The meaning of life is a peculiar subject, and I will not spend too much time analyzing it. I believe the decoding of this matter is best done on an individual basis, with no one coaxing you along the way. But still, I will make a few comments on it, because it fascinates me so. It is not the idea of coming to a conclusive ‘meaning of life’ that wonders me, but the obsession that the human race has displayed for the answer. All sorts of matters, which will be commented on at another time I presume, have been tacked onto finding the answer. Many people have died and fought in religious wars (the best example I can think of), as well as many other endeavors undertook, for better or for worse, in the name of the meaning of life. But again, these will be commented on at another time. Right now we will focus on what the meaning of life may be, instead of all the pleasure and pain the quest for it may have brought upon the human race. Most people of general order associate the meaning of life with some kind of happiness. ‘To be happy’ they say, but such a concept is confusing. Can one ‘be happy’ as a matter of everyday life? Or does this not come from aspects in our life with which we interact with? And if these interactions are letting us ‘be happy’ then are they not the meaning of life-for it was these interactions and situations which bring us happiness? If such were true, then the meaning of life could not be the same for all. What makes one man happy will make another sad, and vice versa. Let’s say that the meaning of life is not to be happy, but something else. Could we really say with any certainty that it would be right? It any more than the notion that happiness is the answer? Let us try. Some say the meaning of life is to reproduce, and this would make sense I suppose. Obviously the object of every animal’s existence is to reproduce, because without it living beings would not exist. Of course there are some who were not meant to bare children, but I feel that is another alley that may take us somewhere we were not expecting. All we will say is that not all creatures could reproduce, because if they did we would be terribly crowded. Now back to the example at hand – the meaning of life being to reproduce offspring. This seems to be a very scientific point of view, and I’m of the opinion they are overlooking themselves. If we are here to only reproduce, then why are we conscious? Why would we not hound around reproducing at a whim and as often as possible- without concern for other crap? Why are we able to love and laugh and think and do all the things that reproducing does not require? If the only reason we are here is to reproduce then we do not need all of those unnecessary bothers! Nor should a dog have a need to chase, or a cat to meow! Why, in such a world, it would only seem fit that we were merely massive, walking reproductive organs! We are not in such a world, however, and I continue to express my thoughts through a computer screen. Which, may I remind you, it just about as far away from reproducing as I could get. So it seems such a scientific view cannot be right (we will not say for sure though, because that would be foolish), and other examples shall be explored in time. Now that we have explored a couple avenues of thought on the subject, I will leave it to the reader to take it further. But, I would like to make light of the things said above: do not take your convictions as fact, and always take others’ with a grain of salt. The meaning of life is ever changing, and in my observations I have found that there is not one meaning of life, but many. It changes just as people grow old and the seasons pass. It would be foolish to think that a concrete answer to this question could exist, but people do. And is it not funny that after a whole spiel about not taking your own opinion as complete fact, I have gone and given mine in such that fashion? We are all human I suppose, and with that I will leave it to the reader.
You mentioned earlier, in response to my comment, that we all search for meaning in our lives, which I had actually elaborated on in my comment and then erased it for whatever reason. I agree, it appears humans need more, they need something bigger, a greater purpose for why they are here. A random, product of evolution who's existence is attributed soley to reasons explained by science is a bleak and unfullfilling explanation for our lives.
ReplyDeleteAs I scientist, I struggle with this topic often, if not daily. As a scientist, I have been taught the 'scientific' reasonings and views for why life exists, and how homo sapiens came to be as they are today, and why our bodies and brains behave as they do- at least explained to the best of our ability. And all of these things make sense to me. They are logical, they are generally supported by evidence, and so on. Often as I look around at a crowd of people, or read that there are now 7 billion people on the planet- and the population is still growing exponentially, I can't help but think that maybe we really are just an organism (some would say parasite to the planet at this point), that has mastered it's environment.
What is amazing to me is the incredible and seemingly totally random events that guided homo sapiens into existance. If you haven't taken a science yet for general ed- take physical anthropology. It was facinating to me, maybe it will be to you. There are so many events that took place to get us here. We have evolved to this point- to this point of consciousness even- by a series of events. Millions of years ago, our ancestors were a primate species (it's been a while since I've learned this stuff so bare with me). There were several primate species over the ages. Some evolved to a bipedal position, some didn't. Some lived in the trees, other lived in the prairies, some had the anatomy to throw objects, others couldn't. Over time, species became extinct while others flourished. Then when the earth's climate changed again (as it does frequently, well, frequently in geologic terms) then that species that had flourished previously, now became extinct. Each one of these events, stepping closer, guiding evolution towards humaniod species. The meteor that caused the dinosaur extinction had a huge role in that as well. Reptiles ruled the planet! How crazy is that. (Another fun fact- dogs and bears have the same ancestor) Anyway, once the reign of the reptiles was extinguished, mammals flourished.
