I would strongly suggest that you do what matters to you and let the rest take care of itself. Because, truly, it will.
3
I thin k this author needs to read some philosophy - all of these questions are discussed and answered in varying ways.
"Pride, dignity, self-esteem,” he said...." The are intrinsic goods - no one can take them away from you unless you complicit in their departure - the inmate was spouting nonsense.
"Respect is viewed as an entity that is hard won..." Respect is a cooperative venture - it requires two - so you can have your respect challenged. Totally different that the first three.
The search for value is - in the end - a fools errand.
The grand discoverer of this was Nietzsche: "What does your conscience say? - 'You should become who you are'" (GS Aph 270)
The answer has always been and always will be internal to you - as an individual - it has nothing to do with who you HOPE you can be and everything to do with who you are - and unique - and DOES not last a lifetime - unless you have failed.
Those individuals you pooh-pooh: Mr Phelps, the politicians and the bankers just might be doing a far better job than you are.
"Pride, dignity, self-esteem,” he said...." The are intrinsic goods - no one can take them away from you unless you complicit in their departure - the inmate was spouting nonsense.
"Respect is viewed as an entity that is hard won..." Respect is a cooperative venture - it requires two - so you can have your respect challenged. Totally different that the first three.
The search for value is - in the end - a fools errand.
The grand discoverer of this was Nietzsche: "What does your conscience say? - 'You should become who you are'" (GS Aph 270)
The answer has always been and always will be internal to you - as an individual - it has nothing to do with who you HOPE you can be and everything to do with who you are - and unique - and DOES not last a lifetime - unless you have failed.
Those individuals you pooh-pooh: Mr Phelps, the politicians and the bankers just might be doing a far better job than you are.
3
Thoughtful and important piece. Yes, all of us strive for some degree of economic independence and success, but usually merely as a prelude to living a meaningful life that is recognized by those one in turn values. So many social and personal clashes arise from non-overlapping values. But mutual recognition that others might hold different values is just as important as pursuing one's own values. The art is to balance the two!
5
One question that need to be ask when talking about the "meaning of life" is: Does it matter?
When the Hubble space telescoped pointed to a black spot in the sky about the size of an eraser head for a week it found 30,000 galaxy over 13 billion years old with many trillions of stars and many many more trillions of inferred planets.
How significant are you? How many names of the billions of people that have walk on this earth can you recall and with any details of there lives? Do you think you will fare any better?
You are not a unique snowflake, you are not specials, you are just another piece of decaying matters on the compost pile of this world. Nothing of who you are and what you will do in the short time you are here will matter. Everything short of that realization is vanity.
So celebrate life in every moment, admire its wonders, love without reservation, and accept its inevitable end.
When the Hubble space telescoped pointed to a black spot in the sky about the size of an eraser head for a week it found 30,000 galaxy over 13 billion years old with many trillions of stars and many many more trillions of inferred planets.
How significant are you? How many names of the billions of people that have walk on this earth can you recall and with any details of there lives? Do you think you will fare any better?
You are not a unique snowflake, you are not specials, you are just another piece of decaying matters on the compost pile of this world. Nothing of who you are and what you will do in the short time you are here will matter. Everything short of that realization is vanity.
So celebrate life in every moment, admire its wonders, love without reservation, and accept its inevitable end.
23
There's a distinct possibility that human levels of intelligence and understanding are unique to our earth - certainly there's no direct evidence to the contrary. This possibility might itself be without significance - but maybe not. A sort of humanistic version of Pascal's wager.
2
I would disagree. Each time you interact with someone you are sending ripples out into the Universe. While it maybe impossible for you to know, your actions may have come at precisely the right time for that person and change their life. We are witnessing such a change right now. It matters not if you are for or against gay marriage, I think all would agree that we are seeing a major change in society of a magnitude that normally takes 50 - 100 years happen in about 10. This change is coming from the bottom up, one person at a time. One small ripple, that combined with others, has become a tsunami sweeping our society. To quote Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
10
Great article. It provokes a very important question that we all must ask ourselves: "Who are you and what do you stand for?"
5
Making money puts me in the position of buying food, paying the rent and for devices, that I need to communicate with other people and that enrich my life, etc. but it isn't a purpose in my life. Having money to spent on top of covering the basic needs as food, clothes and a place to live is an option to make my life richer, more fulfilled.
1
Without delving in too deep, I think that if you are a good example for others to follow - that is good enough to realize your self-worth.
2
It is not what anyone does but the space that they are doing it from. If you doing anything to make yourself appear better to the world it will lead you nowhere. If you do it knowing who you are, with self respect you will have the experience and it will enrich you.
One of my favorite teachers Yogi Bhajan said "Consciousness before wealth."
One of my favorite teachers Yogi Bhajan said "Consciousness before wealth."
9
As the author has pointed out, finding a sense of value from materiality and success is as an illusion. The American dream is sold to us by Madison Avenue and the televised media because it drives sales and in turn the advertisers revenue. On a more meaningful level, true lasting and deep value comes from helping those less fortunate. It comes not through writing a check to a charity, a gift which cannot be discounted, but by actively helping those who need a helping hand. Volunteering at a school, working at a shelter, helping rebuild devastated communities after a disaster, are but a few. Giving of yourself provides value not only to yourself but to others.
14
Helping and being compassionate with those closest to us -a friend, a colleague, a neighbor- also helps, finding value within, not necessarily wandering far.
5
In short: many find meaning in life by becoming part of -- or striving for -- something bigger than themselves.
19