Most people do not do what they think is right.
For example, many would work a different job or less hours if they could. Or they would live a different lifestyle, maybe do more generous things, travel more, contribute to different projects with their time. Unfortunately we all deal with life’s restrictions so we do what we can, rather than what we wish we could.
But is it possible to live a perfectly consistent life based on “first principles” ?
I think so. To do it, you must be willing to sacrifice everything else (in the short term) to live out those principles. When you don’t need all of the assumed necessities of life, ethics gets a lot easier.
If you can’t afford to buy something ethically, you just don’t buy it.
If you feel uneasy about something, you just don’t do it.
It’s more about what you don’t do than what you do. There are infinite options and “trolley problems” in ethics about what you do. But it’s pretty obvious when you can stop doing a thing in order to be more ethical.
People used to think I was an idiot (and I was, in ways) for these kinds of beliefs. They figured I would grow out of it. But when I was doing stuff like quitting jobs after a month because “the management is dumb and I can’t tolerate that” — I never did grow out of that. My first principle is that I can only work with people whom I respect.
So I find myself earning $300 to $500 per week as a freelance writer, mostly keeping to myself, focusing on self-education and making music from home for a year or two while I grow my income. And before that, I was basically earning nothing and had no idea what I was going to do, I could barely survive.
It wasn’t a smooth path. It would have been easier to just work some jobs and then develop a freelance practice on the side, but I don’t think that was a good idea. It only makes sense in retrospect.
I’m Not Alone
I’d argue that many of the world’s most beloved and revered figures were those who found a way to “solve the puzzle” of first principles. Mega-Celebrities both modern and classic - whether Seneca or Beyoncé - represent the idea of living a dream life.
“Not giving a fuck” is the same idea, being free to do what you want. Presumably what you want is related to some sense of ethics and what’s right to do.
And don’t we almost all revere the story of the hero who has a rough start? When you hear about the ultra-zillionaire on the news, and they’re in some interview talking about the difficult times earlier in their life, and how it was a long journey to the top — stuff like that is what makes us respect a person.
So I’m proud of my mistakes and/or messy spots in life, so far as they represent me attempting to live out my true ethical principles. And insofar as I’ll make mistakes in the future, it’s all good for the same reason.
At least I have a core principle that works for me, with no exceptions: that I do what I think is right, as best as I’m able to.
It feels good! And most importantly, living by first principles is a practice that has compound interest. When you “get on your feet” with first principles, it’s possible to soar way above the average level of ambition and do crazy amazing things. That is my theory anyway.
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