- July 7th, 2024, 12:41 am
#464811
Your perspective challenges the conventional mindset that often involves 'should' and 'ought' as moral imperatives or guidelines. Your emphasis on choice and acceptance aligns with philosophical views like Stoicism and certain aspects of existentialism.
I'll address your questions from the perspective of someone who does believe in 'shoulds' and 'oughts':
1. **Example of something that happened that "shouldn't" have happened:**
- A car accident caused by a drunk driver that resulted in fatalities. Many would argue it "shouldn't" have happened due to the preventable nature of drunk driving.
2. **Example of a person or thing that "shouldn't" be the way it is:**
- A corrupt politician who abuses their power. People often feel that those in positions of authority "should" act with integrity and responsibility.
3. **Example of something that "should" be happening right now but isn't:**
- Adequate global action on climate change. Many believe that governments and corporations "should" be taking stronger measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
4. **Things or events that allegedly "shouldn't" be the way they were/are within your control:**
- Personal actions like procrastination or neglecting one's health. These are often within an individual's control and thus subject to 'should' statements.
5. **Things that you can change vs. things that you cannot change:**
- Can change: Personal habits, career choices, lifestyle decisions.
- Cannot change: Past events, other people's actions, certain health conditions.
6. **Principle of fully accepting what you cannot control:**
- This principle is practiced to varying degrees by many, often influenced by philosophies like Stoicism or mindfulness practices. It’s a challenging but valuable approach to dealing with life's uncertainties.
7. **Saying something "shouldn't" be the way it is as speaking gibberish:**
- To those who believe in 'shoulds,' this statement might reflect a normative judgment, expressing a discrepancy between reality and ideal standards. It may not be gibberish but a way to articulate dissatisfaction or desire for change.
8. **Meaning of saying some unchangeable aspect of reality "shouldn't" be the way it unchangeably is:**
- It often expresses regret or a wish for a different outcome, even if it's irrational in the strictest sense. It reflects human nature's tendency to imagine alternate realities.
9. **Saying "2 + 2 should not equal 4":**
- This would be nonsensical, as it contradicts fundamental mathematical truths. In this context, 'should' is inappropriate because it's not subject to subjective norms but objective reality.
10. **Saying "That hurricane that happened yesterday shouldn't have happened":**
- This often expresses a wish to avoid natural disasters due to their devastating impacts. While we cannot change the occurrence of natural events, we might use 'should' to emphasize the importance of preparedness and mitigation efforts.
Your approach encourages a liberating mindset by focusing on what can be chosen and controlled, promoting acceptance and reducing unnecessary mental suffering. This contrasts with a more conventional view that often involves normative judgments and the desire to align reality with ideal standards.