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SilentMastermindINTJ · 06-02-2007, 05:19 PM

I am a secularist and want my decisions to be logical. I think that logic provides the best course of action when considering methods by which to make decisions. So when it comes time to make critical decisions like exactly how to handle complex situations at work, which religions are true or false, and figuring out my political affiliation, logic seems to have the best probability of making the right decision.

There is a problem with this that I see however. If I ask "why do I do this? Why do I do that?" I can come up with logical reasons for each, however there is one question I cannot seem to find a logical answer for. This question is of great importance because all other actions are affected by it. The question is "What is the meaning of life?".

I have heard some atheists and agnostics attempt to answer the question, but their answers so far seem unacceptable or they seem to side-step the question all together. I know Richard Dawkins is one to say that every person creates their own meaning to their life, but I see problems with this. Morals, it would seem, would become relative if that were to happen. Not only that, but if one decides to make "quilting" or "working for the FBI" or "being a good athlete" their purpose in life, it simply raises the same question: "why?".

One might argue that it is to fulfill our desires. Perhaps becoming an athlete is a desire of one person and so they can make that the meaning of their life. I see a problem with this however. It has to do with the value system - why certain things are valued and others are not. Saying that one's purpose is being a good athlete because it is a desire assumes that the desire to do this or that is to be valued. Once again, I am forced to ask "why?". Why should we want to fulfill our desires? What is the reasoning behind it? Is it because doing so makes us happy? That assumes that happiness is to be valued though. Happiness is merely a chemical reaction in the brain though. Why should we value that?

It just seems like the entire concept of 'matter in motion' renders everything useless. Our thoughts, our actions, the things we say, and the people we love are all just atoms. What good is that? Is there any way to bring purpose out of human life with this?

And as a side note, "determinism" is generally what I'm talking about here with the bit about matter in motion.

06-02-2007, 05:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
SilentMastermindINTJ Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2	meaning of life for secularist I am a secularist and want my decisions to be logical. I think that logic provides the best course of action when considering methods by which to make decisions. So when it comes time to make critical decisions like exactly how to handle complex situations at work, which religions are true or false, and figuring out my political affiliation, logic seems to have the best probability of making the right decision. There is a problem with this that I see however. If I ask "why do I do this? Why do I do that?" I can come up with logical reasons for each, however there is one question I cannot seem to find a logical answer for. This question is of great importance because all other actions are affected by it. The question is "What is the meaning of life?". I have heard some atheists and agnostics attempt to answer the question, but their answers so far seem unacceptable or they seem to side-step the question all together. I know Richard Dawkins is one to say that every person creates their own meaning to their life, but I see problems with this. Morals, it would seem, would become relative if that were to happen. Not only that, but if one decides to make "quilting" or "working for the FBI" or "being a good athlete" their purpose in life, it simply raises the same question: "why?". One might argue that it is to fulfill our desires. Perhaps becoming an athlete is a desire of one person and so they can make that the meaning of their life. I see a problem with this however. It has to do with the value system - why certain things are valued and others are not. Saying that one's purpose is being a good athlete because it is a desire assumes that the desire to do this or that is to be valued. Once again, I am forced to ask "why?". Why should we want to fulfill our desires? What is the reasoning behind it? Is it because doing so makes us happy? That assumes that happiness is to be valued though. Happiness is merely a chemical reaction in the brain though. Why should we value that? It just seems like the entire concept of 'matter in motion' renders everything useless. Our thoughts, our actions, the things we say, and the people we love are all just atoms. What good is that? Is there any way to bring purpose out of human life with this? And as a side note, "determinism" is generally what I'm talking about here with the bit about matter in motion.