{"id":204049,"date":"2020-01-23T02:24:28","date_gmt":"2020-01-23T10:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=204049"},"modified":"2020-01-23T03:56:10","modified_gmt":"2020-01-23T11:56:10","slug":"a-life-of-maximal-personal-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/23\/a-life-of-maximal-personal-independence\/","title":{"rendered":"A Life of Maximal Personal Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why have philosophers always recommended a life of maximal frugality and economy? Not frugality for the sake of frugality, but a life of the maximal personal independence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Download PDF text: Maximal-personal-independence<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be frugal to virtue flex<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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This is what I realized \u00e2\u20ac\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have been taught ever since we were kids that to be prodigal, wasteful with money, and uneconomical is a sin\/vice (Bible, Parable of the Prodigal Som). Therefore the proper road to virtue was frugality, economics, saving, and prudence (Benjamin Franklin).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

But this has always been weird to me\u00e2\u20ac\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153economical\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is different in everyone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes. What seems like a good \u00e2\u20ac\u0153investment\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is seen as a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153waste of money\u00e2\u20ac\u009d by another.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, who deems what is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153economical\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and who deems what is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wasteful\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why maximal independence?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Anyways, it seems that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153poverty\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153extreme frugality\/scrappiness\u00e2\u20ac\u009d has been a road for many philosophers, poets, artists, and photographers to gain maximal independence in their lives (like Josef Koudelka).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But is it possible to live a life of maximal personal independence WITHOUT living an economical and frugal life? Yes and no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes: if your expenses or what you buy\/desire doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t reduce your personal freedom in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No: if your expenses and lifestyle cause you to become a prisoner to your job (if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like it). For example, if your taste in expensive cars or stuff causes you to keep grinding away at a (well paid job) you hate, then your lifestyle is fucking with your personal independence in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your intended aim in life?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Laptop<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now this is where things get interesting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is truly your ideal or optimal end-game in life?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Assuming you got quadrillions of dollars in the bank, the uber-luxury house or penthouse apartment, the Rolls-Royce\/Lambo\/Tesla\/McLaren, all the newest Apple stuff, all the Leica and Digital Medium Format gear \u00e2\u20ac\u201d then what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You steer!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Cindy
Providence, 2020 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Then this is for you to decide \u00e2\u20ac\u201d how to live your life. Remember, life is about action. Life is about risk. Life is about doing epic shit. Life is about taking grand risks which test your personal courage, toward ends which you personally care for or are interested in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your life \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you steer!
ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philosophy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Dictate your meaning and purpose in your life with ZEN OF ERIC<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Philosophical Essays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n