The Meaning of Life (MOL): Nothing’s Changed—Give Life Meaning?
July 28th 2010 00:42
Most of us if not all will ask the question at some point during their time on this planet. The big question has been the subject of theological and philosophical study for millennia and pondered by some of history’s greatest minds, all searching for the answer: ‘what’s the meaning of life?
Has anything changed?
What Religion and Science tells us
‘Science can only determine what is, but not what shall be, and beyond its realm, value judgements remain indispensable. Religion, on the other hand, is concerned only with evaluating human thought and actions; it is not qualified to speak of real facts and the relationships between them.’
Albert Einstein
In other words, science deals in the here and now, tangible reality.
Religion, on the other hand, deals with the intangible, the spirit world, predictions of the future and the afterlife.
From the beginning ancient societies sought to explain the mystery of death, namely what happens thereafter? The afterlife doctrines (to group them under a heading) came into being through the first shamans, witchdoctors, medicine men, and Egyptian priests. Then the Bible prophets wrote their Books. The apostles told of how Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammad, walked the earth. The Imams, bishops, monks and priests defined doctrine and dogma. And there is religion, self-perpetuating explanations regarding the mysteries of death and beyond.
Science, on the other hand, tells us through biological study that death is the end, our body shuts down and lights out. There are evidential anomalies i.e. the presence of a spirit world and mediums like John Edwards, for example. But in the main for those purely secular souls, death is the accepted finale to life.
Obviously the MOL question delineates at this point for there are those that believe in God/a god and an afterlife, and those that don’t. If one does, then purpose and meaning will extend beyond the physical reality of life. If one doesn’t, of course, meaning can only come from reality itself, whatever form that may take. There is no other.
What Does History Tell Us about the MOL?
‘There is properly no history; only biography.’
Ralph Waldo Emerson
History is about people then, the pharaohs, Caesars, emperors, kings and queens, political rulers, great men and women. They created history by their deeds, whether good or bad.
What do the lives of these historic icons teach of life’s meaning, that they had a vision, a desire to change their world, and strove for it with all their heart, mind and soul? Caesar, Alexander, Constantine, Ghandi, Martin Luther to name but a few went before. The famous painter Vincent van Gogh, affirmed: “One must work and dare if one really wants to live”.
Obviously the great men and women of history dared, they remained true to the single-minded pursuit of a dream, and in so doing, gave their lives a sense of purpose, meaning and fulfilment.
‘If one really wants to live’, apparently it’s there for the taking.
The Final Word: Philosophers and Centenarians
‘Wisdom is organised life.’
Emmanuel Kant
A man of reason and logic, two base-elements of wisdom, the great philosopher Emmanuel Kant equates the acquisition of this much-desired trait to the living of an organised life. What is an organised life if not one of purpose and meaning?
‘Purpose-filled’ is a common and seemingly immutable theme throughout the MOL question. Rising above nature and mere survival humans know that everything may not happen as planned; there is an element of chaos, however, more importantly, is the knowledge they can influence certain outcomes in their favour, whether that be for themselves, for God, or a God. This is the so-called ‘secret’, living a purposeful life, one employed by great men and women down through the centuries.
For us ordinary folk, the final word has to be one of experience. And who better to answer the question of ‘what’s it all about’ than those who have lived it. The elderly have told and continue to tell—just ask one— that it’s about ‘staying active’ or ‘keeping busy’. Of course family and friends are very important, but impressions can vary greatly with individual experience, and when we ask the MOL question of someone, we can only expect an individualistic answer.
The words of particularly active centenarian seemed to sum up the whole MOL issue, who after being told by their doctor they would be bedridden from that point on, said:
“It’s time to go.”
Has anything changed?
What Religion and Science tells us
‘Science can only determine what is, but not what shall be, and beyond its realm, value judgements remain indispensable. Religion, on the other hand, is concerned only with evaluating human thought and actions; it is not qualified to speak of real facts and the relationships between them.’
In other words, science deals in the here and now, tangible reality.
Religion, on the other hand, deals with the intangible, the spirit world, predictions of the future and the afterlife.
From the beginning ancient societies sought to explain the mystery of death, namely what happens thereafter? The afterlife doctrines (to group them under a heading) came into being through the first shamans, witchdoctors, medicine men, and Egyptian priests. Then the Bible prophets wrote their Books. The apostles told of how Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammad, walked the earth. The Imams, bishops, monks and priests defined doctrine and dogma. And there is religion, self-perpetuating explanations regarding the mysteries of death and beyond.
Science, on the other hand, tells us through biological study that death is the end, our body shuts down and lights out. There are evidential anomalies i.e. the presence of a spirit world and mediums like John Edwards, for example. But in the main for those purely secular souls, death is the accepted finale to life.
Obviously the MOL question delineates at this point for there are those that believe in God/a god and an afterlife, and those that don’t. If one does, then purpose and meaning will extend beyond the physical reality of life. If one doesn’t, of course, meaning can only come from reality itself, whatever form that may take. There is no other.
What Does History Tell Us about the MOL?
‘There is properly no history; only biography.’
Ralph Waldo Emerson
History is about people then, the pharaohs, Caesars, emperors, kings and queens, political rulers, great men and women. They created history by their deeds, whether good or bad.
What do the lives of these historic icons teach of life’s meaning, that they had a vision, a desire to change their world, and strove for it with all their heart, mind and soul? Caesar, Alexander, Constantine, Ghandi, Martin Luther to name but a few went before. The famous painter Vincent van Gogh, affirmed: “One must work and dare if one really wants to live”.
Obviously the great men and women of history dared, they remained true to the single-minded pursuit of a dream, and in so doing, gave their lives a sense of purpose, meaning and fulfilment.
‘If one really wants to live’, apparently it’s there for the taking.
The Final Word: Philosophers and Centenarians
‘Wisdom is organised life.’
Emmanuel Kant
A man of reason and logic, two base-elements of wisdom, the great philosopher Emmanuel Kant equates the acquisition of this much-desired trait to the living of an organised life. What is an organised life if not one of purpose and meaning?
‘Purpose-filled’ is a common and seemingly immutable theme throughout the MOL question. Rising above nature and mere survival humans know that everything may not happen as planned; there is an element of chaos, however, more importantly, is the knowledge they can influence certain outcomes in their favour, whether that be for themselves, for God, or a God. This is the so-called ‘secret’, living a purposeful life, one employed by great men and women down through the centuries.
For us ordinary folk, the final word has to be one of experience. And who better to answer the question of ‘what’s it all about’ than those who have lived it. The elderly have told and continue to tell—just ask one— that it’s about ‘staying active’ or ‘keeping busy’. Of course family and friends are very important, but impressions can vary greatly with individual experience, and when we ask the MOL question of someone, we can only expect an individualistic answer.
The words of particularly active centenarian seemed to sum up the whole MOL issue, who after being told by their doctor they would be bedridden from that point on, said:
“It’s time to go.”
| 94 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
