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I'd argue that life is its own point. If you organize your metaphysics in such a way that nothing matters unless it leads to a future that matters, then nothing

I'd argue that life is its own point. If you organize your metaphysics in such a way that nothing matters unless it leads to a future that matters, then nothing can possibly matter, because by definition value is always postponed to "the future". But you can never get there, because once you do, it becomes "the present". Basically, you can't say that the value of every moment depends entirely on the value of future moments, that just prevents the actualization of any value. The present has to count for something.

TylerLives 5y ago
We mostly find meaning in moving towards a goal. Once we attain it, it no longer brings us happiness. Having no goals or thinking that some future reward will change our lives doesn't seem to lead to good outcomes. It's strange, but "becoming" itself is meaningful.
- breuleux 5y ago
  Surely some goals can bring happiness when they are achieved? I have made some things that I like, and I am happy when I recall that I made them myself. Or if your goal is to cure cancer, and you succeed, wouldn't that bring you happiness? Sure, you can set other goals for yourself, but that doesn't erase the satisfaction. Either way, my point was that if your goal is to leave a permanent, meaningful mark on the universe, first, that's borderline delusional, second, the actualization of the goal is basically infinitely far in the future. Personally I'd rather pursue goals that can be achieved within my lifetime and aren't some crazy improper integral over the lifetime of the universe...
  - TylerLives 5y ago
    > Or if your goal is to cure cancer, and you succeed, wouldn't that bring you happiness? You would, for a time, and then you would get used to it. People in the past used to struggle to find food. Today almost everyone in the first world countries can eat as much as they'd like, but do we wake up happy and grateful because we have food? I do agree that not all of our happiness comes from moving towards goals in the future, but a lot of it does. > Personally I'd rather pursue goals that can be achieved within my lifetime and aren't some crazy improper integral over the lifetime of the universe... Me too, but I don't think that you have to choose. Even if you have some less realistic goals, it's still better to focus on the immediate problems.

TylerLives 5y ago

We mostly find meaning in moving towards a goal. Once we attain it, it no longer brings us happiness. Having no goals or thinking that some future reward will change our lives doesn't seem to lead to good outcomes. It's strange, but "becoming" itself is meaningful.

breuleux 5y ago
Surely some goals can bring happiness when they are achieved? I have made some things that I like, and I am happy when I recall that I made them myself. Or if your goal is to cure cancer, and you succeed, wouldn't that bring you happiness? Sure, you can set other goals for yourself, but that doesn't erase the satisfaction. Either way, my point was that if your goal is to leave a permanent, meaningful mark on the universe, first, that's borderline delusional, second, the actualization of the goal is basically infinitely far in the future. Personally I'd rather pursue goals that can be achieved within my lifetime and aren't some crazy improper integral over the lifetime of the universe...
- TylerLives 5y ago
  > Or if your goal is to cure cancer, and you succeed, wouldn't that bring you happiness? You would, for a time, and then you would get used to it. People in the past used to struggle to find food. Today almost everyone in the first world countries can eat as much as they'd like, but do we wake up happy and grateful because we have food? I do agree that not all of our happiness comes from moving towards goals in the future, but a lot of it does. > Personally I'd rather pursue goals that can be achieved within my lifetime and aren't some crazy improper integral over the lifetime of the universe... Me too, but I don't think that you have to choose. Even if you have some less realistic goals, it's still better to focus on the immediate problems.