Pursuit of meaning

[Vincent Vega]

I think that humans are born existential in nature (in pursuit of some meaning). However, along our course (which is largely believed to be pre-determined), the thought of questioning our existence is lost. Why should we question anything when we are so wise in the ways of the world? We can build skyscrapers, develop the latest gizmos, send man into space, and destroy entire nations with the press of a button. Yet we, the wise, cannot cure imperialism, suffering, disease, poverty, hunger, over population, and racism, which are all at the heart of the human condition. We become so absorbed by how we should live, that we forget to live altogether. And we conveniently forget to ask that which is most fundamental to our existence, “What is the meaning of life?"

In our adolescence, we as children are like probing machines with tentacles trying to decipher the meaning of everything. We want to touch, taste, smell, and feel everything. We have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. The one recurring question asked (which is primordially existential in nature) is “why?”, which is always followed up with another “why?". “Why are we here?” “Who are we?" and “what is the meaning of life?’ The world that surrounds us is mysterious and confusing place, and we need to make sense of it all. Of course it’s much the same with adults, but most adults would never concede that they do not know the answer by simply choosing to ignore it.

I suppose you want my answer to the meaning of life. I personally believe the meaning of life is infinite, as is our universe. This could mean that it is devoid of meaning altogether, in the sense that we can never attain it's true meaning, which in itself serves a greater purpose. The meaning of life should remain an endless and perhaps even futile pursuit. What if we did not like the answers that we seek? If we somehow did know the meaning of life, it would mean that everything would suddenly become pre-determined, we would now have the answer to everything. And if everything is pre-determined, we then no longer have “choice”, which is a fundamental element to our existence. And without choice we can never achieve “inner freedom” and so on and so forth. We do not know everything, or possibly anything at all, and that maybe a very good thing.

-NS
Switzerland

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[kevin]

We can build skyscrapers, develop the latest gizmos, send man into space, and destroy entire nations with the press of a button. Yet we, the wise, cannot cure imperialism, suffering, disease, poverty, hunger, over population, and racism, which are all at the heart of the human condition. We become so absorbed by how we should live, that we forget to live altogether.

Something about that quote is bothering me. I might be just thinking too hard, but it just seems wrong. I don't know, skyscrapers, gizmos, space travel, and all that is stuff we build. Imperialsm, suffering, disease, poverty, hunger, racism, over population, those are all just states of mind. maybe not hunger, but you sure can't build food, not like we built technology. But it is all what we do to ourselves. not something we can cure, without curing yourself, which basically can be cured by a good spanking when you were young.

And about the forgetting to live altogether... isn't wondering how you should live a good thing? for example, "should i get a better job?" "I should exercise more"... the "shoulds" in life are what make you live. I can see what you mean if you are meaning the "should" as in "i should live more according to society"...

anyway, i may have made myself sound incredibly stupid just now, but carry on.