> The central problem of human existence is not the best form of economic or
> social organisation but the reality of biological decay. We are not > significant in terms of the world and whatever we do it will in time be
> destroyed.Perfectly true. As individuals and as a species, we are an infinitely small fraction of the Universe. Our species will become extinct somewhere down the line and all traces will decay. So?
> It is far better to abandon the search for a perfect form of human existence
> and hope that our despair can be made bearable. The underlying aim of
> capitalism and communism is the same: freedom; but it is worthless. Freedom
> can only be usefully exercised when the agent has a valid purpose but what can
> valid if there is no general significance or worth?
You're setting your scale much too big. Of course we're not the sole reason for the Universe's existence. We are however unique and very unusual, and our planet is an oasis in space for carbon-based oxygen-breathing life. As such, the planet is worth preserving for our future generations and future species, not destroying for a luxury lifestyle. We can't speculate on any higher purpose outside of our existence with any certainty, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to maximise the utility in this world.
If you are truly as nihilistic as your message, why don't you commit suicide? I don't mean this in an insulting way, but if your ennui is so deepseated and you experience so little worth living for, why are you living?
As for the lack of universal point, it's entirely possible that the only universals are physical laws (if even those are). That doesn't mean that local standards don't apply. If you take a desert and declare it to be entirely made of sand you may be in the large part correct, but you'll miss out the oases that allow things to live there.
As for myself, I love this planet and this life - it's a beautiful spring morning here. I can't make a difference to the Universe as a whole, but I'll try all my life to make a positive difference to the world - not for history or recognition, but just because I want the world and its species to live and thrive.
Call me a hippy ;)
Gideon.
(who still lives in hope, despite the shit that flies around)
None.
