Purpose, Existence, and Reason

August 6th

If we look at the lives of most people, it seems that man is a creature who has been created like a plant to absorb various juices, to grow and develop, to procreate, and then finally to grow old and die. If this is the case, of all living creatures man fulfills his purpose least effectively, because he makes use of his extraordinary abilities to achieve goals which all other creatures can attain with much greater success and certainty.

After Kant

Everything lives together and everything lives separately; people live separately, as do worms. And every separate individual sees himself as living a separate life, and demands from life everything for himself alone. Yet, in the mean time, all these individual separate beings are approaching ever closer to their death, to the annihilation of their separate existences.

This contradiction would be insoluble if there were no reason in the world. But man possesses reason, and this reason makes nonsense of the contradiction.

Tolstoy

When a life is based on reason it is like someone carrying a lantern stretched out far ahead of him to light his way. This man will never reach the end of the illuminated section in front of him, as it will always precede him. This is a life based on reason, and it is only with such a life that there can be no death, because the lantern will continue unfailingly to light the way ahead until the very last moment, and you will continue to follow it as serenely as you have done all your life.

Tolstoy

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These quotes get a little heady, so here’s my simplified paraphrase:

1- Humans have great abilities, but we often use them in ways that might not fulfill our true purpose as well as simpler creatures do.

2- Each of us sees our life as separate, but we all face the same reality of eventually dying. Thinking logically helps us understand and accept this.

3- Using reason is like carrying a lantern that lights our way through life. It helps us stay calm and focused, even when things are uncertain or challenging.

These quotes encourage us to think about how we use our abilities, understand our place in the world, and use reason to live a more thoughtful and peaceful life.

Lets reflect:

Am I using my abilities in ways that truly align with my deeper purpose in life? How can I ensure that my actions and goals reflect my unique strengths and values? In what ways can I learn from simpler creatures in terms of fulfilling basic purposes effectively? What role does logic and reason play in helping me accept the inevitable aspects of life, such as aging and death? How effectively do I use reason as a guiding principle in my decision-making and life choices? What steps can I take to enhance my ability to stay calm and focused amid life's uncertainties and challenges?

SDG

-Ryan Parmenter