Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
I want to resurrect a variant of an old question that has got me wondering again. Is it possible for an atheist to think deeply about life without losing motivation to live well?
It’s trite to phrase it like this, but the atheistic model still seems utterly devoid of motivation or purpose when you dwell on it. Obviously, if you don’t dwell on the facts of life, you can distract yourself with various concerns and pursuits. But what if you don’t distract yourself? Someone with a religious model involving a loving God can ponder his existence forever and be motivated and purpose-filled, provided that they forever presuppose a loving God as an article of faith. But I’m trying to envision an atheist pondering life while still maintaining motivation to live vibrantly and maximally. How do they do it, do they do it, or are they just distracting themselves?
Eg, “an atheist believes they need to make life count” —> count for what? Your life does not count, by your own definition. You will cease to exist, like the dinosaurs, who surely did not count. So why are you programming your own Operating System as a hobby? It doesn’t count! “But it makes me happy” —> drugs will surely make you more happy. Why not do them?
Belief in god is orthogonal to the question of the meaningfulness of life. It is possible that it turns out that there is some absolute discoverable meaning to life that has nothing to do with any god. I don't know what that would be like, but I have had some, for lack of a better word, "mystic" experiences pointing in that direction. And I do not think that all mysticism is theistic. Likewise, it is possible that belief in god actually makes one's life seem less meaningful. Some personalities find the notion of being under the rule of some all-powerful entity to be an unpleasant thought.
Living vibrantly is its own reward, it feels good and, assuming that it does not hurt others, does not need to be justified either by morality or by appeal to some higher goal. The problem with drugs is that they have unpleasant consequences. Also, to the extent that some of them sometimes distance one from reality, they hurt one's ability to enjoy truth.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link