"There is a distinctive course of life that is right for each individual, amid countless possibilities. This is the individual's vocation, variously termed his or her 'genius,' 'daimon,' 'Buddha nature,' or 'atman.' It consists in innate potentialities that predispose persons to a particular direction in life. As distinguished from other possibilities, the actualization by an individual of his or her potentialities affords intrinsic rewards to that person—that is, the activity is personally fulfilling and satisfying. Self-knowledge, then, is knowledge of the activities, situations, and relationships that the individual experiences as intrinsically rewarding. Engaged at these, the individual invests the best of himself or herself and strives continuously to improve, while in the process contributing objective values to others." David L. Norton
On Individualism
Submitted by dan on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 10:41am.
Tagged: Philosophy
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Do you agree with Mr. Norton?
If there is indeed "a distinctive course of life that is right for each
individual", as David L. Norton suggests, such a potential requires a cause,
or source, does it not?
I hold that yes, potential does require a cause or source. The causeless
cannot exist. Agreed?
Assuming we preclude the existence of an omniscient and universal
"God" as the source or cause for one’s potential, how might we define
such a cause, or source, for one's potential? Wouldn't such a source or cause
be necessarily based in some metaphysical realm? While I am not at all sure a
metaphysical realm cannot exist, I question the capacity of a metaphysical
potential (or a metaphysical being), based in a metaphysical realm, for
reaching us here in time and space. And I question, equally, our capacity for
reaching it. But maybe I'm being too narrow-minded here…
…Maybe at least one metaphysical realm must exist. Otherwise – and
this question is valid for any work of creativity – whence E = mc2?
Either our friend Dr. Einstein closed his eyes (or, less likely, held them
open) and accessed “E = mc2” where it were squatting, or
“E = mc2” seeped into his room stealthily, sought Dr.
Einstein from across the room, and inserted itself within his brain. There is
no possibility other than these two. Agreed?
Yes I agree with him
Shenandoah,
I do not think the cause is a conscious one. I think humans are (on this planet) the only beings with enough consciousness that we can intentionally cause our own changes to ourselves and our own environment. But that doesn't mean all changes are caused in the same way, a conscious way. Here in lies the underpinnings to all the mystical world views. (Consciousness exists independent of matter~ which I don't believe is the truth matter causes consciousness) It is an environmental and genetic agent of change with all life forms. Both functioning to sustain that life, or not, the ones that don't, are gone, most never can be examined. It's a big upside down pyramid with us and all other life being the lottery winners. From our perspective, it looks like we were hand selected. But from a wider view, we are that one arrow that hit the bull's eye out of the billions and billions of arrows flying, due to it's unique trajectory and unique make up.
That having said; the gist of Norton's idea is: We each have a unique make up, likes, dislikes, unique genetics, strengths and weaknesses, etc. That allow us each a unique path of least resistance. And to fight it, or assimilate unto another's direction is to struggle just to be mediocre at best at all things, when you can easily be great at what would otherwise come natural. Never mind the passive aggressive emotional response from living a disingenuous life.
Perhaps the rewards you were told you were to get for living like you were supposed to doesn't pan out. Anger, resentment or quite desperation can be the result of such a life.
And there is no Divine intervention to save us from the real outcomes we really cause.