Eps 1729: existence and life
— The too lazy to register an account podcast
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Theresa Barnes
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Life and existence assume importance when one considers that it is the real basis for any other words, thoughts, feelings and possibilities. Philosopher Iddo Landau argues that life has no value in itself but can only be valued by anyone's individual choice, which is a form of assigning it a value. He suggests that life becomes valuable when people ascribe meaning to it and make it meaningful. This assignment of meaning is a way of expressing the value they ascribe to life and existence.
We, as only living beings, cannot prove that life has a real meaning and purpose. Our existence may be a random chance or an unintended consequence of some greater force. It is impossible to justify our own existence, as thinking and reasoning are not enough to prove that there is any meaning or purpose behind life or human existence. We must instead associate meaning with our lives in order to give them value and purpose.
This means having a soul-centered view, putting our soul into everyones life and creating a meaningful life for ourselves. We must ascribe meaning to other's lives as well. This moderate supernaturalism should exhibit the most desirable meaning in our lives, as no ones life should be seen as meaningless or worthless. When we exhibit this essence of life it gives us hope and purpose in our lives. Death is inevitable, but in the ways we live we can make sure that our lives are meaningful and full of joy. Life is not all about achieving a goal or destination; its about the journey along the way.
Gods purpose constitutes this journey, and the influential god that guides us is the purpose of god. Atheists have a different view on life, as they believe it holds no meaning or perhaps even detracts from ones existence. Most naturalists however believe that life is what one makes of it and by fulfilling its purpose, it can reduce meaning or even reduce existence if taken to an extreme view. Life has been deployed with one rationale: to live for something other than self-interest; however, this objection does not necessarily mean that life has no meaning. Instead, life should be lived in a way that best fulfills its purpose and gives us joy throughout our journey.
This is because life has an inherent value, and it is our responsibility to find ways to make it meaningful. We should not be obsessed with fate or what God has in store for us, but rather focus on our own values and virtues that will influence our lives’ happiness. The human race should strive to find a satisfactory explanation for the meaning of life by exploring various things, ideas and ways that bring us closer to achieving a fulfilling life. The importance of valuing human life should not be underestimated as each individual’s life can have a major impact on the world around them.
This is one of the main points of the abstract benatar theory which states that our existence, conscious life and potential human life are all worth living, even if our existence is in a political and economic vacuum. The theory also argues that since we have no option but to live, why not make the best of it? We can make adventure out of our own individual stamp and weigh up the potential benefits of our existence against any perceived harms. In doing so, we evaluate the value of our life and give it meaning in the first place. This idea applies to all born forms, albeit to a different degree for each individual.
The force of the abstract Benatar Arguments is that life, in any form, is of a poor quality and that one should accept his arguments to comprehend the nature of existence. His conclusions are particularly interesting as they delve into deep seated presumptions about the value and moral significance of life; rejecting the notion that it has no harm. He is proposing a new view of life in which we accept original negotiators for our own good or for others; something which we can only examine in its context. For this reason, some may reject his views as being deemed of poor quality and difficult to accept. Yet, if we consider a world other than our own, it may be possible to accept his arguments more easily and comprehend its nature without having to reject any notions or views concerning life itself.
Life, in its most basic sense, is the energy that is used to reproduce and sustain living things. Philosophical and religious contemplation of life often ties consciousness, happiness and existence to social ties, while scientific inquiries into life focus on physical and conscious development through deep observation. Reproduction and metabolism are fundamental aspects of life’s meaning; these forces drive growth and reproduction of the species. Life uses energy to maintain itself, but it also uses this energy for its own purposes such as contemplation or pleasure seeking. By understanding the ways in which life uses energy to perpetuate itself, we gain a deeper insight into the nature of existence and our place within it.
Life, in all its complexity and beauty, forms an enduring and incomprehensible chain linking people and other living things. The notion of reality matters because life matters - there is no material difference between cats and people, rocks and silverware, or water and rocks. Each of these distinct categories contains molecules which differentiate it from the inanimate. We find it difficult to find a clean dividing line between animate and inanimate matter; however, existence cannot be denied.
Life, particularly moral virtue, is what makes our own values and gives us a purpose. This view echoes the existentialist view that meaning is something humans can create for themselves. Pleasure and desire satisfaction are important elements of life, which echo todays philosophers as they provide us with a sense of purpose. Humans find meaning in other humans, so it would be interesting to hear what today's philosophers have to say about this idea. It is possible that the lower goods exist in order for us to gain a sense of perspective. An indifferent world does not leave much room for morality or ethics; however, this was one of the most influential arguments made by society that we should hold on to our values and beliefs part of life.