When I ask myself "Why am I here?", it implies the possibility that I also can not be here. I mean, there is a close relationship between being here - life and not being here - death.
Thus I came to a silly question: Why am I dead? What is the meaning of being dead? Maybe the only reason is, that my remains serve as fertilizer and if buried as a nice dinner for worms and other organisms.
However, this is not exactly a reason or a meaning, but a logical consequence of being dead. As we already have learned, depending on how we answer the question "Why am I here?",
it looks like we try with our answer to cross that boundary of death and in a way live on. Our life was focused on working our way to eternal life in heaven,
or we left things behind by which we will be remembered: scientific discoveries, philosophical treatises, poetry, visual art, or we built a house where our children can live. A meaning of life to bypass death.
In the previous lecture, we learned about another approach. Why am I here? The meaning of life is to make life better for myself and everybody else in this world and I have a lifetime to do so.
We learned that one way to achieve this is to help others, care for justice, chances for everyone, etc. A next level to do so is to look at a strong motivation for our actions: love.
Love is so ubiquitous that it is not always recognized as a form of meaning. In addition to physical, erotic love, there is love between parents and children,
love of neighbor, love of God, love of music, love of pets, love of art, love of freedom, love of nature, love of sports, and love of cars.
The object of love is therefore not limited to people or living beings but can extend to abstract matters and inanimate things.
Love can also be directed at itself, as in self-love or self-love. At first glance, self-love seems strongly egocentric, but as the philosopher Spinoza convincingly argued in his "Ethica" from 1660,
self-love is a form of self-preservation and therefore a condition for being able to give love to others. You also encounter this idea in the Old and New Testaments:
Leviticus 19:18: You shall not take revenge or bear a grudge against your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37–39: "This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Buddhism comes close to Spinoza. In Buddhism, there is an all-encompassing notion of love that is indicated by the word "metta".
"Metta" stands for a form of meaning in which the pursuit of unconditional love for all beings in the universe is central. This love is independent of anything or anyone else.
According to Buddhism, this means that we recognize that we ourselves are love, which is similar to the concept of self-love that I just mentioned, through which we experience a strong connection with the universe. Thanks to "metta", man feels connected to everything and everyone, as one whole.
It may sound somewhat high-flown, but imagine yourself, looking up in awe at a starry sky or watching the news and feeling compassion with all those people, who have to live in terrible circumstances,
I think, then you can feel that love can be a meaning of life, which sometimes translates itself into actions you'll take.
In addition to religious and philosophical views on love as a form of meaning, since the nineteenth century, the pursuit of love and friendship has also been studied from a more scientific and especially biological perspective.
Without attachment love between mother and child, a person cannot survive, without erotic love humanity would die out at a rapid pace, and without friendship, people would not be able to function as a group.
So what we have called an omnipresent form of meaning (love) can, according to evolutionary biology, just as well be seen as a form of behavior that has developed evolutionarily, and that can be traced back to the first mammals of about 300 million years ago.
Moreover, we know from neuroscience that when we are in love and when we feel love, our brains produce a whole series of chemical substances that stimulate the pleasure center of the brain.
Love therefore seems almost more like a form of addiction than a form of meaning. We simply cannot avoid love. So how free are people in choosing love as a form of meaning?
Think about it.....thank you all again.....
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
[13:17] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you HermaN
[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:18] Max Chatnoir: Thanks Herman.
[13:18] herman Bergson: A lovely lecture today :-)
[13:18] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): YES
[13:18] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): oops caps
[13:19] Max Chatnoir: Would it be possible to feel some sense of responsibility for the well-being of others without being emotionally connected?
[13:20] herman Bergson: while there are many spiritual interpretations of love and loving, biology and neuroscience come up with mundane explanations
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Well best thing I know is being close to others. I still miss my first love. A guy i met in 6th class
[13:21] herman Bergson: I think you need compassion and empathy first, Max
[13:21] herman Bergson: Otherwise it sounds a bit bureaucratic to me
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cuddling and being close to him was the best thing ever. I reallly miss that. I still dream about that now and then
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): So I'd say it's an important thing for me for sure
[13:22] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): I believe that a biological definition of love is correct, but so also are the "higher" forms of love that one cultivates beyond biological imperatives.
[13:23] herman Bergson: I agree, Sooki
[13:23] Max Chatnoir: I would think so, but I was imagining some kind of super-rational caring.
[13:24] herman Bergson: You can choose not to indulge in erotic and romantic love and choose to live a solitary life ....
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): girl or guy has never mattered to me, I just want someone to be really close to.
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that's me
[13:24] herman Bergson: or you can choose not to have children
[13:25] herman Bergson: Or you can choose for a career instead of starting a family
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): different paths
[13:25] herman Bergson: despite all hormones
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): feel good with someone else
[13:25] herman Bergson: Just think of monks
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:26] herman Bergson: or nuns...
[13:27] herman Bergson: you can abstain from some options of life to create your own meaning
[13:28] Max Chatnoir: I was driving back to West Virginia once from the Cincinnati zoo and stopped at a restaurant. From my first cup of tea, I was experiencing everything very intensely and felt very closely connected to the universe somehow without being particularly focused on any individual. It lasted for days. I don't know what triggered it.
[13:29] herman Bergson: Sounds like a Buddhist experience, Max
[13:29] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): Yes, like an enlightenment of sorts
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki
[13:30] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Perhaps there were still old roots of your ancestors Max
[13:30] herman Bergson: Yet I wonder....what tea were you drinking, Max? :-)
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess it could have been something like that
[13:30] Max Chatnoir: I had had a TIA the previous month, so I don't know if that was connected with it.
