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RHP

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M42

The New 10 Commandments

February 06 2013

Yesterday self-help extraordinaire Allain de Botton, author of such comfortably consumable pop-philosophy as The Architecture of Happiness and Status Anxiety, published a helpful new manifesto - 10 Commandments for atheists (I sound kind of flippant, but I actually enjoy and appreciate his work.) I'm wondering what your take on it is, and what (if any) relevance they have to the kinds of things we're using this site for.According to de Botton, the kinds of virtues we should aspire towards are: 1. Resilience. Keeping going even when things are looking dark.2. Empathy. The capacity to connect imaginatively with the sufferings and unique experiences of another person.3. Patience. We should grow calmer and more forgiving by getting more realistic about how things actually tend to go.4. Sacrifice. We won't ever manage to raise a family, love someone else or save the planet if we don't keep up with the art of sacrifice.5. Politeness. Politeness is very linked to tolerance, the capacity to live alongside people whom one will never agree with, but at the same time, can't avoid.6. Humour. Like anger, humour springs from disappointment, but it's disappointment optimally channelled.7. Self-Awareness. To know oneself is to try not to blame others for one's troubles and moods; to have a sense of what's going on inside oneself, and what actually belongs to the world.8. Forgiveness. It's recognising that living with others isn't possible without excusing errors.9. Hope. Pessimism isn't necessarily deep, nor optimism shallow.10. Confidence. Confidence isn't arrogance, it's based on a constant awareness of how short life is and how little we ultimately lose from risking everything.Personally, I'm reminded of the kind of 'what makes a REAL man/woman' discussions. I also think all but 'sacrifice' and 'forgiveness' would make a pretty good user manual for 'how to meet people off here' (and those two should be added for 'how to use the forums'!)PS. I am aware discussing Allan de Botton is incredibly faux-bourgeois middle-class twaddle, so: boooooobieeeees.

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Comments

  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    REALLY I do. Much rather delve into the world of m sets and the space of calabi yaus.

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  • On_Safari

    On_Safari

    13 years ago

    But for ages, humankind struggled to find a conceptual system to operationalize their spiritual shortcomings. The challenge was formidable: the system had to be complex and inclusive enough to implicate a vast range of disgusting behaviors, yet simple and memorable enough to inspire guilt in the majority of us peasants.   As in the 7 deadly sins and contrary heavenly virtues. Since it is alledged that practicing the virtues protects one against temptation toward the Seven Deadly Sins: humility against pride, kindness against envy, abstinence against gluttony, chastity against lust, patience against anger, liberality against greed, and diligence against sloth.   I think these new 10 commandments strike close to home. I wonder if the deadlies have to be reviewed......

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    in that advice Drift but timely.The pursuit of happiness is all about the inner journey indeed. My two aspirations are to be happy and do as little harm as possible.Simple but not quite so simple to achieve. The unexamined life is not worth living...Socrates

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    I think maybe number7 could have Accountability added, that would make number 8 a whole lot easier! Apart from that, they do ring true especially number 2, a very rare quality.   Mr 4evaus2

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  • Cheekyarses

    Cheekyarses

    13 years ago

    Well these are my 10 commandments 1. Don't be so serious, if you can't laugh at yourself, call me - I will laugh at you. 2. Hard times will always reveal true friends 3. I'm not a second fucking choice 4. One of the happiest moments ever us when you find the courage to finally let go - of what you can't change 5. You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months over analyzing a situation, trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could've or would've happened or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the fuck on... 6. A bit of advice for you - don't believe everything you think!! 7. I am me. I am not willing to change for you or anyone else! Take me as I am or watch me as I go. 8. Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you or makes you happy! 9. Live as if you were to die tomorrow - learn as if you were to live forever 10. When someone treats you like an option, help them narrow their choices by removing yourself fom the equation - it's that simple!

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  • On_Safari

    On_Safari

    13 years ago

    That's brilliant!!! And sooooo perfect a response for an incident that took place lastnight. May I use your sage words to lift up a friend?

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    Quoting 'EuropianBliss' Much rather delve into the world of m sets and the space of calabi yaus. You just gave me wood.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    That's brilliant! Agree. :)

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    Damned tough gig though.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    Neptune... Interesting reading and thought provoking... Post of the day...Cheekyarses.. This should be the everyday bible for every man and woman to live by.. fantastic..Jay...

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  • Cheekyarses

    Cheekyarses

    13 years ago

    On_safari of course you can Thanks meeka xxx

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    Love mostly his ideas that being moral and being religious don't necessarily go hand in hand - something I constantly have to counter, being a sexually-charged non-Christian. Although these ten commandments are not necessarily a moral compass, more a code to live life well. Rather like the Old Testament, I suppose, when they were miles from the sea and telling everyone not to eat shellfish was actually a pretty good idea.

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    Quoting 'Cheekyarses'Well these are my 10 commandments 1. Don't be so serious, if you can't laugh at yourself, call me - I will laugh at you. 2. Hard times will always reveal true friends 3. I'm not a second fucking choice 4. One of the happiest moments ever us when you find the courage to finally let go - of what you can't change 5. You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months over analyzing a situation, trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could've or would've happened or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the fuck on... 6. A bit of advice for you - don't believe everything you think!! 7. I am me. I am not willing to change for you or anyone else! Take me as I am or watch me as I go. 8. Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you or makes you happy! 9. Live as if you were to die tomorrow - learn as if you were to live forever 10. When someone treats you like an option, help them narrow their choices by removing yourself fom the equation - it's that simple!

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    I live in the now, and I make my choices on the spot

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    back at ya bloke...   Chuck us 'nother stub.   This is a great barbie! who's th' bloke with the big words?   Aren't we 'sposed to be chatting and being generally social...   Mike

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    He's got an amazing ability to distil and enunciate very familiar but complicated ideas. One of my favourite athiests. Does this ten boil down to respect - for others and self? That seems to be the one over-riding lesson I get from rhp. I kinda like Cheekyarses ten, too... - Posted from rhpmobile

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    "Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively." Dalai Lama XIV

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    Quoting 'Ms_Devious'   "Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively." Dalai Lama XIV I try and avoid taking life advice from anyone who's appeared on Masterchef...

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    allain who?

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    Gore Vidal and Allain de Botton mention here at the bakery.I like those 10, they work for me.@cheekyareses- I have trouble with your number 7.. I’m prepared to change for others if I feel they have a valuable lesson for me. In fact, it's the criticisms of others that are my sum.Just sayin'~smiles~

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  • RHP

    RHP User

    13 years ago

    Quoting 'Kinkstersinc' Love mostly his ideas that being moral and being religious don't necessarily go hand in hand - something I constantly have to counter, being a sexually-charged non-Christian. Yes, that's what I appreciate too, as well as what Messolonghi says. There may be a bit of new-age guru-ism about his marketing and persona, but I like the attempts to bring philosophy into the everyday, and make it accessible. Having felt like my eyes were bleeding struggling through translations of 18th Century French and German writers back in the day, it certainly makes for a refreshing change.And yep, I love the efforts to show that morality and ethics aren't the sole domain of religion. I mean, we have nearly 2,500 years of critical thought that tells us that, but it's nice to have someone celebrating it in popular culture.Cheeky, I like 'em!

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  • Cheekyarses

    Cheekyarses

    13 years ago

    Thanks Jay I just need to read them daily myself!!

    reply

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