co-ownership 2.0
2 Jog and run for half an hour
3 Watch an hour of lectures on learning (genius eg)
4 Trusts: Beyond vanderval uptill shares (solve 2012 Q2)
5 Go watch a movie at cinema

10 Jan (Sat)

Battle-stations
1 Land Law revision: ch 2, 3, 4 notes with perview of outline solutions
2 Trust law revision

11 Jan

1 Company law brief session
2 Trusts law whole

Improving Emotional Health

I have been featured in the symptoms of a show-cased emotionally imbalanced personalty in this toolkit step 1 of emotional intelligence. I intend to follow it. [Keep updating this post]

Elder Brother's Advice

Winter was settling in. I am visitng my family after a 2.5 hour drive from Lahore to Sargodha. The peaceful, silent (not even humming) air of Sargodha's night embraces me, and I feel one with the city.  My elder brother (8+) is here to pick me up. We stop at a BBQ joint - a classic example of Pakistani management: sweaty place, with malnourished, disgruntled employees, acting as informally as they can, but with a clarity in voice, a voice distilled by the hardships of a common poor Pakistani. We wait for the order. We sit down; he lights his cigeratte with quick, effortless bodily movements which I envy. I cannot sit down on a chair without compulsively looking around for gravity's or chair's conspiracy against me. As coherent, crisp, effortless, short and eloquent his bodily movements, he has a substantial advice, an omen for me.

You need to jump into the real world, he began. Get yourself tired by your efforts. Hid the road. Discover the world, travel. Deal with people. Do not go through it, and you will slip off the edge. You will never make it. You will lose all the confidence of meeting people, dealing with things. [That's a bad paraphrasing]

There was no effort in his beginning nor in his end. No word was extra, no word left things undesired. A clear vision of two possibilities conveyed, which I could feel. It made the evening more chilling. Night appeared to be long. I lost all obsessive compulsive interests at that time

How to make Pakistan Iron of the World?

Iron is a powerful metaphor symbolising rigor, robustness, edge, practical value and leadership. It cuts through dullness. It is full of unending vigor. It was the metaphor which late PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto used as a vision for Pakistan. He asked in his roaring voice at a public jalsa, "Would you become the iron of the world?" Meaning by, would you be the energy source of the world? Would you become drivers of the world? He succeeded in launching Pakistan as a nimble start-up IronMan for the Muslim world at least. He opened various fronts. (Perhaps too many.) Oh! Its an intoxicating dream my father's generation can't still shake off (most of whom, if not all, where enamored by Bhutto). There is no time for Ahs! and Alas! Right after losing half of a country a nation is thrust forward to world stage; it becomes a voice for the Muslim world; a handicapped nation with 90,000 soldiers imprisoned by its 'mortal' enemy (excuse me for exaggeration though). Right after its defeat, it exponentially multiplies its effort. It kicks off nuclear program to secure its future. That project is complete. And we have paid its cost: Eating grass. We've paid the price. We've made our IronMan. Now it is time to become the IronMan of the world. It is just the beginning. From the floors of this earth, you can just go up and up.

It is not the how you can make Pakistan Iron of the World. The question is: do you want it to be so? Has the idea possessed you like it possessed my father and his generation? Have you impersonated world's IronMan? Are you acting like one?

Finding solace in Hobbesian World?

Finally finished reading commentary of Frederick Copleston - indeed a very comprehensive and thought provoking one from phil-legal p.o.v - on Leviathan of Thomas Hobbes.

Being a highly insecure person who wonders why people with greater physical or other types of might put up with meek people say while going on road or while making a bargain, i found my intuition about an instinctively warring human nature confirmed in Hobbes' book.

His idea of an all powerfull, illimitable, indivisible Sovereign State rests of following premises:

In the state of nature (where every man is for himself / "atomic individualism") > all men are at war against all in self-perservation;

In such state, one's reason and conscience is the judge of good and bad;

There can be no peace and security in such a state - in fact, there can be injustice in this state, for truth and justice have no place in war

Hence, it logically follows, that greater good, peace, justice, pursuit of self-preservation and security for all - all must enter into a contract with each other to give their a) judgement of good and bad (including scriptural interpretation); b) power to inflict harm/punishment/make laws etc to one Sovereign (except the power of self-harm to themselves).

