5 ms·

TLDR: You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment -- Thoreau

pmoriarty 10y ago
I don't think that's a fair summary. It's like summarizing The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as "42". This article touches on so many points and looks at so many approaches to the issues it raises that it just can't be adequately summarized in a single sentence or even a paragraph. Some points that it touches on: - Why are we here? - Is there any meaning to life, death or suffering? - Can science, academia, philosophy, or theology offer satisfying answers to these questions? - "Are we teaching students everything without teaching them anything regarding the big questions that matter most?" and many others. It's a deep article, worthy of careful reading and consideration.
- Retra 10y ago
  You'd find the same things with careful reading and consideration for a shallow article too.
  - pmoriarty 10y ago
    I really don't understand what you mean. Are you saying this article is shallow?
    - Retra 10y ago
      No, I'm saying "careful thought and consideration" are sources of depth regardless of what kind of article you apply them to.
- analog31 10y ago
  I ask this sincerely: Why do we think that these are important questions, other than that they have been asked over and over, by people who have a vested interest in perpetuating them? Maybe there's no why, no meaning.
  - pmoriarty 10y ago
    Why are these questions considered important? That's a great question. I don't think I have a good answer, and have not heard an answer from anyone else that satisfies me. I recognize that some people feel these questions to be keenly important at certain times in their lives, and feel that way myself, but I am not sure why. Perhaps it is part of "human nature", or human psychology, or evolution. Some philosophers have spoken of an "anxiety" that comes with existence, a result of being "thrown in to the world", others speak of such concerns being the result of a fear of death. My own view is rather pessimistic: I think people are very good at deluding themselves, and very bad at figuring out their true motivations (if that's even possible at all). As to meaning: some people do think there is no meaning, others that the universe is absurd, others still that people create their own meaning, yet others that there is some "objective" or even "god-given" meaning, etc. I'm not sure how one could tell. I'm interested in seeing how people have approached these questions and tried to answer them, though; and perhaps there is some way to find out after all. I am reminded of Benjamin Disraeli, who said "All is mystery; but he is a slave who will not struggle to penetrate the dark veil."
Koshkin 10y ago
I like summarizing this by saying, "Death does not matter, life does." This gives me all the transcendence I need.

I don't think that's a fair summary. It's like summarizing The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as "42". This article touches on so many points and looks at so many approaches to the issues it raises that it just can't be adequately summarized in a single sentence or even a paragraph. Some points that it touches on: - Why are we here? - Is there any meaning to life, death or suffering? - Can science, academia, philosophy, or theology offer satisfying answers to these questions? - "Are we teaching students everything without teaching them anything regarding the big questions that matter most?" and many others. It's a deep article, worthy of careful reading and consideration.

Retra 10y ago
You'd find the same things with careful reading and consideration for a shallow article too.
- pmoriarty 10y ago
  I really don't understand what you mean. Are you saying this article is shallow?
  - Retra 10y ago
    No, I'm saying "careful thought and consideration" are sources of depth regardless of what kind of article you apply them to.
analog31 10y ago
I ask this sincerely: Why do we think that these are important questions, other than that they have been asked over and over, by people who have a vested interest in perpetuating them? Maybe there's no why, no meaning.
- pmoriarty 10y ago
  Why are these questions considered important? That's a great question. I don't think I have a good answer, and have not heard an answer from anyone else that satisfies me. I recognize that some people feel these questions to be keenly important at certain times in their lives, and feel that way myself, but I am not sure why. Perhaps it is part of "human nature", or human psychology, or evolution. Some philosophers have spoken of an "anxiety" that comes with existence, a result of being "thrown in to the world", others speak of such concerns being the result of a fear of death. My own view is rather pessimistic: I think people are very good at deluding themselves, and very bad at figuring out their true motivations (if that's even possible at all). As to meaning: some people do think there is no meaning, others that the universe is absurd, others still that people create their own meaning, yet others that there is some "objective" or even "god-given" meaning, etc. I'm not sure how one could tell. I'm interested in seeing how people have approached these questions and tried to answer them, though; and perhaps there is some way to find out after all. I am reminded of Benjamin Disraeli, who said "All is mystery; but he is a slave who will not struggle to penetrate the dark veil."

Koshkin 10y ago

I like summarizing this by saying, "Death does not matter, life does." This gives me all the transcendence I need.