Quest for Purpose: An Idea

[KingCrimson250]

I was thinking of something interesting lately, and I thought I'd share it here. Bear in mind that I am fairly, I'm not sure how to describe it. Dialectically minded, I suppose you could say. Anyway, I think best by interaction with other people. I don't know how to explain it, it's just the way my mind works. I guess the point is that this isn't saying "Aha! I've found the ultimate truth here, everyone listen to me!" and then you offer rebuttals, it's more of a "Here, I've thought of this, what do you think of it? As an argument, what are it's strengths? What are it's weaknesses?" I'm not really going to get into a point-for-point debate as that's not what I'm looking for. I just find it easier to analyze my own ideas when I'm sharing them with others, if that makes sense. I think by talking, I guess you could say.

Anyway, I'm just wondering. Many people seem to desire that their lives have some sort of meaning. For the most part, people want to do something that is fulfilling, people become despondent when they feel they have no purpose, people who are aimless become distressed and are often outcast from society, etc. I'm sure I don't need to cite specific examples here. My question is: Why? If there is no God, if mankind were to just be the product of random chance, then would it not seem logical that random chance is a perfectly natural state of affairs for humans? If we just happen to exist, and there's no real purpose for us, we just are, then what is it that causes mankind to desire purpose? If our only objective is to recreate, then why do we desire things beyond food, shelter, and sex? I understand that someone who is particularly cynical could attempt to reduce our world to a glorified pursuit of those three things but I feel that is over-simplifying things.

To me it seems that mankind's general need for purpose is incongruent with the notion that there is no over-arching purpose to life. If you feel that there is no God, gods, supreme force, or greater teleological movement (etc, etc), then where did this idea of "purpose" or "meaning" come from? Why is it so prevalent? What are your thoughts on this?

Again, this isn't my way of saying "Take that, atheists! I've got you now!" I just find it easier to think through external dialogue than through internal monologue, if that makes sense. So anything you could say, whether it is supporting the argument or attacking it, would be helpful, so long as it is constructive and respectful.

 

[R3quiem]

It's hard to say for sure, and I'm sure you'll have a ton of different answers, but here is me speculating.

As far as I can tell, other animals on this earth do not require "purpose" because purpose is an abstract concept that they do not grasp. Their minds are content to do what they do- eat, drink, reproduce, protect their young, play, rest, etc. They do not seem to have the ability to think long into the future, so they are focused immediately on the present- what is comfortable for themselves now.

Humans, however, have evolved the capacity for abstract thought and with it the ability to think about the future. (Because this abstraction allows us to define things such as "future" that those without abstract thought cannot describe.) Apparently we evolved this abstract thought over time because it was advantageous to our survival.

The upsides of abstract thought our many. We can prepare for the future, communicate very detailed messages with each other, construct tools that are very complex in design, and solve all sorts of challenging problems.

The downside of abstract thought is that since we can fathom the future, we understand the concept that we will one day die. I'm not sure if any other animals have that knowledge about themselves. (I hear elephants might, as there are claims that they go to elephant graveyards when their time is almost up, but I'm not sure if that is a myth, a partial reality, or a statement of fact.) Regardless if any other animals have this ability, its is obvious that the human's understanding that he will one day die is very apparent.

It would be a shame for a creature to evolve abstract thought, build all sorts of complex solutions to their problems, and then go extinct because this abstract thought led them to the realization that they will one day die, and so all that they build is for nothing, and so they stopped building.

A defense against this sort of downfall would be some sort of sense of purpose. Physical traits aren't the only things that are evolved- mental instincts and workings are evolved traits as well. Races of people all over the world have believed in many different types of afterlife, as well as many philosophies that grant "purpose" to life during this life without the need for an afterlife concept. Humans function off of this. It keeps them going, keeps them progressing, and keeps them alive.

Just a thought.