Futurelawyer

Rat Writes A Philosophy Book. What Could Go Wrong?

A one line book on philosophy. Why didn't I think of that before I wrote "Stocism- Philosophy For The Rest Of Us" ? Rat says "If it feels good, do it", and thinks that is all we need to know. Hmmm.... maybe it is. However, if you want a real book about philosophy, written in ordinary English for ordinary people like us, check out my book. You'll be glad you did.

Never Ignore The Elephant In The Pool.

An elephant swimming
pic.twitter.com/p78d7te88s

— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) March 14, 2025

#TBT - Ignore The Advice - Don't Be This Guy.

I ignored all of the health guru advice. I didn't worry about the things they told me to worry about. I made it to 77 anyway. Life is a crapshoot. Eat what you want.

Agnostic? Pray Anyway.

I suppose I have always had a problem with people who claim to know God, and who claim to know what He would say to us. No human being can authoritatively know what God, if he exists, would say. Such a claim is clearly delusional. Now, having Faith in God is another thing entirely. But, it must always be couched in doubt. Most of us, regardless of religion or upbringing, struggle with the concept of God. I like Marcus Aurelius' take. It really doesn't matter, one way or the other. We should live good lives anyway.

He grew up around severe nuns,

in starched habits.

They told him that,

if he didn’t do what they said,

he would burn in the fires of Hell.

He began to pray.

He prayed to be spared the eternal flames,

and adjusted his behavior.

Then, he was told that a wafer,

baked by a local baker,

was actually the Body and Blood

of God,

and he was commanded to eat it to live.

Again, he did as he was told;

although, he wondered how this was possible,

and

he continued to pray.

As he grew older,

his sexual urges emerged,

and he was again told that such behavior

would result in Hellfire and Brimstone.

He was conflicted about such natural feelings,

and what he was being told.

But,

he continued to pray.

He realized, as he grew older,

that the believers, unlike both the Agnostics and the Atheists,

believed in something they couldn’t explain.

They called it Faith,

and he thought it sounded like wishful thinking.

He realized that it was possible

that everyone was wrong.

He realized that nobody could know

what was on the other side of midnight.

But,

he continued to pray.

After a while,

he knew that praying

had become a meditation.

It was a way to be mindful

of his existence.

It was a way to recognize his

insignificance in the universe.

It didn't prove God's existence,

one way or the other, but

still,

he continued to pray.

Then, one day,

while he was pretending to understand the cosmos,

and praying to a God he was unsure existed,

he saw a photograph of a galaxy.

It was sizzling with exploding stars,

and bubbling chaos

that was impossible for a human mind to understand,

much less to create.

He realized it no longer mattered what his thoughts were called.

There was something in the universe

greater than himself,

and it didn’t matter what you called it.

He continued to pray.

Whether There Are Gods Or Not, Live A Good Life.

My favorite human and philosopher is Marcus Aurelius, who had all the power in the world; but hesitated to use it. Who was brilliant and wise; but who loved and tolerated the stupid and evil. who made rational sense out of the idea that living a good life is its own reward. How much time do we waste wondering whether there is a God, and whether he is just? It doesn't make any difference, and no one on this planet knows, or ever will know, the answer. Run away from other human beings who claim they do know. They are charlatans. There is more wisdom in this Aurelius quote than all the philosophy and religion books in existence. Be a devout person, if that is your leaning. But, don't claim to know. It is Faith that guides our belief in a particular religion. By definition, faith is to believe without evidence. We will all find out the truth sooner or later, won't we?

 

"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones."

 

Marcus Aurelius

Dylan Reminds Me Of Myself At That Age.

#WhyIAmASolo - Shiny Objects - Pursue At Your Own Risk.

The wages of sin are always death. In fact, all wages lead to the inevitable death. Why, then, do we pursue success? Why do we care what others think of the way we live our lives? It is a puzzlement. Why do lawyers pursue money and fame in BigLaw, when solo practice, while it doesn't normally bring a lot of money, provides more opportunities to just live? I freely admit that I have never been ambitious. I have been tempted occasionally; but I always stop short, and remain in a quiet existence, with its freedom to think and to just be. What are you chasing?

#PoetryFriday - Obituary.

Have you ever wondered what you would like to have written in your obituary? Of course not. We spend our lives avoiding the unpleasant thought of death. Then, a Stoic convert like myself keeps reminding you that "Memento Mori", remember, grasshopper, you will die. Now, get on with living. Writing obituaries used to be the job of the lowest of the low on a news staff. The only people interested seemed to be family and friends of the deceased. I have a different view. We all need to think about what will be written about us. If only to inform us that life is precious, and we need to really live it.

Obituary.

I wrote your obituary today.

I told the truth

But not the whole truth.

I wrote the truth that we all tell each other

and others

and post on Facebook walls

and in Newspapers

I didn’t write the truth we keep in our hearts.

I didn’t write about the battles we fought together

and alone.

I didn’t write about the secrets we kept from others

and from ourselves.

I didn’t write about the truths we humans

don’t want others to know.

I wrote about your accomplishments

I wrote about the love others had for you

I wrote about the public face

we all show the world.

But, I didn’t write about your incandescent eyes

I didn’t write about your caring soul

I didn’t write about the wry tilt of your head

When I was being ridiculous.

I didn’t write about the words we spoke

in the night.

I didn’t write the truths we admitted to each other

in the early morning light.

I didn’t write about our sins, our faults, or our failings.

I didn’t write about the daily struggles we faced

in a world consumed by desire and evil.

I wanted to write about the heartache of a string of days without you.

I wanted to express the pain of loss

I wanted to tell the world that you were the best person I ever knew.

I only told them what they wanted to hear.

Always Have A Backup Plan.

You never know when you are going to come upon a cliff or other serious problem in life. So, like the Boy Scouts, always be prepared. Carrying a set of wings so that you can fly over the obstacle is always a good plan. Now, go seek adventure, but remember to be prepared for disaster.

What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self?

I am always reading posts and articles about giving advice to our younger selves. It isn't a Stoic thing to do; since, as Stoics, we concentrate on what we can control, which is our reaction to events in the present. However, it is a human thing to have regrets, as long as we realize they are useless emotions. This photo of Diane and myself has always sparked the question in me, because when I look at it, I tell myself, this is the kind of person you should be looking for. Let's recast this as advice to the rest of us. Look for a significant other who looks at you the way Diane looks at me in this photo. Find someone that you care about enough to look at them in a similar fashion. Ignore everything else. Because, when life hits you hard, this is what will get you through.