A philosophical idea that changed your life

[Thumpalumpacus]

Confessions of Augustine

Ewww, Augustine.    Sorry, but he's one of my least favorite "thinkers" of all time.

Oh, what's not to like about a guy who prays "Lord, keep me from temptation -- just not yet"?

[coltcat]

Murphy's Law

aw yeah , I was gonna said that. XD
 
 
and 3 SF movie that totally blow my mind alway when I was under 20. (not exactly hilosophical,but ideas)
Contact,2001 space odyssey and the matrix.

[The Magic Pudding]

Treat others as you would have them treat you.
I don't know when I first heard it.
I don't know who to attribute it to.
It's as simple as 1 + 1
If the world is going to work it is the bedrock.

[Ihateyoumike]

Treat others as you would have them treat you.

I prefer, Do not treat others as you would not have them treat you.

[Tank]

Treat others as you would have them treat you.

I prefer, Do not treat others as you would not have them treat you.

Glass half full or glass half empty  

[Kylyssa]

Love.

It started with my mother and it is an ongoing process.  Learning to love and be loved has been (and continues to be) the most important endeavor of my life.

[Miss Anthrope]

Brain in a vat.

[wildfire_emissary]

The political philosophy of Machiavelli and Talleyrand.

[deekayfry]

Plato's Idealism.  I love how it makes a mockery of a concept that is impossible to achieve.

First, it says that everything is a less perfect than the most perfect version of itself.  As such, that version exists just beyond our reach.

and, just as important,

It is pointless to try obtain that perfection

[Sophus]

Plato's Idealism.  I love how it makes a mockery of a concept that is impossible to achieve.

First, it says that everything is a less perfect than the most perfect version of itself.  As such, that version exists just beyond our reach.

and, just as important,

It is pointless to try obtain that perfection

I've always thought this concept was only useful in Geometry. In every other aspect of philosophy "perfection" seems too abstract to start with. I see your point though. We can always dream up something better.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Two things --

First, a line from Dune, by Frank Herbert:  "Those who see only what they wish are doomed to rot in the stink of their own perceptions."

Second, Socrates's old saw about the unexamined life being unworthy of living.

And if you think about it, they're both really saying the same thing.

[deekayfry]

Plato's Idealism.  I love how it makes a mockery of a concept that is impossible to achieve.

First, it says that everything is a less perfect than the most perfect version of itself.  As such, that version exists just beyond our reach.

and, just as important,

It is pointless to try obtain that perfection

I've always thought this concept was only useful in Geometry. In every other aspect of philosophy "perfection" seems too abstract to start with. I see your point though. We can always dream up something better.

I saw it just a little bit differently

To me it seemed like Plato, or whoever came up with this thinking, was being sarcastic.  It was like, "Sure go ahead and think there is something more perfect, but if you want to try good luck getting to it!"

Having said all thought, I have not delved into this school of thought, but from my limited understanding Plato was never serious about the "perfection" part of it.