It is said that, even more than happiness, it is the luxury of a sense of purpose in life that leads to everything from increased longevity to heightened productivity, youthfulness and wellness. Certainly I have found its lack to be disconcertingly uncomfortable. Without it there is a certain spark of creative fire that fails to ignite and joy is somehow transmuted into elusively empty pleasure.
There is always that ever-present word "should" to fall back on - the sense of purpose we would / should have if we were truly virtuous and civic-minded. But "should" is a very unsatisfactory and strangely hollow task master. And if we rely instead on what we truly want, what happens if we judge our desires and talents to be shallow and somewhat less than earth-shattering?
I am reminded of Richard Dawkins, who has warned that having a belief that is helpful does not make it true. And he would rather hold to truth than to comfort. Which would I prefer? Actually I begin to question my own definition of truth and can't help wondering if, in existential fashion, meaning can only ever be what we choose it to be. What happens if I adopt a chaos magic approach and define a structure for the universe according to my own liking? Am I merely indulging in wilful self delusion or am I creating something more profound? How will I be changed, and, more importantly, how will the world be changed through living my beliefs?
One thing I have never, ever been able to accept in myself is the intention to change or influence the beliefs of another. But in any case, changing the world is somehow and paradoxically always about changing ourselves, and only ourselves.
Is there any truly objective standard by which our values and beliefs can be judged, as Dawkins would argue, or can the existential magic of chaos change everything? I am excited to try the experiment.
There is always that ever-present word "should" to fall back on - the sense of purpose we would / should have if we were truly virtuous and civic-minded. But "should" is a very unsatisfactory and strangely hollow task master. And if we rely instead on what we truly want, what happens if we judge our desires and talents to be shallow and somewhat less than earth-shattering?
I am reminded of Richard Dawkins, who has warned that having a belief that is helpful does not make it true. And he would rather hold to truth than to comfort. Which would I prefer? Actually I begin to question my own definition of truth and can't help wondering if, in existential fashion, meaning can only ever be what we choose it to be. What happens if I adopt a chaos magic approach and define a structure for the universe according to my own liking? Am I merely indulging in wilful self delusion or am I creating something more profound? How will I be changed, and, more importantly, how will the world be changed through living my beliefs?
One thing I have never, ever been able to accept in myself is the intention to change or influence the beliefs of another. But in any case, changing the world is somehow and paradoxically always about changing ourselves, and only ourselves.
Is there any truly objective standard by which our values and beliefs can be judged, as Dawkins would argue, or can the existential magic of chaos change everything? I am excited to try the experiment.