What is the Meaning What is the Meaning of Life?of Life?

FeracoFeraco

Search for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

13 December 201013 December 2010

A Constant Work in ProgressA Constant Work in Progress

• ““I often wonder if I'll ever finish all I've started, I often wonder if I'll ever finish all I've started, and the answer I have found is no! No, I will and the answer I have found is no! No, I will never finish all that I have started because life is never finish all that I have started because life is about doing – the process – not the result…My about doing – the process – not the result…My life’s a constant work in progress, and I wouldn't life’s a constant work in progress, and I wouldn't have it any other way.”have it any other way.”

Set Your Goals, “Work in Progress”Set Your Goals, “Work in Progress”• Something left unstated during our death lecture Something left unstated during our death lecture

– albeit something that most are already aware – albeit something that most are already aware of – is the fact that time marches on without you of – is the fact that time marches on without you once you pass awayonce you pass away

• Your children will age, your spouse will die, and Your children will age, your spouse will die, and new generations you’ll never meet will rise and new generations you’ll never meet will rise and fallfall

A New InteractionismA New Interactionism• The dualists – the interactionists, anyway The dualists – the interactionists, anyway

– insist that there’s an interactive – insist that there’s an interactive relationship between our bodies and our relationship between our bodies and our soulssouls

• I propose that a similarly dualistic I propose that a similarly dualistic relationship exists between our attitudes relationship exists between our attitudes towards death and lifetowards death and life

• People who are truly terrified about life People who are truly terrified about life after death – say, those who are convinced after death – say, those who are convinced they’re going to do something during life they’re going to do something during life that they’ll pay for in death – probably that they’ll pay for in death – probably aren’t going to live as boldly (or aren’t going to live as boldly (or recklessly, to be fair) as those who aren’trecklessly, to be fair) as those who aren’t

Good Things, Odd ReasonsGood Things, Odd Reasons

• I have also mentioned that we often I have also mentioned that we often do good things for odd reasons – in do good things for odd reasons – in order to avoid a negative order to avoid a negative consequence, for example, rather consequence, for example, rather than out of a genuine sense of than out of a genuine sense of goodnessgoodness

• Don’t behave cruelly, or the guilt will Don’t behave cruelly, or the guilt will haunt youhaunt you

• Some of you only do your homework Some of you only do your homework because you recognize the because you recognize the consequences of giving away pointsconsequences of giving away points

Beyond Self-PerpetuationBeyond Self-Perpetuation

• Is Is thatthat the purpose of life? the purpose of life?• Eighty years of avoiding negative Eighty years of avoiding negative

consequences long enough to make it to consequences long enough to make it to the next day?the next day?

• Eighty years of “resume-building”?Eighty years of “resume-building”?• I may be young and fairly inexperienced, I may be young and fairly inexperienced,

with a whole lot left to learn, but I’m with a whole lot left to learn, but I’m reluctant to believe that the ultimate reluctant to believe that the ultimate meaning of my life is so narrowmeaning of my life is so narrow

• So that’s my starting point: We’ll build on So that’s my starting point: We’ll build on survivalsurvival

• What is the meaning of life What is the meaning of life beyondbeyond self- self-perpetuation?perpetuation?

Not Naturally Evil…But What?Not Naturally Evil…But What?

• I tend to take a lighter view of humanity than I tend to take a lighter view of humanity than many of you; I don’t believe that we’re naturally many of you; I don’t believe that we’re naturally evilevil

• If I believed humans were naturally evil, what If I believed humans were naturally evil, what would “human potential” even mean?would “human potential” even mean?

• I think that we do good things for a lot of weird I think that we do good things for a lot of weird reasons – but that we do good things for the right reasons – but that we do good things for the right reasons as wellreasons as well

• I don’t think creatures of evil could even I don’t think creatures of evil could even conceive of some of our treasured concepts – conceive of some of our treasured concepts – love, preservation, loyalty, curiositylove, preservation, loyalty, curiosity

• What I wonder, then, is whether these admirable What I wonder, then, is whether these admirable qualities give us a clue about what the ultimate qualities give us a clue about what the ultimate meaning of life actually is – assuming one exists, meaning of life actually is – assuming one exists, of courseof course

Is There Meaning?Is There Meaning?

• What are we considering when we set out What are we considering when we set out to study the “meaning” of life?to study the “meaning” of life?

