Shifting Gears #6: 42

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Shifting Gears #6: 42 Shifting Gears #6: 42 Feraco Feraco Myth to Science Fiction Myth to Science Fiction 30 April 2010 30 April 2010

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Shifting Gears #6: 42. Feraco Myth to Science Fiction 30 April 2010. What is the Meaning of Life?. I Can’t Answer That For You The Good Left Undone A Different Kind of Dualism The Good That We Do What If Nothing Matters? Considerations and Schools of Thought It’s Someone Else’s Choice - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Shifting Gears #6: 42

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Shifting Gears #6: 42Shifting Gears #6: 42

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

30 April 201030 April 2010

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What is the Meaning of Life?What is the Meaning of Life?

I Can’t Answer That For YouI Can’t Answer That For You The Good Left UndoneThe Good Left Undone A Different Kind of DualismA Different Kind of Dualism The Good That We DoThe Good That We Do What If Nothing Matters?What If Nothing Matters? Considerations and Schools of ThoughtConsiderations and Schools of Thought It’s Someone Else’s Choice It’s Someone Else’s Choice It’s All Up to MeIt’s All Up to Me No, Nothing MattersNo, Nothing Matters What If Everything Matters?What If Everything Matters? A Constant Work in ProgressA Constant Work in Progress

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An Old Question to Start Us OffAn Old Question to Start Us Off Something left unstated during our death Something left unstated during our death

lecture – albeit something that most are lecture – albeit something that most are already aware of – is the fact that time already aware of – is the fact that time marches on without you once you pass marches on without you once you pass awayaway

Your children will age, your spouse will Your children will age, your spouse will die, and new generations you’ll never die, and new generations you’ll never meet will rise and fallmeet will rise and fall

Would you want to outlive your parents? Would you want to outlive your parents? Your siblings?Your siblings? Your spouse?Your spouse? Your children?Your children? ““Tuck Everlasting”Tuck Everlasting”

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A Twist on Another QuestionA Twist on Another Question

Assuming there’s something Assuming there’s something awaiting you after death – and awaiting you after death – and assuming you won’t begin another assuming you won’t begin another iteration of the Samsara cycle iteration of the Samsara cycle immediately – would you want to be immediately – would you want to be able to affect the present from able to affect the present from beyond? beyond?

Would you want your widow to Would you want your widow to remarry?remarry?

““The Lady, or the Tiger?”The Lady, or the Tiger?”

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The Starter QuestionsThe Starter Questions

Are you afraid that you won’t have enough Are you afraid that you won’t have enough time to do the things you dream of doing, time to do the things you dream of doing, or to follow through on your best or to follow through on your best intentions?intentions?

We’ve talked about the possibilities for We’ve talked about the possibilities for what lay beyond, and even allowed you to what lay beyond, and even allowed you to design your own Valhalladesign your own Valhalla

What would the worst part about dying What would the worst part about dying be? What do you fear you’ll miss?be? What do you fear you’ll miss?

Do thoughts of “the good left undone” Do thoughts of “the good left undone” ever give you pause?ever give you pause?

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A Different DualismA Different Dualism The dualists – the interactionists, anyway The dualists – the interactionists, anyway

– insist that there’s an interactive – insist that there’s an interactive relationship between our bodies and our relationship between our bodies and our soulssouls

I propose that a similarly dualistic I propose that a similarly dualistic relationship exists between our attitudes relationship exists between our attitudes towards death and lifetowards death and life

People who are truly terrified about life People who are truly terrified about life after death – say, those who are convinced after death – say, those who are convinced they’re going to do something during life they’re going to do something during life that they’ll pay for in death – probably that they’ll pay for in death – probably aren’t going to live boldlyaren’t going to live boldly

If you fear long-lasting consequences, will If you fear long-lasting consequences, will you still take risks?you still take risks?

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The Good That We DoThe Good That We Do

I have also mentioned that we often I have also mentioned that we often do good things for odd reasons – in do good things for odd reasons – in order to avoid a negative order to avoid a negative consequence, for example, rather consequence, for example, rather than out of a genuine sense of than out of a genuine sense of goodnessgoodness

Don’t behave cruelly, or the guilt will Don’t behave cruelly, or the guilt will haunt youhaunt you

Some of you only do your homework Some of you only do your homework because you recognize the because you recognize the consequences of giving away pointsconsequences of giving away points

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The REAL Starter QuestionThe REAL Starter Question Is that the purpose of life?Is that the purpose of life? Eighty years of avoiding negative Eighty years of avoiding negative

consequences long enough to make it to consequences long enough to make it to the next day?the next day?

