Jim Carrey as a Study in Philosophy

Posted by $ Abaco 6 years, 1 month ago to Philosophy
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So, last night I got some downtime and surfed youtube. Happened upon some recent footage of one of my favorite comedic actors, Jim Carrey. In these recent interviews he's really starting to display some interesting behavior. He's been noted for acting out of his head. What I heard him saying was stuff like, "I'm not here." "You don't exist." "There's one big soul and we're all part of it. I'm you. I'm this table." Etc...just a lot of odd stuff like that. Then, there are the viewer comments on the videos. They are a lot of, "Good for Jim. He saw how messed up Hollywood is and has found himself..."...etc. As an armchair philosopher and Objectivist I find it pretty thought-provoking. Philosophy is what we use to link ourselves to reality, right? In that light, I think Jim's gone the wrong direction. He's gone in the opposite direction I have after probably seeing some real discrepancies in our world.

I'm a big fan of him and his work. So, I'm troubled by his ramblings. He doesn't look, good, either. Man, would I love to sit with him over a coffee and discuss the world.


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  • Posted by $ puzzlelady 6 years, 1 month ago
    Why do we expect our entertainers also to be our gurus and reality interpreters? Some we reject out of hand, like Jane Fonda and Meryl Streep. Others we elect to high office, like Arnold and Ronald and Donald. Carrey's shtick is being extreme. It's an act. Don't go to his church.
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  • Posted by $ gharkness 6 years, 1 month ago
    Once he started his anti-vaxx shit, that was the end of it for me. We'd all be better off if he truly WAS "this table."
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    • Posted by $ 6 years, 1 month ago
      Yeah. Because, while I don't trust the government on many, many things. When they say unlimited vaccines being administered to newborns is without any risk I believe it with all my heart. I give them a pass on that one, because they couldn't be wrong on that one item.
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      • Posted by $ gharkness 6 years, 1 month ago
        I am not sure I ever saw that they (or anyone said) anything was "without any risk." All told, though, the risk of contracting a disease that will KILL you and/or your kids is far higher without a vaccine than it is with a vaccine that has been administered literally millions of times, and yes, occasionally there is a problem. Just like when you get in your car. You don't obsess over "am I going to get killed" but the possibility exists.
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        • Posted by $ 6 years, 1 month ago
          This requires a clear definition of "occasionally".
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          • Posted by $ gharkness 6 years, 1 month ago
            No, it doesn't. Just like you may OCCASIONALLY get into a wreck, you still get in that car and drive. My sister discovered that she might OCCASIONALLY suffer a broken arm from such wreck and subsequent deployment of the air bag, but she was grateful to be alive, albeit with a broken arm.

            I had an 'occasional' sore arm from my Tetanus shot, but people who contract tetanus die more often than "occasionally." The death rate is something like 99.9%.

            Occasional issues are one thing, but deliberate misleading and providing false evidence is another.

            Antivaxxers are more than just pro-disease; they are very very bad at understanding statistical probability, and they seem to have no problems getting their medical advice from failed (and apparently crazy) movie stars and doctors who have had their licenses revoked. I wonder whether they would go to Jim Carrey to get their broken leg set? I guess they could rub a little homeopathic (meaning non-existent) essential oil on it. I'm sure that would help. They also don't mind stating that they would rather their child be dead than possibly contract autism (if that were actually a side effect, which it most certainly isn't). Most people who have autism find that to be highly insulting.
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            • Posted by $ 6 years, 1 month ago
              And...how many people die of tetanus here each year? Do you know? I do. It wasn't eradicated with the vaccine...

              Listen...you'd never win a debate on this with me, ever. And, frankly, I spent well over a decade in research groups you've heard of and over $900K of my own money to find the truth on this. I don't give it out freely - certainly not in a medium like this. Just chill out, remember that Objectivism is in opposition of government-mandated medical treatments, and know that there are good reasons for that.

              Chill out. It's Friday.
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              • Posted by $ gharkness 6 years, 1 month ago
                No vaccine is 100% effective. It's just more effective than ANY other treatment. (Did I say tetanus was eradicated? The question is: do I consider that a reasonable standard? NO, I do not.) Further, I do not consider that you have put those words in my mouth to be reasonable, either.

                So, to repeat your comments;

                Listen...you'd never win a debate on this with me, ever.

                That's ME, talking to YOU.

                And don't "remind" me of anything, EVER. Once I have discovered that a person is intractable on this, I cease communication with them.

                So, there's your "chill out."
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  • Posted by craigerb 6 years, 1 month ago
    "I'm this table...pretty thought-provoking."
    So if I own a table, I'm guilty of slavery. If I hammer a nail in it, I'm guilty of battery. Refuting this position might be thought-provoking, but not holding it.
    Carrey might be channeling Andy Kaufman.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 6 years, 1 month ago
    He's fallen for the idiotological trap of: we're all one, connected to everything, we're light beings, we're holograms or everything is conscious stupidities.

