Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyboosh
I come here for interesting, educational and challenging discussion, so I'm happy to respond, assuming that isn't hijacking or derailing the thread. I'm not naturally an objective person, although I try, I like to take a position and then try to defend it, unless I can already see why it's wrong...
Not sure I understand the question though, are you asking me if it's true that there is a desire for meaning? