The Meaning of Life
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 8:51 pm
I do have an answer to the question “What is the meaning of life the Universe and everything?”, but it is a bit of a long read even in a simplified form such as this. I have failed to come up with an argument against it after many years of thought. So I'm putting it “out there” to see if there's anything that I've overlooked.
I use the term “god” for clarification purposes, but as you will come to see (hopefully), a God would not be a god.
God is a frame of reference term:
“My daddy's bigger than your daddy!”
“My king is mightier than your king!”
“My God is greater than your god!”
It is completely understandable how and why, in its infancy, a species of intelligent life would arrive at such a conclusion, given its frame of reference. However; a god is not a good thing, it's the apex of a hierarchical system, and all beneath it are subject to its will. Troop alpha, tribe chieftain, king, president, boss... Frame of reference.
Now for the difficult bit, explaining “the meaning” to people who don't already understand it, and have preconceptions as to its nature.
Firstly, allow me to point out that even if you don't believe or understand it, you'll be fine, but hopefully it's so obvious that you'll think “Why didn't I see that, it's so simple?”. So what is it?
A Universe created by the truly just. - (The term “truly just” may or may not have been used in philosophical works before, but I'm not referencing a prior definition.)
To be worthy of being called a god a being must be truly just, and the truly just have no desire to be looked upon as gods.
Hopefully that's the whole god thing cleared up, but I doubt it, it's very deeply ingrained in some people.
So how does a Universe created by the truly just differ from one created by a god?
And what if the Universe is a completely natural phenomenon?
They are very different questions, but they have the same answer. The truly just do not meddle in the lives of others, that would be unjust. There is some question as to the definition of “meddling” when it comes to a being or beings creating a universe for a purpose, but essentially it means that you have freewill. A system of punishment and reward negates freewill and is therefore unjust. In a just system the wishes of the creator(s) are an irrelevance to the creation. Only the wishes of the creation itself matter. Therefore; created or not, you are free to live as you will, but there is still a massive reward to be had, true happiness. The beauty of it is, that you can choose to find true happiness or not, and that you can only do so for yourself. There is no promise of a greater reward, no carrot, no threat, just a choice.
Unfortunately, happiness is relative. Which may be why such a simple solution to the ultimate question has been overlooked for so long. Most people think that they are perfectly happy. Sure they have good days and bad, but on balance they're happy. If you point out to them that they aren't they will tell you that you're wrong and they're absolutely right. They are happy, but only because they have never experienced true happiness. A bee sting is agony to a small child, and yet to an adult it's just a nuisance, because their exposure to pain has increased.
True happiness is freedom from hate, fear, doubt, anger, jealousy, judgmentalism etc.
True happiness is understanding the nature of life, why things are the way that they are, why bad things happen etc.
True happiness is the meaning of life, the apex of life, everything.
How do you find true happiness?
By becoming truly just.
The circle of life.
How do you become truly just?
Hmm...Would that count as meddling?
I use the term “god” for clarification purposes, but as you will come to see (hopefully), a God would not be a god.
God is a frame of reference term:
“My daddy's bigger than your daddy!”
“My king is mightier than your king!”
“My God is greater than your god!”
It is completely understandable how and why, in its infancy, a species of intelligent life would arrive at such a conclusion, given its frame of reference. However; a god is not a good thing, it's the apex of a hierarchical system, and all beneath it are subject to its will. Troop alpha, tribe chieftain, king, president, boss... Frame of reference.
Now for the difficult bit, explaining “the meaning” to people who don't already understand it, and have preconceptions as to its nature.
Firstly, allow me to point out that even if you don't believe or understand it, you'll be fine, but hopefully it's so obvious that you'll think “Why didn't I see that, it's so simple?”. So what is it?
A Universe created by the truly just. - (The term “truly just” may or may not have been used in philosophical works before, but I'm not referencing a prior definition.)
To be worthy of being called a god a being must be truly just, and the truly just have no desire to be looked upon as gods.
Hopefully that's the whole god thing cleared up, but I doubt it, it's very deeply ingrained in some people.
So how does a Universe created by the truly just differ from one created by a god?
And what if the Universe is a completely natural phenomenon?
They are very different questions, but they have the same answer. The truly just do not meddle in the lives of others, that would be unjust. There is some question as to the definition of “meddling” when it comes to a being or beings creating a universe for a purpose, but essentially it means that you have freewill. A system of punishment and reward negates freewill and is therefore unjust. In a just system the wishes of the creator(s) are an irrelevance to the creation. Only the wishes of the creation itself matter. Therefore; created or not, you are free to live as you will, but there is still a massive reward to be had, true happiness. The beauty of it is, that you can choose to find true happiness or not, and that you can only do so for yourself. There is no promise of a greater reward, no carrot, no threat, just a choice.
Unfortunately, happiness is relative. Which may be why such a simple solution to the ultimate question has been overlooked for so long. Most people think that they are perfectly happy. Sure they have good days and bad, but on balance they're happy. If you point out to them that they aren't they will tell you that you're wrong and they're absolutely right. They are happy, but only because they have never experienced true happiness. A bee sting is agony to a small child, and yet to an adult it's just a nuisance, because their exposure to pain has increased.
True happiness is freedom from hate, fear, doubt, anger, jealousy, judgmentalism etc.
True happiness is understanding the nature of life, why things are the way that they are, why bad things happen etc.
True happiness is the meaning of life, the apex of life, everything.
How do you find true happiness?
By becoming truly just.
The circle of life.
How do you become truly just?
Hmm...Would that count as meddling?