- May 17th, 2025, 3:32 am
#474442
This topic is about the May 2025 Philosophy Book of the Month, The Contentment Dilemma: Examining Life’s Mysteries and Purposes by Marcus Hurst
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In today's world – the world of self-help books, material accomplishments, and infinite freedom of choice – it is strange that so many people seem to be unhappy with fulfillment whenever they thought that would bring smiles to their faces.
The book introduces a primary concept: fulfillment is from within and externalized and dependent on our outlook, our connection to truth, and our comprehension of suffering. Hurst's application of Christian metaphysics suggests that we try too much to solve spiritual needs with material or temporary solutions. He proposes that personal fulfillment begins when we align ourselves with an absolute, objective truth—in contrast to chasing out desires that are merely fleeting.
But is this a religious issue or, maybe, a more fundamental human issue?
Philosophers have posed this very question from a perspective. The Stoic Epictetus claimed that pleasure and contentment come when we focus on what is in our control—what lies within our locus of control. Existentialist philosophers, such as Sartre, claimed that freedom is hard, often presented as the burden of freedom to engender meaning for one’s life. Buddhists say that craving is the cause of our suffering, suggesting that the problem is not lack that causes the craving but desire itself.
So what exactly is contentment – and why does it so often slip through our fingers just when we think we have just made it?
In today's world – the world of self-help books, material accomplishments, and infinite freedom of choice – it is strange that so many people seem to be unhappy with fulfillment whenever they thought that would bring smiles to their faces.
The book introduces a primary concept: fulfillment is from within and externalized and dependent on our outlook, our connection to truth, and our comprehension of suffering. Hurst's application of Christian metaphysics suggests that we try too much to solve spiritual needs with material or temporary solutions. He proposes that personal fulfillment begins when we align ourselves with an absolute, objective truth—in contrast to chasing out desires that are merely fleeting.
But is this a religious issue or, maybe, a more fundamental human issue?
Philosophers have posed this very question from a perspective. The Stoic Epictetus claimed that pleasure and contentment come when we focus on what is in our control—what lies within our locus of control. Existentialist philosophers, such as Sartre, claimed that freedom is hard, often presented as the burden of freedom to engender meaning for one’s life. Buddhists say that craving is the cause of our suffering, suggesting that the problem is not lack that causes the craving but desire itself.
So what exactly is contentment – and why does it so often slip through our fingers just when we think we have just made it?
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”
– William James
– William James
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