Important part of this logic is that Sovereign is above accountability; in fact he is not a party to the contract at all. He enforces the contract. And, he remains a Sovereign as far his ability to enforce the contract goes.

My analysis: This is a condensing outline of his theory. Obviously, today state is party to the contract. It may have monopoly of violence, but sovereignty today is no more indivisible. What appeals more in terms of legitimizing state is not its influence, but its conduct and commitment to Civilizational and cultural norms.

My Beloveds

They are usually shy, contemplative, reserve, kind, introvert. I cherish them because I see myself in them. I feel for them all the time. I think about their welfare for their own sake. They are like a small home on a cut off region filled with natural beauty and serenity in a homeless, endless, cosmopolitan galaxy. Some of them cannot add to my learning beyond their defined geniuses; some of them have grown exponentially as a functional human being. It is only that they complete that vacuum which no successful person can - vacuum of devotion to thought, kindness, solitude. Yes, these traits may not offer humanity anything material or even psychological (except prayers); but these are dispositions I was born with. It is only that only their faces, gait, movements, words, struggles, frustrations, behaviors, and little joys they elicit from bewildering life can reflect my need for solitude, contemplation, and a sense of seeking goodness in all and hopefully for all (for I lack miserably in being like my brother who is a nuclear civil resource for people in greatest need).

Strayness

I am running low on energy. Losing positive outlook I acquired over my BSc years. Those were nonetheless vague, sheepish years - though enjoyable and spicy. Logical conclusion was to carry on with line of expertise, but i chose to enter a new field: the law. I assumed advantages of having done a BSc would follow - they did, but I didn't exploit my advance reading and comprehension skills and did not hone writing skills.

The good parts: i am acquiring independent thinking in deciphering political-legal texts. I wish it continue and leads towards full-fledged learning of fundamental philosophical systems.

My belief in fundamental value of competency is reigniting. Cosmetics such as outward confidence, smooth talking, good dressing and familiarity with impressive jargon have lost much value in my eyes. The basic issue is of restoring self-esteem. It can only be long-term if i acquire competencies, insightful productive thought-patterns, positive behavioral traits and high-energy levels.

One major flaw in thinking has been total disregard for an overarching grand purpose and set of milestones in life. Fear of loss of wealth, honor and status are beyond me. They are fruits whom God bestows on whomever he wishes. My job is to think nobly of serving my people through my competences, manners and kindness. My job is to create legacy like my father has (in form of a school dedicated to quality education in his home village belt; in his untiring efforts to mediate peace, lead community welfare projects; take care of poor, orphans, relatives; through leadership at all levels). My job is to nurture my family and people around like my mother has so selflessly, endlessly.

Without these qualities I cannot live as a functional human being.

Turn Offs in a Relationship

- Goals remain to be valued, respected, honored, to be thought of as a blessing, awed, curiously sought for conversations, struggles, mutual insights, cared, emotionally supported,

- Excessive, complicated, unnecessary words.

- Emotional excesses.

- Not developing oneself… Most potent though implicit turn off

- Not hitting at areas of interest that can arouse wonder, curiosity, probing, introspection, matters close to human heart and soul, then guided out of deepest puzzles like Dr Agha does, few words interpreted so well it amazes the beloved.

- Not gaining lots of important and diverse contacts that can be used

How is Studying Law Similar or Different to Studying Math & Physical Sciences?

Question: I am currently studying law, in first year. Its external program of University of London. As I had rightly predicted, it gives endless opportunity to read and read, and weigh arguments and interpretations.

My question to mind scholars and philosophers is that how is its study different, mentally, from mathematics and physical sciences?

Your Answer...???