Eighty years of “resume-building”?Eighty years of “resume-building”? I may be young and fairly inexperienced, I may be young and fairly inexperienced,

with a whole lot left to learn, but I’m with a whole lot left to learn, but I’m reluctant to believe that the ultimate reluctant to believe that the ultimate meaning of my life is so narrowmeaning of my life is so narrow

So that’s my starting point: We’ll build on So that’s my starting point: We’ll build on survivalsurvival

What is the meaning of life beyond self-What is the meaning of life beyond self-perpetuation?perpetuation?

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Feraco Shares Opinions! ZOMGFeraco Shares Opinions! ZOMG I tend to take a lighter view of humanity than I tend to take a lighter view of humanity than

many of you; I don’t believe that we’re naturally many of you; I don’t believe that we’re naturally evilevil

I used to teach SFHPI used to teach SFHP If I believed humans were naturally evil, what would If I believed humans were naturally evil, what would

“human potential” even mean?“human potential” even mean? I think that we do good things for a lot of weird I think that we do good things for a lot of weird

reasons – but that we do good things for the right reasons – but that we do good things for the right reasons as wellreasons as well

I don’t think creatures of evil could even I don’t think creatures of evil could even conceive of some of our treasured concepts – conceive of some of our treasured concepts – love, preservation, loyalty, curiositylove, preservation, loyalty, curiosity

What I wonder, then, is whether these admirable What I wonder, then, is whether these admirable qualities give us a clue about what the ultimate qualities give us a clue about what the ultimate meaning of life actually is – assuming one exists, meaning of life actually is – assuming one exists, of courseof course

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Meaning and MeaninglessnessMeaning and Meaninglessness

What are we considering when we set out What are we considering when we set out to study the “meaning” of life?to study the “meaning” of life?

For one thing, we have to take an honest For one thing, we have to take an honest look at the possibility that life is look at the possibility that life is meaningless – that not only were the meaningless – that not only were the monists right about human existence monists right about human existence (with regards to the afterlife, not with (with regards to the afterlife, not with regards to the “everything-is-made-out-regards to the “everything-is-made-out-of-the-same-stuff” business), but that of-the-same-stuff” business), but that there’s not even any meaning to the there’s not even any meaning to the existence you’re currently enjoyingexistence you’re currently enjoying

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Space Creatures and Life Space Creatures and Life MeaningsMeanings By doing so, however, we confront a variation on By doing so, however, we confront a variation on

an old theme: How do you prove something an old theme: How do you prove something that’s this abstract doesn’t exist?that’s this abstract doesn’t exist?

It’s like saying “There’s never been – and will It’s like saying “There’s never been – and will never be – a creature who can survive in the never be – a creature who can survive in the vacuum of outer space.”vacuum of outer space.”

Really? Never? In all of the universe?Really? Never? In all of the universe? How can I possibly prove that with any degree of How can I possibly prove that with any degree of

verifiability?verifiability? We also need to examine whether something else We also need to examine whether something else

confers purpose onto us – or whether the confers purpose onto us – or whether the meaning of our own lives is within the realm of meaning of our own lives is within the realm of our controlour control

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Back to Teleology…Back to Teleology…

It’s worth noting that this is a teleological It’s worth noting that this is a teleological question (remember them?)question (remember them?)

After all, teleological operating philosophy After all, teleological operating philosophy doesn’t just assign one purpose to life – it doesn’t just assign one purpose to life – it assigns multiple ones in the form of goalsassigns multiple ones in the form of goals

Teleologists can believe in an external force that Teleologists can believe in an external force that confers meaning on people, and they can believe confers meaning on people, and they can believe that we create our own meaningsthat we create our own meanings

You can also talk about You can also talk about nihilistsnihilists – those who – those who believe life is fundamentally, unchangeably believe life is fundamentally, unchangeably meaningless, and that nothing we do, say, or meaningless, and that nothing we do, say, or think matters (or ever has mattered)think matters (or ever has mattered)

They’re the flip side of teleology – no goal is They’re the flip side of teleology – no goal is meaningful at allmeaningful at all

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Purpose by DesignPurpose by Design

On the other hand, some belief meaning On the other hand, some belief meaning arrives from outside of usarrives from outside of us

If If meaningmeaning is conferred upon my life is conferred upon my life (whether it’s some sort of “omni force” or (whether it’s some sort of “omni force” or not), does this infringe on my right to free not), does this infringe on my right to free will – and, in turn, my ability to make will – and, in turn, my ability to make choiceschoices according to a according to a moralitymorality of my of my design that lead to a sense of design that lead to a sense of happinesshappiness that’s my own?that’s my own? Four of our questions at once!Four of our questions at once!

