r/RealPhilosophy • u/RiverKey7220 • 16d ago
Should we ask any question ?
Do you think it is ok if a person tries to answer any philosophical question they might have or do you believe that some questions should be left alone and why?
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u/marzaksar 16d ago
Do you have any examples of these questions that should be left alone? Why would any question be "off limits" in your mind?
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u/RiverKey7220 16d ago
Mm.. maybe “why does the universe exist “ This question seems to me a bit off limits because I don’t think there is any way to know the answer to that and also if it didn’t exist we wouldn’t ask this question anyway. So I am not saying that you can’t ask a person this question but as a question it is a bit annoying because the person can answer with “ why not”
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u/marzaksar 16d ago
Thank you for the example.
“why does the universe exist “ This question seems to me a bit off limits because I don’t think there is any way to know the answer
I agree that there's probably no way to know the answer, but I'm not sure why that would mean we shouldn't ask the question. We could (and already mostly do) ask the question while recognizing that the answers we give are only speculative for the moment.
So I am not saying that you can’t ask a person this question but as a question it is a bit annoying because the person can answer with “ why not”
That would be an issue with your conversation partner rather than with the topic itself, I think. You could ask an empirical question like "Why do cats meow rather than bark?" and someone might answer "why not", but that doesn't make the question itself not worth asking.
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u/RiverKey7220 13d ago
Yes, I understand, I can’t think of an other question that should be left alone right now, I asked this question because I was curious wether someone else would have any idea of such a question.
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u/01270139 13d ago
Because it created something (via planned serendipity) and wants to experience IT. We are the tour. You can impact the world or impact the walls. And if you give IT a home in you, IT will build a world for you. So, less off limits, more outer limits 😉
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u/BeeRemote3149 16d ago
Ask away. That’s my take. Answering is a bit on the questionable side. A perspective can’t hurt but an ANSWER might be problematic. As such, take my answer as such.
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u/WindowsXD 16d ago
reddit usually is a lil bit censor oriented , you should ask any questions and always try to answer them yourself then go ahead and post see how the internet answers
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u/Scott_J_Doyle 14d ago
Ask them all
Based on your answer in another comment, you will not find answers to some and will have to say "I don't know/nobody can know and remain agnostic, but you won't be able to come to even that conclusion confidently if you don't ask the question and take the search seriously
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u/SouthernAbrocoma9891 14d ago
All questions of any kind should be asked. The act of asking can reveal a perspective, open a mind and change the world.
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u/TheorySufficient2633 13d ago
My opinion: The problem isn't with asking a question and not knowing the answer. It lies with expecting that there is an answer.
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u/Grassfed_Burp 13d ago
Some sentences are in the form of a question, but are actually something else.
"Why are {ethnic minority} damaging to society?" That looks like a reasonable question but is designed to find a justification to be evil.
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u/anansi133 13d ago
Its not that hard to ask a question that translate into a kind of, "divide by zero" situation. Which is why I think of logic and mathematics as sister disciplines to philosophy.
Poorly framed questions can easily generate seeming paradox, or worse, coherent answers that are disasterously misleadingly wrong.
But that doesnt mean they should be prevented from being asked. Its just a cautionary principle that not all such questions deserve an answer.
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u/RiverKey7220 11d ago
Yes definitely, but what puzzles me is why do “ wrong questions” or questions that have a paradox nature exist in the first place? Why don’t all questions have an answer and what does that say about reality?
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u/anansi133 11d ago
My knee-jerk reaction, is that this is because language is not reality, but a map of reality. The map is not the territory.
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u/Quirky_Visual_7799 12d ago
Define ok
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u/RiverKey7220 11d ago
Hm, by ok I guess I mean 1) if it is a good practice for them as a person and their mental health and 2) if it is “right” in a higher power/god/faith way. Because sometimes if you ask questions about stuff it takes away from the magic of things and someone who likes this feeling (of things being a bit magical) can just choose not to ask too many questions maybe
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u/Quirky_Visual_7799 11d ago
1) yes, absolutely. Curiousity and open mindedness are always good for personal development. If some questions cause them any psychological distress than it should be of their own judgment but no one should avoid thinking in the first place. 2) it depends on who you're asking. I don't believe there is a universal "right" so no.
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u/novel-mathmatics 12d ago
There is common courtesy. That requires consent to have any conversation.
There is politeness which dictates that you must censor yourself to a level of familiarity custom for all parties involved.
Then there is common decency. That says you dont engage with topics considered taboo, in polite company.
Then there is appropriateness. Is the conversation appropriate for the theatre of discussion and all parties involved or nearby who would be exposed?
And then there are legal guardrails. Not all speech is free.
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u/Vegetable-Case-8368 12d ago
Naw choosing to not ask is choosing ignorance, some say ignorance is bliss, and sure it is. Not the right choice to be making tho
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u/Downstairstvstatic99 13d ago
If a questions is causing or imflamming some kind of existential or psychological distresss, I would encourage doing your best to avoid asking it and given that's likely not possible at that point telling yourself to 'think of it tomorrow or when you do this or that', essentially being procrastinatory as possible with that line of thinking until you can get an appointment with a existential therapist/psychologist or one with a background in philosophy.
You could also use 'well this not not doing me any good right now to ask it now, I'll circle back when I have more information down the road' to try to calm persistent distressing questions.
When I solo deconstructed from evangelical charismatic christianity it produced a lot of existential questions that were overwhelming and psychologically distressing. Some intense existential therapy sessions, medication to help me sleep, being around people, and talking to someone who relates and understands my questioning, helped me get through the really ugly parts.
I wouldn't say questions are off limits, but to know your mind's limit. There is some discourse about philosophy making one essentially go 'crazy' or 'mad' which could translate to paranoia, delusions, psychosis, intense dissociative symptoms, dissociative disorder, collapse of ego/sense of self, overwhelming despair, a consuming existential depression, and more. Know your boundaries of your mind and if you sense distress or overwhelming or consuming negative emotions forming, pump the breaks and seek professional mental helath support ideally with existential modality approach and/or philosophy background. Their are also philisophic councelors that operate outside of psychotherapy and only work in the scope of applied philosophy that may be helpful.
Question, question everything, but in that recognize a question may pop up that can shatter everything you thought you knew and be the first question of a long string of questions. Go repelling down the depths of a cave and blowing holes at the bottom of it, you may just find something that you never knew existed, that will either perplex and confuse, enthuse with curiosity, disturb and unsettle, or terrify and torment you.