Why? Why do we care what is true, or what is true about what is good? What is the meaning of life, or what is the point? If we are always good (if that were possible), can we still miss the point?
Does the majority decide the truly good point because we appreciate culture? Do we appeal to the behavior of other species in nature, or every living being’s instinct to survive? What about those things that we consider worth not only living but dying for?
Can we point to anyone as a true example of someone who is always good and also always gets the point? If not, does that mean there is no true good, and no true point? Why do we have this feeling that there is more to life than merely surviving or running according to our genetic or cultural programming?
Can there be an organizing principle … a point … that can only be willfully arrived at … that puts all of our competing values and instincts in proper alignment around it, such that, until we find this point, we hunger for it restlessly, we feel aimless, or like all our aims will eventually disappoint us, and never quite feel free from our genetic or social programming—to be who we are meant to be?
How can a mere principle represent the point of persons? Or could the principle also be personal? Who…? …since we can point to no one who always is, does, and values what is true, good, and meaningful? Or can’t we?
Hey @Sculptor. Remember our discussion about nature? Here’s another angle.
Regardless what species we are materially, persons are all structured to be able to see when there is inconsistency between our thoughts, values, and behaviors. We know that we are persons, and that there are other persons. We know we have a choice to acknowledge what we know, in our thoughts, values, and behaviors. That is the only reason there is ever a difference between our thoughts, values, and behaviors. We aren’t programmed robots without the ability to “game” the program. Imagine if we went with the flow of the program rather than gaming it?
We all do that.
And we are all determined by our genes and experience to act in that way to varying degrees.
The genes set the rules of the game, and we play inside those rules. But the choices are part of a deeper game.
Not sure why you are making this point here though?
