Philosophy Midterms Part B
How Can Philosophy Help You in Knowing Your Purpose?
Countless philosophers have presented different interpretations of the meaning and purpose of living in this universe as humans. However, despite the number of answers from numerous philosophers, only in the past 20 years have we gotten discussions with actual depth (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [SEP], 2021b). One of the philosophers who presented an interesting take was Albert Camus. He suggested that life was meaningless. Or if it had a meaning, we humans do not know of it (Einzelgänger, 2020). Be that as it may, we humans should aim to live life to the fullest because the purpose of life lies behind the act of being content in living in a universe without meaning.
Camus argues that unless you are setting aside your rationality through philosophical suicide, the act of replacing uncertainties of existence with unverified beliefs, living in this world is meaningless (Einzelgänger, 2020). The universe is irrational and indifferent towards everyone. Hence, our existence has no purpose. Nevertheless, this does not inevitably mean we should perceive it as adversity (Camus, n.d., as cited in Einzelgänger, 2020). But an opportunity for us to create our meaning. Moreover, this is a chance for us to live our lives to the fullest since there are no set morals and values in life (Camus, n.d., as cited in Einzelgänger, 2020). So even if our life had no purpose, we finally have the chance to let go of any illusion of its meaning (Camus, n.d., as cited in Einzelgänger, 2020).
Additionally, by existing in this universe without a purpose, you are rebelling against the universe. Therefore, giving your life purpose. Furthermore, by avoiding to escape life by means such as suicide, you fight against surrendering to the ridiculousness of living a life without any purpose. And avoid admitting that the senselessness of life is too much for you (Camus, n.d., as cited in Einzelgänger, 2020). Camus thought that for us to live in this irrational life, we must live in the moment and be content in being hopeless since it is not required to have decisions that lead to a more desirable future (Einzelgänger, 2020). Hence, we should not seek hope in the face of melancholy and desperation. Instead, look for joy in despair. And by finding pleasure in agony and suffering, we rebel against life. Thus, giving it meaning.
Although there is no reason to exist and live in this senseless universe, we should strive to live our lives to the fullest since we can find its purpose in its lack of any meaning. We should take this as a chance to live life the way we want it considering we can now ignore any illusions of its purpose. Lastly, even if life is hopeless and full of gloom, we should find happiness and satisfaction in it. Because by rebelling against it, we also give it a purpose. Therefore, by revolting against the absurdity of living, we give ourselves a reason to live.
Can an Individual Be Truly Selfless?
Despite selfishness being natural and human, many cultures still portray it as a negative trait. However, there have been arguments that claim that actions cannot be motivated only by one’s selflessness. Since our motivations depend on our self-interested desires, we can never be completely selfless.
A common term used to describe selflessness is altruism. An act of altruism involves actions that benefit others or prevent harming them for their sake (SEP, 2021a). Furthermore, people consider words such as selfish and self-interested as the opposite of altruism (SEP, 2021a). However, according to SEP, an altruistic act does not necessarily need to be self-sacrificing (2021a). For example, a person could have accidentally bought extra rice and soon realizes he is not hungry. He then tells the cashier to give it to anyone who wants rice for free. He does not lose anything, yet many would consider his actions altruistic because it benefits other people.
Although many deeds could be deemed altruistic, people cannot regard them as purely altruistic because an act of pure altruism would require self-interested motives to be completely absent (SEP, 2021a). Furthermore, psychological egoism, a doctrine, claims that the action of a person is motivated by their self-interests since their motivation to act is always a desire (SEP, 2021a). For instance, we drink water when we are thirsty due to our desire to satisfy our thirst and not because we are doing it for the sake of the water. So if all our motivations are just desires, then no action is purely altruistic. To illustrate, when I help you during a difficult time, it is not because I am doing it for your sake. But because I feel satisfied when you are not in distress. Your happiness fulfills my selfish desires. Therefore, I commit acts of altruism due to my motivation to serve my self-interested desires.
Due to our nature of being motivated by selfish desires, we can never be entirely selfless. To act selflessly means that your actions benefit others for their sake and not solely yours. Though, this does not necessarily mean that you have to sacrifice something to be selfless. Although, pure selflessness is impossible because every deed is motivated by one’s selfish desires. Therefore, cultures should not represent someone negatively because they only prioritize themselves. But because they might harm someone due to their selfishness and lack of care for others.
Why Shouldn’t We Always Use Subjectivity in Understanding Ethics and Morality?
Ethics and morality are some of those topics that many believe are subjective. However, it is one of the subjects that people need to wisely discuss since it plays a crucial role in each of our decisions. The biggest problem with discussions about ethics and morality is that it usually boils down to being subjective. Nevertheless, people should not use subjectivity in ethics and morality in every situation. Because, in scenarios where unjustified suffering occurs, an objective ethical judgment is possible.
In philosophy, many refer to ethics as the study of right and wrong conduct (CrashCourse, 2016). Additionally, a branch of Philosophy that goes more in-depth, focusing more on the building blocks of morality, is called metaethics (CrashCourse, 2016). There are many different perspectives or views that you can subscribe to in metaethics. CrashCourse claims that one of the perspectives in metaethics is moral realism or the belief that there are moral facts (2016). Moral facts are about whether or not an action or decision is good or bad. No matter the circumstance, moral facts remain the same (CrashCourse, 2016). For instance, one can say that murder without any reason is wrong. If that claim is a moral fact, then unjustified murder would always be considered unright. It does not matter if the context changes because a moral fact will always stay the same (CrashCourse, 2016). Therefore, if there are moral facts, then moral realism must be true. And, if you can find some truths in moral realism, you can also answer some moral or ethical questions objectively. An example of a moral fact that one cannot prove wrong, assuming that every living organism seeks pleasure and avoids pain, is causing unjustified suffering (CrashCourse, 2016). No matter what perspective, suffering without reason is universally agreed as unethical. Furthermore, Encyclopedia.com (n.d.) claims that any unjustified ethical behavior is not correct and wrong. Hence, there is objectivity that you can find in ethics and morality.
There are situations where ethics can have objectivity. So, we should not simply dismiss it as subjective every time. Furthermore, everyone can agree that ethical actions that are unjustified are not correct. Therefore, we can also agree that there are moral facts. Thus, we should not always use subjectivity in ethics and morality since sometimes there is some objectiveness.
References
- CrashCourse. (2016). Metaethics: crash course philosophy. Youtube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/FOoffXFpAlU
- Einzelgänger. (2020). Life is Absurd. How to Live it? [The Philosophy of Albert Camus]. Youtube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/_hJZEq61KeM
- Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). Objectivity in ethics. Retrieved from https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/objectivity-ethics
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2021a). Altruism. Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/altruism/
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2021b). The Meaning of Life. Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/life-meaning/