GENIUS FORUMS

I have yet to find a good definition of personality. After my most thorough attempt to create a theory of personality, I ended up concluding that a personality is a very specific thing that only applies to people with egos. "This is a man with a personality," has only one meaning as far as I can tell, and this meaning is not something that I'd consider a compliment. It is to say that the person has invented and immersed himself in a very particular type of samsara -- more complex than a pre-moral agent, true, but an infinite distance from wisdom.

I believe it was Dan who said he had problems with the way psychology is taught at universities: problems were not so much solved, as delusions were invented and sustained. As such, I can only assume that I'm on a train of thought that is familiar to some here. Is "personality" useful or truthful, or is it another of those concepts that need to be laid to rest?

You have an easily irritable personality, I can tell.

I think he is becoming a bit too detached from societal reality. A bit too lost in the FALSENESS of what the QRS teach, lost in their extremes. He thinks they are actually all right, not just partly right. A male version of Kelly. In some ways a bit like a little pup running around trying to please his guru masters. He needs some human comfort if you ask me.

I must admit, it kind of scares me to say that.

I would only be able to agree with you, Jamesh, if any of the moderators replied to my posts. I don't try to attract their attention with inaccuracies; as such, I mostly deal with forum members other than mods. And not dealing much with "QRS", I don't worry about pleasing them.

Not all independent philosophers want to run forums. Some of us like to relax in forums that already exist.

I don't think someones' personality has "much" to say, when it comes to measuring someones wisdom level. Or, how much wisdom they may have acquired. Personality, is simply an outer shell, it's a creative way of expressing oneself. With that being said, I do agree some people spend too much time focusing on their exterior, contributing to a lacking interior. However, In this superficial world, looks (small part of personality) attract and may sometimes mean the difference between success or failure (movie stars, etc). Let's be real and admit that if we had an opportunity to make millions, wouldn't we take it...Even, if it meant years of mindless blahing?

Is "personality" useful or truthful, or is it another of those concepts that need to be laid to rest?

Good question. I view personality as an art, in itself. So, is art useful?

How much of a person's personality remains with enlightenment - or disappears during the process of philosophical development - depends on how personality is being defined and what features are being included in that definition. Obviously, parts of the personality generated by false thinking disappear. Is personality fluid or dynamic? Maybe we can just say a person's personality is becomes very different. I'm not even sure it's an important issue. If delusion is absent I don't care what sort of personality is left. The critical thing is thinking about what parts of our psychology are, in fact, delusional.

Depends what you mean by personality. Let's say there are two types:

1)The Natural
2)The Actor

People view both for how they are presented, the only difference is: One is unaware of their personality, and two creates one or more. I'd view you as 1 and myself more as 2. 1 has a greater chance of being enlightened, because they don't play petty games.

Is personality fluid or dynamic?

What does this mean? Is it natural or made, I presume? Can be both. I think the longer people mature the more they lose that spontaneity, they stop acting , lying and become more real...They become more comfortable in their skin.

The critical thing is thinking about what parts of our psychology are, in fact, delusional.

Some people need this too be happy. How do we find out the difference between delusion and reality. Many people use delusions to reach success. For ex. Thinking one is a genius, gives them a greater chance when it comes to becoming a doctor (or whatever), if you think you can do it (achieve), you have a greater chance in achieving. If you do achieve it, thinking you wouldn't be able to achieve it, would be delusional. Nevertheless, it helps to think positively, "even if" it's against all odds. Survival, has proved this.