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Single Idea 23077
[filed under theme 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / i. Deflating being
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Full Idea
Whether it is spoken by a grocer or a philosopher, the word 'being', apparently so rich, so tempting, so charged with significance, in fact means nothing at all; incredible that a man in his right mind can use it on any occasion whatever.
Gist of Idea
The word 'being' is very tempting, but in fact means nothing at all
Source
E.M. Cioran (The Trouble with Being Born [1973], 12)
Book Ref
Cioran,E.M.: 'The Trouble with Being Born', ed/tr. Richard Howard [Penguin 2012], p.166
A Reaction
I entirely agree. It resembles the redundancy view of 'true' (with which I do not agree).
The
17 ideas
from 'The Trouble with Being Born'
23064
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So-called wisdom is just pondering things instead of acting
[Cioran]
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23062
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It is better to watch the hours pass, than trying to fill them
[Cioran]
|
23063
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The first man obviously found paradise unendurable
[Cioran]
|
23067
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Suicide is pointless, because it always comes too late
[Cioran]
|
23065
|
If only we could write like a reptile, of endless sensations and no concepts!
[Cioran]
|
23068
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People who really believe anti-realism don't bother to prove it
[Cioran]
|
23066
|
Negation doesn't arise from reasoning, but from deep instincts
[Cioran]
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23069
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Fear cures boredom, because it is stronger
[Cioran]
|
23071
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We could only be responsible if we had consented before birth to who we are
[Cioran]
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23070
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We morally dissolve if we spend time with excessive beauty
[Cioran]
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23072
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Systems are the worst despotism, in philosophy and in life
[Cioran]
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23073
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Convictions are failures to study anything thoroughly
[Cioran]
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23076
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If people always acted without words we would take them for robots
[Cioran]
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23075
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A text explained ceases to be a text
[Cioran]
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23074
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In anxiety people cling to what reinforces it, because it is a deep need
[Cioran]
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23077
|
The word 'being' is very tempting, but in fact means nothing at all
[Cioran]
|
23078
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Opinions are fine, but having convictions means something has gone wrong
[Cioran]
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