Hi Tim et al
No time but I dislike the use of purpose too. The only ‘purpose’, in my
view, of any form of life is to integrate into the ecosystem (& survive and
replicate, of course, although I have no kids so I have more to say on that wrt
humans).
It is we who attach purpose – it’s not inherent in the organism. I don’t
know why so many people need some higher purpose than just the mind-blowing fact
we’re here at all! Humans differ to other animals (as far as we know) due to
their level of forethought & awareness of cause & effect (when it suits
us!) and so on.
Anyway, I am fascinated by this topic but it’s too removed from my usual
spheres of work to devote much time to it – ‘Zen & the art of motorcycle
maintenance’ is about as much philosophy as I can handle.
btw Tim, I’m on both this list & SGR so saw your similar email to them.
cheers
Mandy
______________________
Energy
is the one true currency. It always was and always will be.
- Chris
Shaw
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3837
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2014 2:15 PM
Subject: Purpose of life?
I'm
curious about the use, below, of 'purpose'.
These (first two) principles sound to me more like functions than purposes.
To observe that living beings cling to their own survival, and by extension
to their own propagation, seems offer rather little in the way of
'purpose'.
Perhaps the notion of purpose might help us to approach the mysterious fact
of our own collective passivity before a mass extinction of life, including our
own.
One might almost say that civilised human beings - collectively anyway -
appear to be none too bothered about their lives continuing for much longer. Nor
is that said derisively. Am I wrong in equating purpose with motivation? Either
way, its curious to observe our culture's lack of motivation around its own
(apparently) approaching extinction.
I think that its worth asking why such a motivation might be lacking, at
least as much as it's worth trying to rally some sudden last-minute recovery of
it.
Mat Osmond