[13:31] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): Many people have those sorts of transcendental experiences of universal love and connectedness.
[13:31] Max Chatnoir: I asked about the tea, because it was so GOOD, and they said it was just their regular tea.
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe your taste has changed Max
[13:32] herman Bergson: I think so too, Sooki, now and then you can have such a feeling
[13:32] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): The Beatles song "All You Need is Love" has always resonated with me. I think it's a profound idea that having universal love for all is the fundamental solution to human problems.
[13:32] herman Bergson: Absolutely....
[13:33] herman Bergson: but there are many kinds of love.....for instance, the love of power....:-(
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Speaking of the Beatles, Their music always remind me of that guy also cause i copied some Beatles albums from him back then so has that connection also for me
[13:34] herman Bergson: love is a word like an umbrella....a lot gathers under it
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:35] herman Bergson: I think that some also have a taxonomy of kinds of love....
[13:36] herman Bergson: a ranking....
[13:36] herman Bergson: And there we go again....
[13:36] herman Bergson: what is the most important kind of love....
[13:36] herman Bergson: which love has to prevail
[13:36] Max Chatnoir: sorry, phone....
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:37] bergfrau Apfelbaum: selfless love
[13:37] herman Bergson: love for your children or love for your country of love for the climate and environment... etc...
[13:37] herman Bergson: Love of your telephone?
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): all the love for the world without harming anyone
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:38] herman Bergson: As you see....it all sounds simple until........
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:39] herman Bergson: But what when your kind of love hurts my feelings, Beertje?
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its a wide term
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): then I have to change my love
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i never want to hurt anyone's feelings
[13:40] herman Bergson: lovely that you don't ask me to change my feelings :-)
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): no need to change your feelings
[13:40] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): I agree with bergfrau....a selfless, all-encompassing love that seeks the well-being of others seems like the highest or most important kind of love.
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aa
[13:40] herman Bergson: yes empathy and compassion may be the keys
[13:41] bergfrau Apfelbaum: without expectations, everything comes back
[13:43] herman Bergson: Unfortunately our brain still works at a tribal level....
[13:44] herman Bergson: there is always this US and THEM
[13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe evolution will change that
[13:44] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): Yes, Herman, I think about that a lot. Often our love or concern is limited to those within our circle, those who are like us.
[13:44] herman Bergson: As I said in the previous lecture....helping others was for a long time restricted to the own clan or community...
[13:45] herman Bergson: Yes, Sooki, that is our limitation still
[13:45] herman Bergson: Just look at the immigrant issues...also in Europe
[13:46] herman Bergson: A lot of people are yelling....GO HOME!
[13:46] herman Bergson: You are not one of us!
[13:46] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i guess that for the people of safe countries
[13:47] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): It seems like humanity as a whole is not progressing very well in that regard.... having love and concern for all. We are so dedicated to the Us vs Them paradigm.
[13:47] herman Bergson: of course,,,
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): not all imiigrants are from war aeras
[13:48] bergfrau Apfelbaum: not me, as long as they can adapt and want to get to know our culture
[13:48] herman Bergson: Unfortunately I have to agree with you Sooki....
[13:48] herman Bergson: What progresss does mankind make?
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if u are a nice person not matter at all. Ur nice to me and in general im nice to you
[13:49] herman Bergson: ïn general"..... I already hear the conditions, Bejiita :-)
[13:50] herman Bergson: If you had said "unconditionally",,,ok :-))
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the guy I loved for ex was dark-skinned and of Sri Lanka orgin. But just a great guy and I loved the looks of him. Sad we lost contact. so sad things happened to him like his dad died in cancer
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so he got depressed and then we lost contact unfortunatley
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): wish I could have helped out
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:52] herman Bergson: Well.. love of..... can become a meaning of life
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i want to feel good and make others feel good/be happy
[13:53] herman Bergson: Keep in mind that the meaning of life does not have to be just ONE kind of....
[13:54] herman Bergson: Love of art and empathic helping people, for instance, can both be meainingfull at the same time
[13:54] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Love is part of the "meaning of life
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes for sure!
[13:55] herman Bergson: So don't look for THE meaning of life....look for what gives YOUR life meaning....and that can be several things
[13:56] herman Bergson: So, enough to think about for the weekend, I guess :-))
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): does hate have a connection with love?
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): As said, my best moments in life i think was when I was together with that person before
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so indeed
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well that's me and my story
[13:56] herman Bergson: Difficult question Beertje...
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hate = opposite of love I'd say
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): bit that's maybe too simple
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): of a definition
[13:57] herman Bergson: Spinoza discusses this question, Iif I am not mistaken...
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but
[13:57] herman Bergson: I'll have a look at it.....nice homework for the weekend for me :-))
[13:58] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :))
[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aah ㋡
[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki
[13:58] herman Bergson: Anyway...thank you all again.....
[13:58] bergfrau Apfelbaum: i can't imagine that people who kill others have ever experienced true love. Mom, partner, friends, ...
[13:58] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Thank you, Herman and class!
[13:59] herman Bergson: Have a nice weekend without storms and rain
[13:59] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed, it's unimaginable to me, i can't even imagine how they can do things like that
[13:59] herman Bergson: Class dismissed....
[13:59] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:59] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki
[13:59] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
