Today, coming out of a McDonalds, a man pulled up to me with a bike and asked if I had any spare change. I could see that he was hungry and homeless..so I bought him a meal..the conversation that ensued was interesting, to say the least. (It's crazy..almost all of the homeless people I've had conversations with are really philosophical..) One of the things that he said that I found really thought-provoking was that dreams are actually out-of-body experiences. He said that one's spirit--not their soul, he specified--leaves their body and actually experiences what the dream depicts. Like it actually happens. I've never thought of dreams in that way, but I've been thinking about it since he said that and I wonder, what does he mean by saying that a spirit is different than a soul? What do you guys think of dreams? Do you view them as out-of-body experiences or simply manifestations of subconscious thought? Just thought this would be interesting to ponder and discuss..
I think if we assume a mind body duality, then the best answer I could give would be that where he says it's "actually happening" be can only mean "it" to refer to whatever neural process is identical between the "actual" person in the dream, or the "actual" person that we know is asleep. My problem is that I can't conceive a way that the person in the dream experiencing one actuality, wasn't given rise to, or somehow a result of something going on the the one who's experiencing the actuality of lying in bed, so the whole duality thing just wont mesh with me I dunno why.
maybe he means soul as in the energy that makes us up and spirit as in the astral body we can use to astral project while in our physical bodies? i actually thought that was a strong possibility... astral projecting in a realm were thought creates.
...or perhaps, the deeper down the shit you are, the more likely you are to escape into flights of fancy. Besides having plenty of time to think of stuff more busy people may not have. Unless beeing some tenured philosophy professor naturally. Now, misunderstand right. I am sure those at the very bottom ladder of our societies do have some very important perspectives on why and how they got to where they are and how society at large treat them. And as a society we would benefit from making sure as few as practically possible end up on skid row. But as it happens, it is not quite coincidence that determine who ends up where on the societal ladder, and the ideas and notions of those on the extreme lower rungs may just as well be self-justification (ie blaming others for their failings) as opposed to a more objective analysis (ie not putting in the effort themselves). Generalizing ofcourse. And not suggesting one can go from rags to riches unless beeing very lucky. And certainly, the already priveliged classes do got an advantage. But in our societies, doing the effort, and certainly beeing innovative, will ensure a certain level of life-quality. And whilst generalizing, those less well off tend to be more religious, superstitious, than the population at large. And certainly compared to the more educated. It is a natural tendency, as we humans loathe to take responsibility for our own frailty and failings. We'd much rather shift responsibility over to some other entity. Be that something none-defined as fate or luck or something more defined as effort put into pleasing (or failing to please) some deity. Either way, beeing poor and homeless do not give anyone any more insight. Plenty of excuses, a bit of resentment and a dose of bitterness I am sure. They face reality in a way most here can not imagine. But their flights of fancy hold no more value than any others. Which is to say none. As I hold all to the same standard - what they can prove. Everything else is just wild conjecture.
[quote name='"Zylark"']...or perhaps, the deeper down the shit you are, the more likely you are to escape into flights of fancy. Besides having plenty of time to think of stuff more busy people may not have. Unless beeing some tenured philosophy professor naturally. Now, misunderstand right. I am sure those at the very bottom ladder of our societies do have some very important perspectives on why and how they got to where they are and how society at large treat them. And as a society we would benefit from making sure as few as practically possible end up on skid row. But as it happens, it is not quite coincidence that determine who ends up where on the societal ladder, and the ideas and notions of those on the extreme lower rungs may just as well be self-justification (ie blaming others for their failings) as opposed to a more objective analysis (ie not putting in the effort themselves). Generalizing ofcourse. And not suggesting one can go from rags to riches unless beeing very lucky. And certainly, the already priveliged classes do got an advantage. But in our societies, doing the effort, and certainly beeing innovative, will ensure a certain level of life-quality. And whilst generalizing, those less well off tend to be more religious, superstitious, than the population at large. And certainly compared to the more educated. It is a natural tendency, as we humans loathe to take responsibility for our own frailty and failings. We'd much rather shift responsibility over to some other entity. Be that something none-defined as fate or luck or something more defined as effort put into pleasing (or failing to please) some deity. Either way, beeing poor and homeless do not give anyone any more insight. Plenty of excuses, a bit of resentment and a dose of bitterness I am sure. They face reality in a way most here can not imagine. But their flights of fancy hold no more value than any others. Which is to say none. As I hold all to the same standard - what they can prove. Everything else is just wild conjecture.[/quote] Read this half way and took a dump, came back and read the rest. I can say I agree that cows don't just fall through your ceiling unless you're lucky I.e. Being homeless. Fuxking cows these days. CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP?!
The man I encountered was in no way resentful or bitter about his life--he asserted that he had given up his previous way of life in order to "help the world," as he put it. I didn't have the chance to ask him what he meant by any of this, but if I see him again, I will. He seemed very content and level-headed, considering his situation. And, interestingly, most of the homeless people I've had conversations with over the course of my short life have not shown resentfulness with regard to the way their lives are going. Of course, many of them have had valid complaints to ledge against our society's economic system as a whole, but they rarely placed sole blame for their poverty on others.