One effect of modernity (and our atheist, materialist, utilitarian ideological assumptions) is that the question of Life has all-but disappeared from thought, to be replaced by the many questions of Living.
The question of Life is concerned with this mortal Life between conception/birth and death; considered as a whole entity - asking what Life is about; its purpose, meaning.
Whereas the questions of living are those innumerable matters of surviving, thriving, being happy, remaining functional, reducing suffering - getting-through and doing-well.
The question of life is a matter of Why?
But modern culture and its people have already decided that there is no answer to Why? - have already decided that there is not purpose, meaning - and that Life is "about" nothing.
So this question of Life, which was so obvious as to be unavoidable for most of human history is ignored, suppressed; and replaced by the endless parade of questions of Living.
The Why? is replaced by a How?
Why think about Life when we already know (i.e. have already decided) that there is no answer?
By far the best thing, the only sensible thing, is therefore Not to think about Life.
...To stay focused on questions of living, and of how to live "well"; and to mock, or distract ourselves from, asking the question of Life.
Such is Western culture, now: such is the nature of our civilization.
There is never a necessary, nor even an appropriate, time or place for asking the question of Life.
Nor do people feel any need to answer it, and find ridiculous or contemptible any attempt to do so - and regard as idiotic or insane any claim to have done so.
And is this not evil? And evil of a very advanced and un-repentable form: for so many people, with such determination, to be so sure of the futility of Life as to refuse even to formulate the most important question of all?
No comments:
Post a Comment