    Liked him in Max Headroom, and the God thing he did...IMO, it was downhill from there.
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    • Posted by $ pixelate 6 years, 1 month ago
      Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Perhaps it is along the lines of looking back at one's life work and saying, "Is that it?" and even though the paychecks have been substantial for Carrey, the question arises, what does it all really add up to? Is this some form of existential angst?
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  • Posted by davidmcnab 6 years, 1 month ago
    Spiritual/religious systems tend to fall into a dichotomy of "right hand path" versus "left hand path".

    Right hand path is about collectivism, dissolving one's individuality into a greater oneness, and advances a body of concepts demanding faith. It encourages supplications to invisible entities in pursuit of unearned handouts. This includes most of the main popular religions.

    Left hand path glorifies the individual, and encourages maximising one's personal potential. Instead of faith, left hand path spirituality demands logic and evidence, emphasising hard work, personal creativity and self-reliance. Most of the Satanic/Luciferian groups work from these premises. Ayn Rand is a popular source of inspiration for these communities too. Through history, they've gained a bad name with false accusations of bizarre criminal behaviour such as child sacrifices. This is unsurprising given the threat the left hand path practitioners pose to the right hand path, by debunking the right hand path dogmas.
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  • Posted by $ Stormi 6 years, 1 month ago
    I really liked him in 'The "Truman Show", until the last scene. He was good in "Majestic" Somewhere along the line, he went off the rails, psychologically.
    I have read he is prone to depression, and was on Prozac for a while. Not sure I would advise anyone to follow his philosophy, as he is not that stable. Maybe he should focus more on Rand, "I am, therefore I think." Elvis read philosophy looking for meaning as well, but it did not lead him to save himself from himself.
    Carrey is not that far off on vaccines, exp. afer Bill Gates mentioned cutting the population, and saying vaccine are the way to go. The UN has made outright statements saying all people should get birth control vaccines, and be allowed to get off them, only when a license would be granted for them to have kids.
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  • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 6 years, 1 month ago
    Ayn Rand's favorite comedian was Prof. Irwin Corey, who in real life was a communist. I agree with puzzle lady and wiggys. Do not confuse your appreciation for his art, such as it is, for his views on metaphysics... or physics...
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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 1 month ago
    There is increasing scientific evidence that Jimmy might not be as cucu as you might http://think.In the scientific study called Neotics, experiments are taking place of consciousness outside of a body. Of thoughts without a brain which exist in space/time that have actual substance and weight. I realize this is way out but no more so than many experiments in qhantum world such as string theory which proposes not three dimensions, but ten. Strangely enough, a 3,000 year old treatise called the Zohar preserved by the Kabbalist Jews has a perfect description and illustration of string theory, 10 dimensions and all.The only difference between certain so-called mystical texts and scientific texts is the way in which they are framed. In a civilization without metal (more or less) things will be described in a far differing manner, but the theory appears to be the same. The math is also very different, but the end result is the same. Except that the lab work was far in advance of today's. Then, of course, lab work was said to be mystical incantation, but just like today, it was used to prove theory. Sounds nuts? So does Carry. But he may be on the periphery of a new science being called Neotics for obvious reasons.
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  • Posted by DrZarkov99 6 years, 1 month ago
    Sounds like Carrey has odd bits of various ancient Greek philosophy floating around in his head. The Aristotelian school postulated that nothing was entirely knowable, because the "true forms" existed in a perfect universe, and all we were seeing was pale reflections of those perfect entities. Platonists decreed that everything shared basic elements, with a few exceptions, like laughter, that only humans possessed. I don't remember which Greek philosopher, but there was a school that believed we were all part of greater cosmic whole. Carrey seems to have jumbled all of these varieties of thought into one crazyquilt of ideas.
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  • Posted by freedomforall 6 years, 1 month ago
    I have always "felt" uncomfortable about him. I could partially enjoy his efforts but never feel comfortable about him. Not objective; can't explain it.
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    • Posted by $ 6 years, 1 month ago
      I understand. Over the years I started to see him as a guy who ended up with more money (and power) than anybody could imagine. I remember when my wife used to watch "America's Next Top Model". It was goofy but, for obvious reasons, I'd occasionally sit and watch with her. One season there was this Indian model who was insanely beautiful - a true unique beauty. Well, after a few months I saw a photo of Jim on a date with her. I just nodded and went, "Sure." He lives this odd lifestyle with really no worries at all. Can be healthy (would be for me) or unhealthy (most people).

      The first time I saw Pet Detective I literally fell off the couch laughing...
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