ReplyDeleteHomo sapiens weren't the only humaniod species to exist. Neanderthals existed in parallel with the first homo sapiens, only they evolved in a different part of the world. They were a completely different species; they differed substantially in DNA (relatively). This much is known almost as fact (I say almost because hardly anything can be taken as fact, except maybe gravity)- they can date the bones, and have extracted DNA. It is speculated that homo sapiens, as they continued to spread from Africa into Europe, encountered the neaderthals and eventually killed them off. Neaderthals were not a primative species, if you know what I mean, they had a culture, harnessed fire and buried their dead (which is thought to be significant), and so on. It is thought that Homo sapiens had an imaginative advantage. That our brains were able to adapt to changing situations more easily and take more from our surroundings. The factors that guided the evolution of homo sapeins, somehow gave them the advantage for survival.
ReplyDeleteWhat's interesting to me as well, is one of the driving forces of evolution, is random gene mutation. Blonde hair and blue eyes are mutations- and a recessive gene- and for some reason that was favorable when that mutation first occured in that first individual, therefore it persists today. Random mutations that provide an advantage in some way for survival, or for reproduction, persist in the population. Life is essentially a big mutation driven by survival and reproductive advantage. Biologically speaking of course.
So looking at this information, some of which is speculative, some of which can be confirmed by dependable methods- considering the random nature of the driving forces for why we are even an organism on this planet- it appears why we are here, really is random.
ReplyDeleteConsciousness cannot be scientifically explained. It is happening on a level, or maybe dimension, that we cannot see or detect by any instrument. There have been some animals, like the elephant for example, who are self-aware. Self-awareness, happiness, sadness, loving, jealousy and many other emotions are not specific to humans. Cats, dogs, birds, and I'm sure a variety of animals are capable of some of these emotions too.
What is specific to humans is the ability to extract information from our surroundings and manipulate it to our advantage. Creativity. The moment we harnessed fire is thought to be a proxy for the moment we made that 'intellectual leap'. All other creatures on the planet run from fire. The moment we stopped running, turned around, and fashioned a way harness that energy, is thought to be a defining moment towards our current intellectual abilities. It can't be explained as to why that happened. Why our brains evolved in such a way to create that possibility. Some have speculated the heavy introduction of meat into our diets, and the added complete proteins, may have aided the brain growth. But who knows.
So the point of all my rambling on about this is, what if the reason we have this consciousness, this creative and far reaching abiltiy to think beyond our own world, is a product of evolution, like everything else about our existence? And if it is, then that might suggest there really is no greater meaning- we just recently (and again, recently in geologic terms) have had this ability to percieve beyond our own environment and overcome instincts. And the continuing development of agriculture, industrialization, and technology have releived the human race of the burden of survival and allowed us more time to ponder these questions of life.
The yearning for a greater purpose, for meaning in our lives, is driven by something within all of us. For some reason, it is common to all humans (well, almost all). I don't know why that is. But I often get depressed when I reflect on the history of humans and evolution and that it points to a random and natural meaning. And that why we are here and why we are as developed as we are, can be largely explained by science. Not completely, but in a general sense.
Then I remind myself, that for me personally, my life is given meaning by my relationships, and my own personal growth. I believe every person creates their own meaning. I'm not saying that I don't believe in an afterlife or another state of being, but that's for another day.
Maybe the collection of individual meanings, create the global meaning.
I think you have hit the nail on the head with what I was trying to say. 'There is no meaning to life' is such a grand and powerful statement that it seems inconceivable that it is true (to most people). The notion that it COULD be true is terribly, terribly frightening (again, to most people), and it seems we have come up with every story and trick in the book to ease ourselves away from that truth.
ReplyDeleteIf we look at it from a scientific point of view, we see that clearly there is no predetermined planned for all of us. There are too many elements, factors, and variables for there to be an overall meaning to our existence. It seems that it has just so happened that we have come into existence over the thousands and thousands of years that our little planet has had life.
Regardless, despite which point of view you take it from, religious or scientific, the fact is that we are STILL searching for some kind of meaning, all of us, is peculiar. Whether it be through nature and history or through God and his teachings, we still strive for meaning in our lives. This is the ultimate question I believe. Not- 'what is the meaning of life?' but- 'Why do we care so much?'.
After reading my original post, I have still come to the same ending thoughts - which are quite similar to yours- "The meaning of life is ever changing, and in my observations I have found that there is not one meaning of life, but many. It changes just as people grow old and the seasons pass." The meaning of life is what we MAKE it.
Only WE can give ourselves the answers to questions that only exist in our minds.
PS. I did some writing on animals and consciousness, and you've touched on some points I mentioned. You seem to know a little more than I do so please read and share on that one! =)
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