The part about "old" and "new" brain in the instinct section is wrong. The brain is not compartmentalized like that.
The Meaning of Life
41–50 of 123 posts
Re: The Meaning of Life
#42"Let instinct trump logic" - bad advice. Instinct is simply pattern matching current conditions against memory. Without experience, instinct is a poor criteria and logic should be employed. Read Kahneman for the supporting research into that.
However, as he states in the article, instinct is the result of experience. He is saying the mechanism of instinct is older in humans than logic, so the process is more refined/trustworthy when comparing the two. Seems right to me..
Instinct is certainly handy and much faster than reason.
But, if instinct trumped logic as the author suggests, humans wouldn't be at the top of the food chain and driving cars.
Re: The Meaning of Life
#43If you are seeking meaning, consider attending an alpha course. It is a forum for atheist, agnostic, and Christian alike, on the topic of Christianity and faith. http://www.alpha.org/about
From the site: Alpha really is for anyone who’s curious. The talks are designed to encourage debate and explore the basics of the Christian faith in a friendly, honest and informal environment.
Re: The Meaning of Life
#44"Let instinct trump logic" - bad advice. Instinct is simply pattern matching current conditions against memory. Without experience, instinct is a poor criteria and logic should be employed. Read Kahneman for the supporting research into that.
However, as he states in the article, instinct is the result of experience. He is saying the mechanism of instinct is older in humans than logic, so the process is more refined/trustworthy when comparing the two. Seems right to me..
There is very good book on this topic "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman. Instincts can be very misleading sometimes.
Re: The Meaning of Life
#45I went to a debate about the existence of God a few months ago. Dan Barker, an atheist who has contributed to the Daily Show, had the winning quote: "There is no meaning of life -- and that's a great thing: it means that there's meaning in life." The quote is poignant regardless of your religious affiliation. Barker was saying that the meaning of life is intensely personal. Each of us invents it through our own exper…
Do I understand you correctly: - "meaning" or "purpose" in life is whatever we feel "meaningful" or "purposeful". - those feelings are derived through our upbringing, culture, biochemical quirks, etc. Therefore if we could find whichever set of chemicals or brainwashing techniques made us feel 'meaningful', then that sense would allow just as valid and 'meaningful' an existence as any other? Isn't that merely hedonis…
Life, as you experience it, is nothing more than a wash of chemicals acting on your brain. Even if you don't imbibe anything specifically intended to alter your brain chemistry, trying to change your thought patterns and behaviour to match some "meaningful ideal" or lifestyle does so anyway.
We're all just looking for the s/meaning of life/brain chemistry that makes us happy/g.
Re: The Meaning of Life
#46Here is the meaning of life. There is only one inherent value to consciousness, and it is pleasure. What is the evidence for this claim? It is directly perecptible. To see the proof of this, all you have to do is look. Everything else you value should be for the sake of this ultimate value. (Because there is no other ultimate value for them to be for the sake of.) Now, this isn't an endorsement of hedonism, which I t…
Is the pleasure of others meaningful to you, or only to them?
Other people's pleasure is not inherently valuable to me, just neutral. However, I do value other people's pleasure when it increases my pleasure.
It is pretty obvious why this applies to loved ones and friends, but it actually extends to all of society. A happier society is a better place to live, with more productivity, more to be inspired by (and not discouraged by), etc.
Re: The Meaning of Life
#47Life is a gift of God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, who in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in God's own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accompl…
Curious, are you familiar with the writings of Thomas Merton? Outside of Paradise Lost, the other book that made me realize the Christian leap is not without reason is, "The 7 Story Mountain"
Anyway, obviously you are a fully converted Christian, congratulations on your happiness ;-)
Re: The Meaning of Life
#48Life is a gift of God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, who in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in God's own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accompl…
I'm not hating on your answer here, you certainly are free to believe as you wish and at least as right as anyone else, but appeal to popularity, especially when that popularity was often forced at the point of a sword, is not a very good argument.
I did not make an appeal to popularity. I believe what the Church teaches, and I am perfectly happy being one sheep among billions in the sheepfold – that was my point.
The reason I pointed that out is that, other controversies aside, in an age of hyper-individualism, the fact that a set of beliefs is shared by so many is itself often an unstated motive for doubt.
Re: The Meaning of Life
#49Life is a gift of God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, who in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in God's own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accompl…
I'm not hating on your answer here, you certainly are free to believe as you wish and at least as right as anyone else, but appeal to popularity, especially when that popularity was often forced at the point of a sword, is not a very good argument.
Would you say the same to the guy who discovered atheism at the age of 7, somewhere at the top of this thread?
Re: The Meaning of Life
#50> What does it mean that all of your previous attempts at something have failed?
> Nothing! Nothing at all.
Don't try skydiving.