This sort of thing would be purpose by This sort of thing would be purpose by designdesign

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Does It Infringe?Does It Infringe?

Well, not necessarilyWell, not necessarily The conditions are set, but not the resultThe conditions are set, but not the result All we’ve specified is that something else All we’ve specified is that something else

is in charge of your life’s purpose – and is in charge of your life’s purpose – and not, say, whether that purpose is to not, say, whether that purpose is to discover new things via the exercising of discover new things via the exercising of your free willyour free will

In other words, saying something else In other words, saying something else gives you purpose doesn’t wash your gives you purpose doesn’t wash your hands of responsibility – for better or for hands of responsibility – for better or for worseworse

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Meaning of MeaningMeaning of Meaning

Conversely, saying that we’re in Conversely, saying that we’re in charge of our own life’s purpose isn’t charge of our own life’s purpose isn’t an argument that such purposes are an argument that such purposes are somehow arbitrarysomehow arbitrary

In fact, the idea of an arbitrary In fact, the idea of an arbitrary purpose is somewhat weird – since, purpose is somewhat weird – since, after all, something has to be after all, something has to be meaningless or purposeless to be meaningless or purposeless to be arbitraryarbitrary

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The CallingThe Calling

The idea of a person “finding his calling” can The idea of a person “finding his calling” can work both wayswork both ways

It can mean he needs time to figure out what It can mean he needs time to figure out what he’s supposed to dohe’s supposed to do

It can mean he needs time to figure out what It can mean he needs time to figure out what he’s good at, or what we want to do – and he’s good at, or what we want to do – and whether those things can be meaningful enough whether those things can be meaningful enough to sustain himto sustain him

Think of how often college kids change their Think of how often college kids change their majors!majors!

Think of how often professionals switch lines of Think of how often professionals switch lines of work!work!

Again, this can seem arbitrary – but it can also Again, this can seem arbitrary – but it can also seem like a logical processseem like a logical process

It all depends on whether you believe “purpose” It all depends on whether you believe “purpose” is staticis static

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Back to NihilismBack to Nihilism

Nihilists want you to accept that life Nihilists want you to accept that life is fundamentally meaninglessis fundamentally meaningless

They argue that there’s no great They argue that there’s no great scheme, no grand purpose, to you or scheme, no grand purpose, to you or anything elseanything else

Nihilists say everything is arbitraryNihilists say everything is arbitrary We are random and alone, have We are random and alone, have

always been and always will bealways been and always will be There are no universal moral values There are no universal moral values

that humans should holdthat humans should hold

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Without Purpose…Without Purpose…

While faith isn’t necessary for While faith isn’t necessary for morality, purpose seems to be – for morality, purpose seems to be – for morality, in many cases, seems to be morality, in many cases, seems to be about upholding one’s ability to about upholding one’s ability to fulfill his/her purpose, or to avoid fulfill his/her purpose, or to avoid harming others in their quest to do harming others in their quest to do the samethe same

Without purpose, without meaning – Without purpose, without meaning – what’s the point of a moral system? what’s the point of a moral system? What are we even trying to protect?What are we even trying to protect?

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Nothing More to Say About Nothing More to Say About NothingNothing There’s really nothing more to say about nihilism There’s really nothing more to say about nihilism

– either you buy into the idea that there’s no – either you buy into the idea that there’s no meaning to life (think monism stripped of meaning to life (think monism stripped of purpose) or you don’tpurpose) or you don’t

We can’t really spend too much time on it, other We can’t really spend too much time on it, other than to wonder about the hypothetical than to wonder about the hypothetical consequences if nihilism is correctconsequences if nihilism is correct

After all, we talked about how morality would be After all, we talked about how morality would be impacted by either an affirmative or dissuasive impacted by either an affirmative or dissuasive knowledge of what awaits us beyond deathknowledge of what awaits us beyond death

It could make morality easier – or people would It could make morality easier – or people would still be tempted to push the limits and see what still be tempted to push the limits and see what they can get away withthey can get away with

What would happen if we What would happen if we knewknew that that nothingnothing really mattered?really mattered?

