What is the mysterious urge that drives us all: Nothing or Stuff?

  • Thread starter Thread starter magus niche
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion explores the duality of human motivation, categorizing it as a balance between "Stuff" and "Nothing." "Stuff" represents material desires and tangible achievements, while "Nothing" embodies the deeper, intangible urges for meaning and fulfillment. The conversation highlights that this mysterious urge drives humans to seek experiences, relationships, and knowledge, ultimately shaping our existence. The interplay between these two concepts is essential to understanding human behavior and motivation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic philosophical concepts such as metaphysics and existentialism.
  • Familiarity with psychological theories related to human motivation and desires.
  • Knowledge of the terminology surrounding materialism versus existential fulfillment.
  • Awareness of the implications of categorization in human thought processes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the philosophical implications of metaphysics in relation to human motivation.
  • Explore psychological theories on intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation.
  • Investigate the role of materialism in contemporary society and its impact on well-being.
  • Examine case studies that illustrate the balance between tangible achievements and the search for meaning.
USEFUL FOR

Philosophers, psychologists, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of human motivation and the interplay between material desires and the search for deeper meaning in life.

magus niche
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
Humans like to categorise. I am a human (according to biology...) so i will make a category: Everything. let's call it STUFF.

Stuff is everywhere. Stuff penetrates to the heart of all matter. Stuff is energy. Stuff acts on other stuff which in turn affects more stuff. Stuff evolves and metamorphoses to the point of most effiency. etc. etc. ad infinitum.

Now let's imagine something that does not exist. Hmmm... say an everpresent urge to plaster our face against The Brick Wall Of Pleasure... well maybe that's a little far fetched but it will do...

Now say this urge was everywhere and everyone had it. All the Stuff had it. All organisms had it, But the problem was that only a few of them had accomplished the task because The Brick Wall Of Pleasure was constructed in the mind, and was not observable. This urge is there in all of us, but only some throughout history stumbled upon it in their minds by chance. the rest of us played the game of life thinking it was a game. Thinking it was a competition, or a survival of the fittest, when really it was an urge to plaster our faces into The Brick Wall Of Pleasure.

The goal of one of those who identified the urge as Nothing would logically be to tell the rest of them Their findings. So they did, but unfortunately they could not prove anything to anyone, because it was all in their head. The urge was Not Stuff. The urge was Nothing, yet it acted like it was Stuff.

Or maybe it was the only Something, and all the Stuff was Nothing, simply an illusion.
Maybe, just maybe, once upon a time they both existed but Nothing was forgotten and underdeveloped, while Stuff became the reason for existence, with the unidentified Urge continuing to cause chaos.

o:)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
...it was after the bell had gone.


"Hmmm that's all very well there laddy, but what the hecks it got to do with Metaphysics!", said one to another, as wispers dispersed throughout the room and a giggle errupted in the corner.

Meanwhile, still invisible to the Teacher, Little Tommy Tricks and Billy Brain had manifested a model scale X-Ray Spectral Interpretor and had hooked it up to a Pocket Projector(TM) underneath the lab desk, and were planning to project a full scale anatomy of Dr. Strength live to their peers.

"Keep'm guess'n":cool: , the third Weird-Rude-Boy said back to the teacher in front of the class. He had worked it out, but didn't know how to put it to words.
 
Last edited:


The mysterious urge that drives us all is difficult to pinpoint because it is a combination of both Nothing and Stuff. As humans, we are driven by our desires and needs, which can be considered Stuff. We want to accumulate material possessions, achieve success, and fulfill our basic needs for survival. However, there is also a deeper, more intangible urge that drives us - the urge for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. This can be seen as Nothing, as it is not tangible and cannot be measured or accumulated like Stuff.

But this urge is present in all of us, and it is what pushes us to seek out experiences, relationships, and knowledge. It is what motivates us to create, innovate, and explore. It is what gives our lives meaning and drives us to continue living.

So, in a way, the mysterious urge that drives us all is a balance between Nothing and Stuff. It is the combination of our material desires and our inner longing for something more. And while it may be difficult to define or understand, it is what makes us uniquely human and drives us to constantly evolve and seek out new experiences.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
11K
Replies
6
Views
5K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
7K
Replies
27
Views
7K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K