In my opinion Stephen Hawking is one of the smartest scientists since Einstein forth. What amazes me at him is that despite saying that he is an atheist in 2014, he said once that “GOD” ( creator, divine force, some force of intelligence, etc) may exist, but he should give us more evidence about him. He is really smart because open minded scientists take in account all possibilites and he is not arrogant like the mainstream atheists are . And…he is an example for us all. He can’t walk and move, eat properly or do anything properly and there he is having a family and contiuneing his life.
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People in wheelchairs can believe or dis-believe in God.
Also, idiots or geniuses can believe or not believe in God.
Sure, the inherent lack of merit associated with what a person can believe in is what produces so many varied opinions.
Thinking about suicide is a mental illness brought on from depression. It’s admirable that Stephen Hawking continues to live his life and has a family… but my depression feels like Stephen Hawking’s handicap. Yes, I have legs and arms that work. I can feed myself. But I’m crippled mentally. Stephen Hawking has something I wish I had… a full functioning brain that isn’t inhibited.
I agree. I would much rather have a physical handicap than this mental/emotional one that makes me want to kill myself.
I have both
Maybe thinking about suicide is a sane reaction to an insane world.
I think this has sense, I think so sometimes when you see so many nice peple here and so many rude (to say the least) people irl that go on with their lives as if they were the greatest thing ever.
But I am biased so…
Yes. I often think I would have been happier if I was born in simpler times. And I really hate that people who are depressed are thought of as “ill”, as if there’s a malfunction in their brains. I think we are just reacting rationally to our circumstances.
I can relate to that I’m pshyically fine but mentally crippled aswell
Mr. Hawking has been a self-proclaimed atheist since before he became wheelchair-bound. That said and without speaking for Mr. Hawking per se, he remains open to the idea of something of a “higher power.” He has however been pretty clear of his stance on heaven being created (or dreamt) by those who are afraid of the dark.
The only thing that keeps me going is that one day I will have peace.
I wonder where my comment went ?
Too lazy to type it all again. Depression is seen as an ‘illness’. Depressed people are seen as people to stay away from, not associate with, people who will drag you down with their ‘negativity’. They sure like to turn the tables. What if it was society with the problem? Why is that if a kid is bullied and eventually brings a gun to school and shoots everyone, why is he suddenly the horrible bully? Because he is fed up with being bullied? And the bullies get away with it…
Yes… passive people might seem to say nothing, but they will eventually snap…
That being said, depression is a verifiable illness if it fucks with your ability to function properly, if you barely leave the house, if you want to sleep as much as possible, or get drunk or take drugs every day, if you isolate yourself and avoid people, if you can’t keep up with work and eventually quit and become unemployed, and if you can’t find happiness in your life either due to unpleasant circumstances or because you can’t move past your negative thinking, whatever may have provoked it.
We have been programmed to believe that depression is an illness even though that is subjective and not scientifically verifiable. Whether or not the emotions that a person feels, or doesn’t feel, can be considered an illness is a matter of opinion. If the person is struggling to function, is miserable and nothing they do in their life makes it better, then I could definitely see how one would consider that an illness. I believe it is up to the individual to make that determination. I know mine has a biological component, but there are also definite situational and existential components and those are not illnesses. Plus, just because medication makes something better doesn’t mean it was an illness to begin with. For example, if you use hallucinogenics to get high and they make you feel good that doesn’t mean you “needed” hallucinogenics to “get better”.
It is also a matter of opinion to say that because someone wants to commit suicide that automatically means they are suffering from a mental illness. Whether or not suicide is acceptable has always been a social attitude. It only started to be considered a medical issue in the 19th century. It is a matter of “people who feel this way don’t conform to society’s standards, therefore they must have a mental problem.” How can you scientifically demonstrate that what a person wishes to do with their life is a medical issue?
In order for depression to be demonstrated scientifically as an illness researchers would have to meet all of the following criteria:
1. A definite biological marker that is associated with the onset of depression
2. Repeatable results demonstrated over multiple scientific studies, using good methodology, and standing up to peer review
3. The ability to demonstrate that the way a person thinks or the emotions a person feels can be considered an illness
They will never be able to scientifically satisfy this third criteria. They might be able to brainwash the public into believing that they’re supposed to think or feel a certain way, but that’s not science.
Physical illnesses are also often diagnosed based on symptoms alone, with no biological tests being performed, but it is that third criteria that I named that will always be the barrier to proving that depression is an illness. Of course depression originates in the biological processes in the brain. Everything does: laughing at a funny joke, feeling grief over a person’s death, feeling fear when you are in genuine danger. But are laughing and grief and fear illnesses?
Correction to above: I *believe* mine has a biological component *that is not a response to external stimuli*.