to philosophize

"To be a man is to strive to be God," said Jean-Paul Sartre.

I stumbled upon this video on YouTube by chance, right after watching something completely different (an interview of Anthony Sirius by Tom). I thought I’d write a short article for this blog to immortalize the moment.

I mentioned the previous video because I plan to draw a connection between it and the one discussed in this article.

The world is changing, and it seems society is pushing us to become more materialistic, individualistic, and less thoughtful. Social norms evolve, codes shift, and references are no longer the same. Each generation has its models, more or less imposed upon them. When I see the rise and popularity of certain "personalities" today, I can't help but think—indeed—the times are different. I find it hard to understand how someone like "Speed" (an American YouTuber) is so popular. He yells, has an often unpleasant demeanor, barks like a dog, and frequently uses crude language. He's far from the only one, but he serves as an example that speaks volumes about our contemporary era, in my opinion. We've come to a point where we watch people watching others play video games. Yes, you read that correctly. There's now an audience for streamers who watch other, more famous streamers.

Another example: today, some people explain their business models to help others make money. At first glance, that sounds great! But consider the method...: Creating adult content, partly with the help of artificial intelligence, and targeting a specific group by offering them personalized videos for a fee. These are often vulnerable individuals, men between the ages of 25 and 40, who might go as far as paying for OnlyFans accounts, some of which aren’t even managed by real people... This is the business model that Anthony Sirius proposes to his followers to help them earn a doctor's salary.

What bothers me about this is that values are being lost. Good morals are fading. Boundaries keep being pushed, again and again. "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law," as Aleister Crowley wrote (or rather transcribed). And decade after decade, we see the repercussions of this satanic ideology. I have no fear of using these words, nor of stating what I think. After all, this is an article I’m writing, and I’m the sole author.

Like everything on this site, it’s all about sharing. Here, I’m sharing a perspective and feelings. I feel somewhat saddened by this new era. Not everything is bad, hear me out. I believe that in various fields, there are advancements, benefits, and positive progress. But there's also the flip side of the coin.

Which brings me to philosophy. I've always enjoyed challenging my mind, asking questions, finding answers, asking more questions, or revisiting past inquiries. I’m not sure if this is a particularly French habit, perhaps it is (think of those four-hour-long Sunday meals filled with debates and discussions!). But in any case, I’ve always had a philosophical side, along with a spiritual—not necessarily religious—dimension, that has greatly enriched me. It’s made me question myself, try to do the right thing, and strive to be a positive influence on the people around me.

So, I encourage the young, and the not-so-young, but especially the young, to engage in philosophy. Try to elevate the discussion, seek answers to deep questions, reflect on moral values and codes from different peoples and different eras. Whether you’re a believer, agnostic, or atheist—it doesn't matter. Living in harmony with your environment and feeling at peace is always more pleasant than the alternative. And I believe that philosophy helps with that. I also think that certain values, certain principles, or even "morality," bring better vibrations to everyone, rather than moving forward without scruples, without values, chasing only personal financial gain, even if it means scamming/vavrering*/cheating people.

If this article can inspire even a few young souls (or older ones) to develop a curiosity about philosophy, to seek harmony and virtue instead of deception and vice, then it will have served a purpose.

I wish you peace and serenity. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, and we can't control everything. What we can control are our intentions. And although the road to hell is paved with good ones, good often returns to those who do it, just as the opposite is equally true. Let’s learn to navigate life's ups and downs, let go of the need to control everything, and it will be fine. And if you happen to be going through a tough time: after the rain comes sunshine, after adversity comes joy, after effort comes comfort.

With love, Péo

*PS (Subtle Ad): And that’s also what anti-vavrezine is about: refusing to be scammed and deceived, while advocating for unity, harmony, cohesion, and common sense. www.vavrezine.com

I'm adding another layer with another video that I find really interesting: "Stoicism is Incomplete" by the YouTuber Le Vide.

To dive into the heart of philosophy without being an expert.
Meditating, asking yourself questions, reflecting, and having conversations with yourself helps. Unfortunately, today we are so stimulated by countless things that demand our attention, that we barely have time for this anymore. It takes effort and willingness.
Being able to put your phone down, disconnect for a few moments, and reflect helps you question yourself and get to know yourself better.

I'll explore this topic further in my next blog post, but to conclude this one, here’s a concept from the video that I find very beneficial:

Since we are torn between the reason of our brain and the impulses of our stomach, the goal to favor our reason is to use the willpower of our heart.
And it’s always easier when you have clear goals and a predefined purpose, to give in as little as possible to our impulses, which are still human.

Three virtues to develop in order to achieve this are:

• Wisdom for the reason (of the brain)

• Temperance for the impulses (of the stomach)

• Courage for the will (of the heart)

In short, by seeking and developing these three virtues, we’ll be better equipped to realize our dreams and achieve our goals.

That’s where the importance of philosophy lies. If it can help us achieve our dreams, then let's philosophize! Let’s try to apply these processes and see a real impact on our lives, and thus live happier. 😌

Big shoutout to the YouTube channel Le Vide for this video, and to Lacrimosophia for the previous one, and good luck to all of us who wish to improve our lives, live our dreams, achieve our goals, and be happier. 🙂

Let's go a bit further...