Meaning?
08.26.05 (2:59 pm) [edit]Why do I seek meaning in life? Why is it important for me? Why can't I just live for today? Animals don't seek, they don't look for meaning, they just live. They hunt, or forage, mate, raise young and die, mostly by being prey to something larger, but some do die of old age; rare as that may be. Year after year they live without asking questions. I suppose animals, despite the dangers they face day after day, are happy, if that is the proper description, and or at peace. For them to think about "why" would only hurt their chances of survival, make them nervous, self-aware, not something worth while, I would think for their communal survival.
The word "why?", is a mantra always active in my mind, even if at times I don't advert to it. The ultimate answer to "why?" is slow in coming; perhaps the full answer will never be mine.
Why would the search for meaning evolve at all? Is the search for meaning something that makes sense if survival of the species is the only goal in the process known as evolution?
Without meaning life becomes a nightmare, were all that I love, accomplish, learn, or become, will one day come to nothing; worst of all, also for those that I love, and care about. Maybe I seek meaning because meaning can be found, in fact is meant to be found. Perhaps we are called to meaning, made for it, loved and embraced by it. Perhaps the "search is the hook by which God lures us?
It is our self awareness that points the way. A gift, and a curse at the same time, at least that is how is can be experienced by me. I sometimes get weary of just being aware; at other times it is a great joy, but without a center it can become a living hell. Is life "much ado about nothing", with all my desires and sufferings useless passing phenomena? Or is my life, and the lives of all, ripe with meaning, bestowed by a power greater than myself or ourselves; even if not readily perceived?
Is my search for meaning an indication that I am more than just an accident of nature? How can the concept or the desire for meaning even exist, if there is in fact, no meaning, or reason, for my existence?
If anything, it seems at times, that our constant searching as a species for meaning is a detriment to our survival, for we spend as much time running from the search, as we do in seeking the answer. We are a self-destructive organism. We engage in wars that are irrational; that are in the end self-destructive, only leading to an endless cycle of violence and revenge. We as individuals often live self-destructive life-styles, and do everything to make our lives miserable...while at the same time telling ourselves that we seek happiness. We work our self to death for what in the end is often pointless, useless and empty.
Is the meaningfulness that is often felt by those who love God, an illusion (?), or is it in fact reality? Is faith in God a fantasy that leads away from reality or is it the way to discover what life is all about? Can science give meaning to our lives; can it replace Faith, Philosophy, and Art? Can science as important as it is fill the void that seems to have been placed within us. Can everything we desire, hope for, and love be reduced to being merely brain states, an epiphenomena that in the end points to nothing?
I suppose each of us has to come up with our answer, no one can make it for us.
Peace
Mitch
The word "why?", is a mantra always active in my mind, even if at times I don't advert to it. The ultimate answer to "why?" is slow in coming; perhaps the full answer will never be mine.
Why would the search for meaning evolve at all? Is the search for meaning something that makes sense if survival of the species is the only goal in the process known as evolution?
Without meaning life becomes a nightmare, were all that I love, accomplish, learn, or become, will one day come to nothing; worst of all, also for those that I love, and care about. Maybe I seek meaning because meaning can be found, in fact is meant to be found. Perhaps we are called to meaning, made for it, loved and embraced by it. Perhaps the "search is the hook by which God lures us?
It is our self awareness that points the way. A gift, and a curse at the same time, at least that is how is can be experienced by me. I sometimes get weary of just being aware; at other times it is a great joy, but without a center it can become a living hell. Is life "much ado about nothing", with all my desires and sufferings useless passing phenomena? Or is my life, and the lives of all, ripe with meaning, bestowed by a power greater than myself or ourselves; even if not readily perceived?
Is my search for meaning an indication that I am more than just an accident of nature? How can the concept or the desire for meaning even exist, if there is in fact, no meaning, or reason, for my existence?
If anything, it seems at times, that our constant searching as a species for meaning is a detriment to our survival, for we spend as much time running from the search, as we do in seeking the answer. We are a self-destructive organism. We engage in wars that are irrational; that are in the end self-destructive, only leading to an endless cycle of violence and revenge. We as individuals often live self-destructive life-styles, and do everything to make our lives miserable...while at the same time telling ourselves that we seek happiness. We work our self to death for what in the end is often pointless, useless and empty.
Is the meaningfulness that is often felt by those who love God, an illusion (?), or is it in fact reality? Is faith in God a fantasy that leads away from reality or is it the way to discover what life is all about? Can science give meaning to our lives; can it replace Faith, Philosophy, and Art? Can science as important as it is fill the void that seems to have been placed within us. Can everything we desire, hope for, and love be reduced to being merely brain states, an epiphenomena that in the end points to nothing?
I suppose each of us has to come up with our answer, no one can make it for us.
Peace
Mitch