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Back from the BrinkBack from the Brink If purpose and meaning If purpose and meaning areare conferred upon us, conferred upon us,

what are some conceivable meanings?what are some conceivable meanings? Perhaps to generously provide for othersPerhaps to generously provide for others Perhaps to search for answers and questionsPerhaps to search for answers and questions Perhaps to teach and guide those around usPerhaps to teach and guide those around us Perhaps to improve and evolve, physically and Perhaps to improve and evolve, physically and

emotionallyemotionally Perhaps to carry on in our predecessors’ Perhaps to carry on in our predecessors’

footsteps, or to protect our heritagefootsteps, or to protect our heritage Perhaps to find peace and serenityPerhaps to find peace and serenity Any others?Any others? Is purpose unique for every being, or is there a Is purpose unique for every being, or is there a

unified meaning of human existence?unified meaning of human existence?

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The Questions…The Questions…

Do you feel like you understand the Do you feel like you understand the meaning of your life?meaning of your life?

If you don’t yet, do you feel like you’ll If you don’t yet, do you feel like you’ll get it someday?get it someday?

Is life meant to be complicated? A Is life meant to be complicated? A constant work in progress? Is it meant constant work in progress? Is it meant to be “solved”?to be “solved”?

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Chaos!Chaos! We’ve joked/observed throughout the unit We’ve joked/observed throughout the unit

that humans seem to gravitate towards that humans seem to gravitate towards chaos – that we complicate things chaos – that we complicate things unnecessarily, that we love questioningunnecessarily, that we love questioning

However, that same tendency towards However, that same tendency towards chaos might be what keeps us from chaos might be what keeps us from stagnating – might even be what makes stagnating – might even be what makes life worth living after alllife worth living after all

The very chaos that nihilists cite as reason The very chaos that nihilists cite as reason to believe that none of this matters could to believe that none of this matters could very well be the reason everything doesvery well be the reason everything does

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A Constant Work in ProgressA Constant Work in Progress

““I often wonder if I'll ever finish all I often wonder if I'll ever finish all I've started, and the answer I have I've started, and the answer I have found is found is no!no! No, I will never finish all No, I will never finish all that I have started because life is that I have started because life is about about doingdoing – the process – not the – the process – not the result…My life’s a constant work in result…My life’s a constant work in progress, and I wouldn't have it any progress, and I wouldn't have it any other way.”other way.”

Set Your Goals,Set Your Goals, “Work in Progress”“Work in Progress”

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Back to the Star…Back to the Star…

We began this semester by talking We began this semester by talking about the five points of a single star: about the five points of a single star: enlightenment, independence, enlightenment, independence, identity, security, and loveidentity, security, and love

None of our existential questions is None of our existential questions is about one of these points…and yet, about one of these points…and yet, at the same, all of them areat the same, all of them are

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The Star and the GearsThe Star and the Gears Isn’t the question about choice really Isn’t the question about choice really

about independence and identity?about independence and identity? Isn’t the question about morality really Isn’t the question about morality really

about identity and (mutual) security?about identity and (mutual) security? Isn’t the question about happiness really Isn’t the question about happiness really

about independence and identity?about independence and identity? Isn’t the question about the soul really Isn’t the question about the soul really

about love and identity?about love and identity? Isn’t the question about death really Isn’t the question about death really

about love, identity, and security?about love, identity, and security? And isn’t this question – about the And isn’t this question – about the

meaning of life – really about the whole meaning of life – really about the whole thing?thing?

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The Star and the CubeThe Star and the Cube Life seems to be a wonderful, endlessly Life seems to be a wonderful, endlessly

fascinating puzzle, like Wall-E’s Rubik’s Cube – fascinating puzzle, like Wall-E’s Rubik’s Cube – full of trade-offs and mysteries to be solved, full of trade-offs and mysteries to be solved, happiness to be won, and new frontiers to crosshappiness to be won, and new frontiers to cross

Our myths and dystopias dare to ask the Our myths and dystopias dare to ask the questions we need to ask ourselves along the questions we need to ask ourselves along the wayway If our dreams came true…would we be worthy? Would If our dreams came true…would we be worthy? Would

we be ready?we be ready? If humanity is meant to improve, If humanity is meant to improve, how can we get better how can we get better

without losing who we arewithout losing who we are?? I appreciate progress, treasure it, learn from it…I appreciate progress, treasure it, learn from it…

but never settle for itbut never settle for it If we’re going to build a better world, we can’t If we’re going to build a better world, we can’t

cheat when challenged by the cubecheat when challenged by the cube Solve a puzzle, and start another…because my Solve a puzzle, and start another…because my

life means more than 42life means more than 42

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