Is it simply for the biological purpose of continuing the species?
This is a major misunderstanding of evolution and the universe in general. Biology has no purpose and neither does evolution. Evolution is just another scientific law. You put sodium and chlorine together you get salt. Not because somebody needs salt, or finds sodium or chlorine dangerous they are simply more stable as salt than separate. A species that is effective in filling an ecological niche has no purpose in filling the niche, but is a stable solution. The fact that filling the niche well increases the welfare and continuation of the species is a result not a purpose.
I have to find some other purpose in life than continuing the species because frankly a large part of my species is not worth continuing. Therefore I find purpose starting very locally. There are people whose welfare is integral with my own. They provide me with the intellectual challenge, love, sustenance and fun that makes my life worth living. By making my purpose to provide the same for those others I get a nice feedback loop that increases worth of all our lives. Although this starts locally, as one recognizes the importance of people outside of the face group ones purpose must expand as well to take into account the larger world one is a part of.
2 comments:
I agree that "continuing the species" is an undesireable and unnecessary purpose for one's life. The germ plasm does a fine job of perpetuating the species and also effectively discards those bodies that are inefficient or not adaptable enough to survive.
I like your explanation and descriptions of "purpose." For me, I have adopted these throughout my life:
1. Affirm the worth, dignity and autonomy of the individual and enable the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. Accept and perform the
duty of care to all of humanity including future generations.
2. Seek to use science creatively, not destructively. The solutions to the world's problems lie in human thought and action rather than divine intervention. Apply the methods of science and free inquiry to the problems of human welfare, but science and technology must be tempered by human values. Science gives us the means but human values must propose the ends.
3. Personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility. Recognize our dependence on and responsibility for the natural world. Always remain committed to education free from indoctrination.
4. Recognize that reliable knowledge of the world and ourselves arises through a continuing process. of observation, evaluation and revision.
5. Value artistic creativity and imagination and recognize the transforming power of art. Always remember the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfilment.
5. Aim at the maximum possible fulfilment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living, never avoiding but always addressing the challenges of our times.
6. By utilising free inquiry, the power of science and creative imagination for the furtherance of peace and in the service of compassion, we have confidence that we have the means to solve the problems that confront us all.
We call upon all who share this conviction to associate themselves with us in this endeavour.
Nice set of algorithms for living, EI. Incomplete as all concise summaries must be. Other than the Humanist tag on the end of 1 I don't see much to argue with.
By the way, who is the we in the coda?
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