Everyone at one time or another in life reflects on the meaning of life. Why am I here and how did I get here? One of the more controversial replies to this question is given by the eminent intellectual, Albert Camus (1913-1960). He is known for his philosophy known as Absurdism. (1) This is the belief that there is absolutely no “why” to life. It is all without meaning or purpose – but go on living, why not? On the face of it, one would have to agree.
I gain consciousness at 20 or so and this is expunged in some 50 or 60 years hence. And, most importantly, no one returns from the journey to tell me how it went. What is the truth behind the story, some would say the myth? My individual reality is so, so self-centered that the only answer has to lie within. Prayer is nice, faith engaging, but each of us knows the truth for the self.
The empirical arguments for the existence of God (2) are nonsensical because they, in reality, cannot be proven — the only person who can answer whether my life has meaning, or not, is me. I, for one, after a great deal of self-reflection and suffering – as most of our lives are filled with – have come to the conclusion that, without reflection, life has no value.
Yes, it is absurd; unless I give it value, or rather uncover its value. This can only be achieved through a strong spiritual and meditative effort. God, Gaia, or the universe has a mission for each of us. Now the nihilist (3) will simply refute my statement by saying that I am philosophically dishonest – committing “philosophical suicide” – as Camus says. I am intellectually naïve.
I accept these criticisms because I have no riposte “in the world.” I acknowledge that one could conclude that I am fully deluding myself. In response, however, I would say two things. One: I don’t believe that I am wrong having walked in a forest in the morning mist and seen a baby born. Two: I know that my life mission is unequivocal. I feel its warmth and its energy every single day. I am not trying to entice others to my cause. My calling in life is to only ask you to learn to think critically and to value your time. I believe that these two premises or propositions will lead you to my conclusion. Ultimately, life has a God-given value – my life has value. But its commitment is placed solely in my hands. Life is not absurd, after all. Nonetheless, I must work on its evolution.
The great theologian and intellectual, Paul Tillich (4), leaves us with a thought:Â Faith consists in being vitally concerned with that ultimate reality to which I give the symbolical name of God. Whoever reflects earnestly on the meaning of life is on the verge of an act of faith.
A closing thought: We are often confronted with so many questions, especially when we are young and impressionable. I am a firm believer in the concept that I dictate my reality as real. My experiences are my own real experiences. I am not dreaming some dream. Given that this is true, then I am free to define how I see the world. If I awaken in the morning and feel an embittered sense of pointlessness, this will subsequently color by day. Conversely, if I feel a sense of optimism and hope this then becomes my reality, regardless of my physical surroundings. From Viktor Frankl (5): Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about the value of life and how, in the final analysis, it does have value – the value that I give it.
To be noted: From Friedrich Nietzsche (6) — He who has a “why” to live can bear almost any “how.”
Just for fun:Â Nietzsche
For reflection: Admiral McRaven Leaves the Audience.
This week on your meditative walk, please reflect on your “why” in life.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: I know that I exist and I must encourage others to believe the same.
Footnotes:
1)Â Absurdism
2)Â The Cosmological Argument (Argument for the Existence of God)
3)Â Nihilism
4)Â Paul Tillich
6)Â Nietzsche