My Own Philosophical Approach - Essay Example

For each one of us there is a need to have a core belief or value by which to live, and support it with all our heart. This could be personal, derived from what we have read, what we have observed in our parents and peer group, or our role models in public life: a philosophical code that we consider our own. My own philosophical approach is that everyone is born with the ability to succeed in some field or the other, it is up to him or her to look for it, find it, and then work hard at achieving the best in that area. Through dedication and hard work, each person can find fulfillment in life, because he or she will be working in the field of choice, which provides best opportunities of enjoyment and good performance. This is based on the premise that all of us are equipped with an evolutionary drive, which instinctively prods us to do our best, because in this world, it is all about the survival of the fittest. If we do not do well, we may perish, and this keeps us on our feet from birth onwards, as we grow, and learn to support ourselves. If we choose the field to which we are best suited, and for which we have a passion, we live at our fullest, because the job satisfaction in this case is very high. Moreover, our chances of survival and success are heightened. If we succeed in our lives, we can live in the best conditions possible and offer the best opportunities to our offspring. To achieve success, it is also assumed that persistent hard work is the key. Hard work on the part of each of us ensures that the economy of the nation continues to grow and living conditions improve. If each of us does our job, and does it well while taking a pride in it, chances are that we flourish as a civilization. Those in the field of science and technology take us into our future, those who are in the art scene add aesthetic value to our lives, those in conservation protect our forests, those in political roles lead us well, doctors keep us healthy-- down to the cab driver and the cleaning woman; each of us has a real contribution to make. Also important in this regard is the assumption that the moral standards of society are followed. In order to survive as a community and a nation, it is essential that each and every one of us follows a distinct moral code, which enjoins that all earnings are the fruits of hard labour, and not gained through unfair means like cheating, forgery, robbery, extortion and so on. If people try to succeed by hook or by crook, crime levels will rise, and society may reach a point of breakdown. The person who works hard to earn an honest living contributes to the society , and is useful not only to his family but his nation as a whole, so this is the first good reason to support my philosophy of life. In developed countries, it is important that the citizens work hard to keep their economies growing, to educate their children so they can carry on the responsibilities of the previous generation, to make forays into science and technology, develop alternative energy resources, and improve living standards and health care for the nation as a whole. In developing nations it is even more important that the citizens work honestly and very hard, because they have a long way to go in order to achieve economic power. They need to find their favorite fields of work and do their job with a passion if they want to survive as a nation in this new century. Secondly, a lot of the disharmony, war and crime we see around us is because people are unfulfilled. Economic inequities lead to political instigation and social discontent. But in a society where everyone works hard for a living at a job they love well, and earns sufficient remuneration in exchange, less people are inclined to create trouble, because everyone is occupied and has no time for mischief; and they all know that any disturbance will jeopardize their current prosperity. And if a country as a whole prospers due to the efforts of its citizens, it is less likely to get into a war, which can only harm its interests and drain its resources, because it already has enough prosperity on its own and does not need to encroach on another country's interests. Thirdly, at the individual level, hard work has a salutary effect on an individual. People who are happy and satisfied in their jobs tend to be healthier, live longer and be more honest. This means that job satisfaction can be an important factor in a person's well being, which is something we see in older people who have refused to quit working in some or the other area of interest. Not only do they not become a burden on society, but their experience benefits those they work with. Since they continue to use their brains and bodies, these do not degenerate at a high rate, and the person remains content, energetic and active. But there can be objections to my philosophical approach, not the least of which is the difficulty people face in finding an occupation of their choice. Sometimes the jobs people like are too hard to get, or pay too little, and the available jobs may not excite them as much. Not everyone is blessed with good educational opportunities due to family or financial difficulties, and it may not be possible for each person to find the job they aspire to. So, people may be forced to take up jobs they do not like, feel trapped in them, and under-perform as a result. Secondly, not everyone has a strong moral fiber and in our difficult times, it is very tempting to take the easy way out and become corrupt. Sometimes, when an economy is in recession due to natural calamities like floods, quakes or hurricanes or man-made situations like war or economic trends , it is difficult to find employment, for example in places like New Orleans post-Katrina, or in Detroit where the car industry is on a downward spiral. In such situations, unemployment rates are high, and it is sometimes inevitable for citizens to slide into crime. In other cases, people make their choices based on high remuneration levels, and not their field of interest, due to need or greed, and sacrifice job satisfaction in the long run. Though the objection of rising unemployment for reasons beyond the control of an individual is valid, it is important that the person not lose heart, a positive attitude can go a long way. One can pick up a job or do odd jobs just for the sake of supporting oneself for a while, until the right job opportunities arise. When it is not possible to find employment, a person needs to dig deep into himself or herself and analyze if he or she can become self employed, and thus create jobs not only for one individual , but eventually for others as well. It is also important that citizens place adequate emphasis on education, and continue it to some extent throughout their lives. Cases abound of people who had been born to a hard deal in life, to poverty, discrimination, and other hardships, who fought against their adverse circumstances to triumph in life: Jim Carrey who today commands more than 25 million USD per picture has been homeless, lived in a camper, had to drop out of school at sixteen because of family finances, and had to work as a janitor,construction worker and a picture frame employee, before he got a break as a comedian. Shania Twain, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jewel, Danny DeVito are other examples of people who rose from adverse circumstances into stardom, and they are not the only ones. So, believing in oneself is important, and it is possible for people to succeed on the basis of grit and determination, at a job which they like and are passionate about. As far as the objections on the moral front are concerned, it is true that honesty is a hard path to follow, given the stiff competition that people face today. But on the other hand, we do see that those that amass wealth through unfair means tend to face the consequences, and it is preferable to have a peaceful, normal life than a cushy life filled with tensions. Criminals and their families may enjoy huge short term benefits, but in the long run, they are plagued with apprehensions of being caught breaching the law. And if such people do get caught, the jail terms and dishonor that ensue are simply not worth all the luxuries acquired in a lifetime. If everyone adhered to my philosophy of life, the world just might be a better place. If all the citizens of the world were passionate about their occupation and followed them honestly, there could be prosperity, peace, and harmony in all the nations of the world. People could find a way to be healthy and happy, stress-free and satisfied, but what is required for this is a tremendous amount of self-belief and integrity in each and every one of us. The future will look brighter, less fraught with environmental concerns and fuel shortage, fewer wars, and better living conditions for one and all. For myself, I am at a juncture in my life where I am trying to decide on my ideal occupation, to find it and to stay by it till I succeed. In the coming ten years, I see myself as having found my niche, and reached a level of success from where only further consolidation would be required. I would grow to be a valuable member of the society, and an honest and straightforward person in my chosen profession. By dint of hard work and persistence, I would have carved out my own avenue of success. At the end of my life, I would pass on, a satisfied being, having duly fulfilled my objectives in life. In the course of writing this paper, I find myself in agreement with Plato who said: "All things will be produced in superior quantity and quality, and with greater ease, when each man works at a single occupation, in accordance with his natural gifts, and at the right moment, without meddling with anything else". He also said: " Without effort, you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good, You cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation." I endorse both his statements, and mean to apply them in my life, as my personal philosophy and faith. The one value that emerged while writing this essay was that of honesty, and how the importance of honesty and integrity cannot be overestimated. In my book, there is no replacement for honest hard work and no other shortcut to success. Read More