Hey guys,
As I am looking back over the notes I took of our first readings I came across a passage that stuck out to me more reading through it this time. It is Genesis 11:1-"In all species, nature works to renew itself as it works to nourish itself, and to protect itself from danger." After thinking about that for a minute one thought stuck with me. Since the beginning of all life, every life form (big or small) has had the single goal of surviving. It is built into everything we do. We have so many built in survival mechanisms that we don't even have to think about. It is literally programmed into our DNA. So after realizing in a new light that our number one goal is survival, what implications do you think this has? If we have such a desire to live, yet most of the time we wonder about our purpose here on earth, how do those things mesh? It is clear that survival and continuation is our purpose, but why do some of us long for a sense of higher understanding or transcendence from our human state? Isn't the fact that we are alive in this current state miraculous enough? Just some questions for discussion. The thoughts might be a little strewn out, but I just got bombarded by my brain with all these thoughts and had to get them down before I forgot them. So what do you guys think? Is surviving and continuation of our species our most important purpose? Is it our only purpose? Also if by nature, Nature itself is constantly in the necessary process of creating new and letting old things die, why is it as humans we fear death and new beginnings so much? It seems to go against the flow of the natural course of things. I would love to hear some of your thoughts on these things.
Jamey Howell
It could be that having a better understanding of life, and having a higher purpose makes people more likely to procreate. The desire to live is higher knowing these thing. I think fearing death as humans isn't going against the natural flow completely, because it is natural to want to live. Like you said our only reason or purpose of existing is survival and continuation of the species.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't expecting any response in particular to this, but I love how you pointed out that fearing death is natural, because of course if our purpose is survival we fear death as a failure. I hadn't thought about it like that. It makes a lot of sense though. Thanks for your insight.
DeleteHi Jamey,
ReplyDeleteThose are some legitimate questions, and I've always ponder them myself.
Check out this article by Martin Pribble. He often has some interesting insights to philosophical questions and writes some good pieces. We're all animals (especially Rugby players--I was one too), so we evolved from Hobbs' state of nature to societal cooperation through social contract--at least in theory Here's the post: http://martinspribble.com/2014/01/evolving-morality/.
Let me know what you think about it.
Thats an interesting post, Dean. Thanks for sharing it. Evolving morality is an interesting topic. I had never given the idea that our morality changes with times and with culture a definitive title, such as, evolving morality. It is a very interesting thought though isn't it? I honestly think it is yet to be seen how far human morality can evolve. Throughout history most notable cultures have adhered to the morality of their god. As the number of people who do not believe in a god grows it will be interesting to see how morality evolves when there is no God in the equation. I wonder how the process of evolution in our morality will be expedited at that point. Thanks for the response. Definitely gave me more food for thought.
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