Can Karma Be Exploited Through Our Actions and Intentions?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of karma, particularly whether it can be exploited through individual actions and intentions. Participants explore the implications of karma in daily life, its cause-and-effect nature, and its philosophical underpinnings.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a belief in karma as a cause-and-effect relationship, noting that compassionate behavior tends to elicit similar responses from others, while negative actions can also have far-reaching consequences.
  • The same participant reflects on the unpredictability of how their actions may affect others, suggesting that even minor negative interactions could lead to significant harm down the line.
  • Another participant questions the appropriateness of the thread's placement in the philosophy section, suggesting it may not align with the guidelines.
  • A third participant defends the thread's relevance, seeking diverse viewpoints on karma and its practical implications, and requests references to sociological studies or personal experiences related to cause and effect.
  • Another participant reiterates the need to adhere to the forum's criteria for philosophical discussions, referencing specific guidelines.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the appropriateness of the discussion within the philosophy section, with some arguing for its relevance and others asserting it does not meet the criteria.

Contextual Notes

There are references to specific guidelines for posting in the philosophy section, indicating that the discussion may be constrained by forum rules regarding topic relevance.

Darken-Sol
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I believe in karma. Simply understood as cause and effect. If I behave with compassion and empathy towards people they seem to do like wise. However it works both ways. I can see my attitude being carried along negatively aswell. I rarely see the do good get good back kind of karma that we often hear about. Still, I am careful about how much suffering I inflict on others. For example if i bully a coworker and he goes home in a bad mood and takes it out on his wife, who in turn shakes her crying baby to death, i would be part of that. I never know how far my emotion will travel once I put in someone elses hands. I also do not know how it will compound along the way or if it will unhinge an unstable person later on. I guess my reward would be peace of mind. That is how I exploit karma, how about you?
 
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Darken-Sol said:
I believe in karma. Simply understood as cause and effect. If I behave with compassion and empathy towards people they seem to do like wise. However it works both ways. I can see my attitude being carried along negatively aswell. I rarely see the do good get good back kind of karma that we often hear about. Still, I am careful about how much suffering I inflict on others. For example if i bully a coworker and he goes home in a bad mood and takes it out on his wife, who in turn shakes her crying baby to death, i would be part of that. I never know how far my emotion will travel once I put in someone elses hands. I also do not know how it will compound along the way or if it will unhinge an unstable person later on. I guess my reward would be peace of mind. That is how I exploit karma, how about you?

I don't think this is in line with the philosophy section guidelines https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=459350
 
i've read the rules and this doesn't seem to violate any. i am simply seeking a few points of view on the subject and its application in daily life. if you have none, could you at the very least provide references to material on the topic? perhaps a sociology paper or book on cause and effect, even your own subjective experiences would be fine. we don't have to lable it karma if it causes discomfort for people, i just felt it was a term which everyone knows and has a generic understanding of.
 

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