• For one thing, we have to take an honest For one thing, we have to take an honest look at the possibility that life is look at the possibility that life is meaningless – that not only were the meaningless – that not only were the monists right about human existence monists right about human existence (with regards to the afterlife, not with (with regards to the afterlife, not with regards to the “everything-is-made-out-regards to the “everything-is-made-out-of-the-same-stuff” business), but that of-the-same-stuff” business), but that there’s not even any meaning to the there’s not even any meaning to the existence you’re currently enjoyingexistence you’re currently enjoying

In All of the UniverseIn All of the Universe• By doing so, however, we confront a variation on By doing so, however, we confront a variation on

an old theme: How do you prove something an old theme: How do you prove something that’s this abstract that’s this abstract doesn’tdoesn’t exist? exist?

• It’s like saying “There’s never been – and will It’s like saying “There’s never been – and will never be – a creature who can survive in the never be – a creature who can survive in the vacuum of outer space.”vacuum of outer space.”

• Really? Never? In all of the universe?Really? Never? In all of the universe?• How can I possibly prove that with any degree of How can I possibly prove that with any degree of

verifiability?verifiability?• We also need to examine whether something else We also need to examine whether something else

confers purpose onto us – or whether the confers purpose onto us – or whether the meaning of our own lives is within the realm of meaning of our own lives is within the realm of our controlour control

Nihilism and TeleologyNihilism and Teleology• It’s worth noting that this is a teleological It’s worth noting that this is a teleological

question (remember them?)question (remember them?)• After all, teleological operating philosophy After all, teleological operating philosophy

doesn’t just assign one purpose to life – it doesn’t just assign one purpose to life – it assigns multiple ones in the form of goalsassigns multiple ones in the form of goals

• Teleologists can believe in an external force that Teleologists can believe in an external force that confers meaning on people, and they can believe confers meaning on people, and they can believe that we create our own meaningsthat we create our own meanings

• You can also talk about nihilists – those who You can also talk about nihilists – those who believe life is fundamentally, unchangeably believe life is fundamentally, unchangeably meaningless, and that nothing we do, say, or meaningless, and that nothing we do, say, or think matters (or ever has mattered)think matters (or ever has mattered)

• They’re the flip side of teleology – no goal is They’re the flip side of teleology – no goal is meaningful at allmeaningful at all

The CallingThe Calling• The idea of a person “finding his calling” can The idea of a person “finding his calling” can

work both wayswork both ways• It can mean he needs time to figure out what It can mean he needs time to figure out what

he’s supposed to do (external)he’s supposed to do (external)• It can mean he needs time to figure out what It can mean he needs time to figure out what

he’s good at, or what we want to do – and he’s good at, or what we want to do – and whether those things can be meaningful enough whether those things can be meaningful enough to sustain him (internal)to sustain him (internal)

• Think of how often college kids change their Think of how often college kids change their majors!majors!

• Think of how often professionals switch lines of Think of how often professionals switch lines of work!work!

• Again, this can seem arbitrary – but it can also Again, this can seem arbitrary – but it can also seem like a logical processseem like a logical process

• It all depends on whether you believe “purpose” It all depends on whether you believe “purpose” is staticis static

Back to NihilistsBack to Nihilists

• Nihilists want you to accept that life Nihilists want you to accept that life is fundamentally meaninglessis fundamentally meaningless

• They argue that there’s no great They argue that there’s no great scheme, no grand purpose, to you or scheme, no grand purpose, to you or anything elseanything else

• Nihilists say everything is arbitraryNihilists say everything is arbitrary• We are random and alone, have We are random and alone, have

always been and always will bealways been and always will be• There are no universal moral values There are no universal moral values

that humans should holdthat humans should hold

Without PurposeWithout Purpose

• While faith isn’t necessary for While faith isn’t necessary for morality, purpose seems to be – for morality, purpose seems to be – for morality, in many cases, seems to be morality, in many cases, seems to be about upholding one’s ability to about upholding one’s ability to fulfill his/her purpose, or to avoid fulfill his/her purpose, or to avoid harming others in their quest to do harming others in their quest to do the samethe same

• Without purpose, without meaning – Without purpose, without meaning – what’s the point of a moral system? what’s the point of a moral system? What are we even trying to protect?What are we even trying to protect?