Losing the Beloved

1. Fear of losing the beloved exhausts the emotional fuel tanks of the Beloved and makes the reactions and actions of the Lover short-sighted, obsessive, hopeless, and sad. It breeds impracticality and is a uni-dimensional state of mind in which roses by birth are rotten. It waits for a miracle, when there's no agency other than lover's heart that can perform a miracle of Union of Lover and Beloved

2. The fear should be less than the hope and excitement to resonate with the will, temperament, condition and whole spectrum of concerns of the Beloved! Fear should just keep the lover alert, not scramble him over nothing. Let the sub-conscious and unconscious do the magic of resonating with the frequency of the Beloved with maximum bandwidth of pure concern, valuing and service beyond their wildest expectation! Keep it sweet and refreshing!

Inferiority Complex towards Physical Sciences

As a humanities student, please share your positive negative experiences and thoughts, especially in Pakistani context.

My thoughts in piepline... Excuse the laziness

Beginning

Beginning was careful. Hours spent in stalking and careful planning of the right moments and measured inputs; in search for appropriate openings for advancement across the enemy field, arousing least suspicion. State of mind was curious, attachment and investment was minimal; but there was desire. Minimal desire stays, but investment and extraction of pleasure has pervaded whole body and psychic being. Will, fueled with desire, helped me take action despite risk of cover getting blown.

Book Review: Alchemist by Sehrish Asghar

I always consider books to be my friends. They are the ones that guide and show me the right path. Out of all these good friends, if I have to choose my best friend it would be “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.

Paulo Coelho through this book has taught me that a fighting spirit is very important indeed. The famous quote from the Alchemist, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it,” has had a big impact on my life. People usually comment about me that I am hard-working and sensitive about my studies; I feel that this is somehow due to this book and this famous quote.

This book revolves around a boy named Santiago who travels to the pyramids of Egypt to chase his dreams. During the course of this journey he meets many people, overcomes many obstacles and learns many lessons. He learns the importance of following his dreams. A huge emphasis has been laid on the Soul of the World. This philosophical, but very influential, concept is definitely the beauty of the book. When we start a task, the first few stages go very smooth. This is because the soul of the world is letting us get comfortable with the task at hand. But later we find many difficulties, because the soul of the world is then testing us.

The Alchemist is a beautiful book indeed! The writing style is simply mesmerizing. You never get bored. It is all very philosophical, symbolic and a fun read. To me this book is an all-time classic – not a doubt in it. Another plus point of this book is that it is not a lengthy 500 page long book like many other best-sellers. Rather it is a very “petite”, very concise and to-the-point one. And it is amazing how beautifully Paulo Coelho has summarized these lessons of persistence and chasing your dreams with such precision. I would say to anyone who has not read this book: go grab a copy. You are missing out on a timeless classic.

This book has left a deep impact on me. The Alchemist has not taught me how to make the elixir of life, but the book has given me something much more precious, much handier for the rest of my life. It has given me the formula for the elixir of strife. Now I know struggling, fighting back and chasing my dreams is very important – and when I do that, the soul of the world will always be there with me. A person is never aware of the outcome, and the outcome might differ from what was originally anticipated. But what really matters is your strife, your search for the realization of your dreams, and this is what the book talks about.

Ghalib & nature of universe

عالم تما م حلقہء دام ِ خیال ہے

Footnote: Hoodbhoy & Iqbal

"It may be pointed out here that Syed Ahmad Khan, Syed Jamal-ud-Din Afghani and hundreds of the latter’s disciples in Muslim countries were not westernized Muslims. They were men who had sat on their knees before the mullas of the old school and had breathed the very intellectual and spiritual atmosphere which they later sought to reconstruct. Pressure of modern ideas may be admitted; but the history thus briefly indicated above clearly shows that the upheaval which has come to Turkey and which is likely, sooner or later, to come to other Muslim countries, is almost wholly determined by the forces within, It is only the superficial observer of the modern world of Islam who thinks that the present crisis in the world of Islam is wholly due to the working of alien forces."

From, Islam & Ahmadism, by Allama Iqbal.

Dialectic & Poetry

Frithjof Schuon writes:

Dialectic convinces us with ideas,So that we may understand things abstractly;Poetry has feeling, works with imagesAnd seeks thereby to soften the austerity of thought —So that we may see the truth with our heart.