 |
| The universe is big. We are not. Does our puny existence really make any difference? |
Is it better for us to live as individuals? Are we actually improving other's lives? Are we causing life to continue or to recess? Is our life good on its own, without reference to anyone else? Are we living in joy or even contentment?
All of this causes us to look deeper. What is the purpose of our lives? Are we given that purpose by another, or do we create it ourselves? Is our purpose innate, or is our purpose discovered over time? Do we not discover our purpose until our life is finished and we can look back on the whole thing and discover the purpose? Or is there no purpose whatsoever? Is it that we just are, there is nothing else, no one else, we can really compare or contrast ourselves to because we are and there is nothing else to say about it?
And what about life and existence in general? Are we a part of a bigger purpose, effort, or are we completely independent? Does life, all matter in the universe have a purpose, or is it just existing and there is nothing else? Is matter moving toward a conclusion or is it all waves, temporary patterns and return to the abyss from which matter came?
Or is there any abyss? After all, if matter exists, did it not always exist? And if there is existence, then does it not exist for a reason? Even if that reason is simply to exist? Is there not joy just in existing, even if the universe at large isn't interested? Perhaps there is no abyss, but only being?
In the end, perhaps it is enough to know that we exist. To end our existence is the greatest acts of pride, because that one act takes all the evidence of our existence, and calls them negligible, with less than no purpose. Because if we have no purpose, there is no reason to act. If we act, we do so with the intent to improve. Is not living the answer to worth?
Hi Steve, just a quick comment to say how much I like your blog; it's actually very similar to my own, which is Battison's Blog if you want to google it.
ReplyDeleteAs for this question it often frustrates me that people tend to think life would be less meaningful if there wasn't one deterministic purpose for all life set down at the beginning of time by God. In that reality we are little more than machines on a job. What happens when we've achieved the task? What if we find out that we already have fulfilled this purpose? Life is much more meaningful if we set our own goals and purpose. This way we realize the truly infinite scope of human vision, and the capacity for life
Thanks, Robert. I appreciate the feedback. I wish I could post more, but living life keeps one occupied.
ReplyDeleteFor myself, I think that we all make our own choices. For many people-- perhaps most-- their choice is to allow others to make their choices for them. Not everyone is good at making the "big" decisions for themselves. Some people want a spouse, a boss, their God, to make choices for them. And who are we to say they shouldn't? After all, it is their choice, and we have to admit, that those who live for the sake of other's choices often have meaningful lives.
Hope to talk to you again sometime :)
I figured we'd find agreement here. Of those posts I've read I've yet to find anything that I disagree with.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for wanting to post more I think you have a good balance between quality and quantity. Besides, I should imagine that I can speak for most of your readers when I say that if your work helping the homeless and mentally ill takes away from your blogging time I hardly think we can begrudge you for it!
I'm certainly going to try and keep reading in any case. This is the best blog I've found in ages!