I was working at a financial firm in New York City with a bunch of very smart people, and I had a brilliant boss that I much admired. I went to my boss and told him I wanted to start a company selling books on the Internet. He took me on a long walk in Central Park, listened carefully to me, and finally said, "That sounds like a really good idea, but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn't already have a good job." That logic made some sense to me, and he convinced me to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision. Seen in that light, it really was a difficult choice, but ultimately, I decided I had to give it a shot. I didn't think I'd regret trying and failing. And I suspected I would always be haunted by a decision to not try at all. After much consideration, I took the less safe path to follow my passion, and I'm proud of that choice.
我当时在纽约一家金融公司工作,同事是一群非常聪明的人,我的老板也很有智慧,我很羡慕他。我告诉我的老板我想开办一家在网上卖书的公司。他带我在中央公园漫步良久,认真地听我讲完,最后说:"听起来真是一个很好的主意,但是对那些目前没有谋到一份好工作的人来说,这个主意会更好。"这一逻辑对我而言颇有道理,他说服我在最终作出决定之前再考虑48小时。那样想来,这个决定确实很艰难,但是最终,我决定拼一次。我认为自己不会为尝试过后的失败而遗憾,倒是有所决定但完全不付诸行动会一直煎熬着我。在深思熟虑之后,我选择了那条不安全的道路,去追随我内心的热情。我为那个决定感到骄傲。
“倘若上帝不存在,一切都是可能的。” 上帝不存在的假设使萨特处于窘迫的境况,但也使他获得“人注定是自由的”这个立足点。 上帝不存在,人的价值失去了终极的依据、尺度和目的,人“被抛这个混沌的世界”,“没有根据”,“没有意义”,面临这个敌意的、充满威胁的世界,人必然感到焦虑”、“恐惧”,与生俱来的自由意味着“痛苦”、“苦恼”。 那么人来到世上干什么?人的本质是什么?我是谁?这样,人的实在,人的地位,人的意识(即“自我”,主观之我),总之,“人”成了萨特存在哲学的中心题。 大凡哲学家把目光盯着人的共同性、人的本质这一普遍概念上,再根据这个普遍概念确定道德标准:“人的本质先于存在。” 萨特把这个论点颠倒了过来:“人的存在先于人的本质”,指出人赤条条来到世上并无本质可言,人“自我存在”以后才获得“自我本质”。 萨特不同于弗洛伊德,后者否定社会现实世界对“自我”具有决定性的制约作用。而他却承认人的存在决定人的意识:我们的思想“自然而然产生于我们所接受的文化”,但他认为可以摆脱外在世界的决定性作用而进行“自我选择”,“自我设计”,这种自由在他看来是绝对的。 战争的悲剧使他明白:“单在任何情况下选择总是可能的结论是错误的。”
当目标是取得有意义的进步时,合作胜过竞争。
I hope to inspire others to pursue their passions and dreams.