Journal # 3

"I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy..."-ism (from Mean Girls)


Well, my philosophy is a mish mash of a lot of different types. Mostly though, I am Lockean. I am kind of naturalistic, because I don't think things have a purpose or meaning. That doesn't mean nothing matters, it just means that things matter to individuals or societies, but not to history as a whole, and there is no purpose of existing, it simply happens. I am deterministic. If anything happens, you can definitely find a reason for that thing to happen. In that way, that everything has a cause, I guess I am nihilistic. You can't change "destiny" because if you try to, the fact that you try to is caused by something. I think also that everyone is born with a blank slate mind, like Locke said. Certain things are affected by genes, of course, but principles, morals, ideals, personality, and everything else that defines a person are all based on their environment. Because of this, I think that everyone has the potential to be good people, and in fact that everyone tries to. It is just a difference in morals, or an inability to act on your morals, or being brought up with out morals that creates all the turmoil and conflict.
My guiding principles are
1. Every living thing is of equal importance and should be treated with respect.
2. If you know there is a problem, then you are responsible for fixing it.
3. Personal happiness and that of others is the most important thing to strive for.
4. It is your character more than an event that influences how you react to the event.
5. Work to better the world or your society, not just yourself.
6. Instead of hating people, try to understand where they are coming from.
7. Don't make up a personality or hide your personality.
8. Don't do things that will hurt other people.

All of these ideas I got from my parents and other people who I grew up around. (Obviously, because that is what my whole philosophy is about.)