Squirrels in your yard are in fact slave to genes, instincts, and reproduction.
However, with sentience and civilization, we changed the rules. It's no longer about YOUR genes or MY genes, necessarily. Now it's about OUR genes. For indeed, societies tend to help the survival of all, even to the point that inferior genes survive to procreate (which is another subject entirely), and it's no longer in the best interest of society for each individual to pass on their genes to offspring, or to attempt to do so.
Also, sentience means that the meaning of life can be whatever we want it to be. If I decide I live a full life by being a surfer who revels in extreme-ness, even to the point where I fund my ventures chasing waves around the world by robbing banks with other surfer dudes in masks of ex-Presidents, but then die gloriously in the biggest wave ever, then so be it. My sentience and free will dictate that my meaning of life was fulfilled, because that's what I wanted.
I'm a big fan of the answer being: what I want it to be. Which, specifically for me, seems to be a balance between enjoying myself and bettering myself.
As for you: I think you're doing great, and are an inspiration to us all.
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Date: 2008-11-17 02:50 pm (UTC)Squirrels in your yard are in fact slave to genes, instincts, and reproduction.
However, with sentience and civilization, we changed the rules. It's no longer about YOUR genes or MY genes, necessarily. Now it's about OUR genes. For indeed, societies tend to help the survival of all, even to the point that inferior genes survive to procreate (which is another subject entirely), and it's no longer in the best interest of society for each individual to pass on their genes to offspring, or to attempt to do so.
Also, sentience means that the meaning of life can be whatever we want it to be. If I decide I live a full life by being a surfer who revels in extreme-ness, even to the point where I fund my ventures chasing waves around the world by robbing banks with other surfer dudes in masks of ex-Presidents, but then die gloriously in the biggest wave ever, then so be it. My sentience and free will dictate that my meaning of life was fulfilled, because that's what I wanted.
I'm a big fan of the answer being: what I want it to be. Which, specifically for me, seems to be a balance between enjoying myself and bettering myself.
As for you: I think you're doing great, and are an inspiration to us all.