Done With NihilistsDone With Nihilists• There’s really nothing more to say about nihilism There’s really nothing more to say about nihilism

– either you buy into the idea that there’s no – either you buy into the idea that there’s no meaning to life (think monism stripped of meaning to life (think monism stripped of purpose) or you don’tpurpose) or you don’t

• We can’t really spend too much time on it, other We can’t really spend too much time on it, other than to wonder about the hypothetical than to wonder about the hypothetical consequences if nihilism is correctconsequences if nihilism is correct

• After all, we talked about how morality would be After all, we talked about how morality would be impacted by either an affirmative or dissuasive impacted by either an affirmative or dissuasive knowledge of what awaits us beyond deathknowledge of what awaits us beyond death

• It could make morality easier – or people would It could make morality easier – or people would still be tempted to push the limits and see what still be tempted to push the limits and see what they can get away withthey can get away with

• What What wouldwould happen if we knew that nothing happen if we knew that nothing really mattered?really mattered?

Conceivable MeaningsConceivable Meanings• If purpose and meaning are conferred upon us, If purpose and meaning are conferred upon us,

what are some conceivable meanings?what are some conceivable meanings?• Perhaps to generously provide for othersPerhaps to generously provide for others• Perhaps to search for answers and questionsPerhaps to search for answers and questions• Perhaps to teach and guide those around usPerhaps to teach and guide those around us• Perhaps to improve and evolve, physically and Perhaps to improve and evolve, physically and

emotionallyemotionally• Perhaps to carry on in our predecessors’ Perhaps to carry on in our predecessors’

footsteps, or to protect our heritagefootsteps, or to protect our heritage• Perhaps to find peace and serenityPerhaps to find peace and serenity• Any others?Any others?

Chaos!!!Chaos!!!• We’ve joked/observed throughout the unit We’ve joked/observed throughout the unit

that humans seem to gravitate towards that humans seem to gravitate towards chaos – that we complicate things chaos – that we complicate things unnecessarily, that we love questioningunnecessarily, that we love questioning

• However, that same tendency towards However, that same tendency towards chaos might be what keeps us from chaos might be what keeps us from stagnating – might even be what makes stagnating – might even be what makes life worth living after alllife worth living after all

• The very chaos that nihilists cite as reason The very chaos that nihilists cite as reason to believe that none of this matters could to believe that none of this matters could very well be the reason everything doesvery well be the reason everything does

The Star and PhilosophyThe Star and Philosophy• We began this semester by talking about the five We began this semester by talking about the five

points of a single star: enlightenment, points of a single star: enlightenment, independence, identity, security, and loveindependence, identity, security, and love

• None of our existential questions is about one of None of our existential questions is about one of these points…and yet, at the same, all of them arethese points…and yet, at the same, all of them are

• Isn’t the question about choice really about Isn’t the question about choice really about independence and identity?independence and identity?

• Isn’t the question about morality really about Isn’t the question about morality really about identity and (mutual) security?identity and (mutual) security?

• Isn’t the question about happiness really about Isn’t the question about happiness really about independence and identity?independence and identity?

• Isn’t the question about the soul really about love Isn’t the question about the soul really about love and identity?and identity?

• Isn’t the question about death really about love, Isn’t the question about death really about love, identity, and security?identity, and security?

• And isn’t this question – about the meaning of life – And isn’t this question – about the meaning of life – really about the whole thing?really about the whole thing?

The Star and the CubeThe Star and the Cube• Life seems to be a wonderful, endlessly fascinating Life seems to be a wonderful, endlessly fascinating

puzzle, like Wall-E’s Rubik’s Cube – full of trade-offs puzzle, like Wall-E’s Rubik’s Cube – full of trade-offs and mysteries to be solved, happiness to be won, and mysteries to be solved, happiness to be won, and new frontiers to crossand new frontiers to cross

• Our stories this semester dare to ask the questions Our stories this semester dare to ask the questions we need to ask ourselves along the waywe need to ask ourselves along the way

• If our dreams came true…would we be worthy? If our dreams came true…would we be worthy? Would we be ready?Would we be ready?

• If humanity is meant to improve, how can we get If humanity is meant to improve, how can we get better without losing who we are?better without losing who we are?

• I appreciate progress, treasure it, learn from it…I appreciate progress, treasure it, learn from it…but never settle for itbut never settle for it

• If we’re going to build a better world, we can’t If we’re going to build a better world, we can’t cheat when challenged by the cubecheat when challenged by the cube

• So solve a puzzle, and start another…because life So solve a puzzle, and start another…because life means more than 42means more than 42