Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to "we are all just visiting here"

"I never thought about what "it" might be, or how we define it, let alone how we all see it."
ER — (archived)

The trick is not to think about it at all. There is nothing there at all except what we put into it. Value and meaning are purely psychological phenomena, they have no existence outside our own heads. This doesn't mean they are worthless or pointless, it just means we get to define what the value and meaning is. It's an existential issue, reality exists, but it is essentially indifferent and irrelevant to us. Meaning and value we are fully free to define for ourselves. It's like playing solitaire: no one cares whether or not you cheat, and it makes no difference whether you do or not. But we can choose not to cheat, just like we can choose to be honest, and good, and creative and productive. We do it because without that conscious decision to create our own standards and morality we are slaves to convention and the blind forces of nature. We all make it a point to avoid falling off tall buildings, but that doesn't mean the purpose of life is to defeat gravity.

There is no external principle we are bound to serve, the meaning of life is self-defined, and self-referential. You get to make it up as you go along. You are allowed to do so, you have a right, it is what the universe owes us. And how do you know you are just not living a self-centered life at the expense of others? We are social animals, we have our families, our communities, our shared humanity, and when you detect in others a rejection of this ethos, a life lived simply for self-gratification and exploitation of others, you will recognize it in them and resist it because you will realize that those are the ones who cheat at solitaire. We are not alone in this universe, there are always those you love and they will have a claim on your sacrifice, the rest get common courtesy and respect. And those who are not satisfied with that you have a right to defend yourself against. Being good doesn't mean you have to be a sissy.

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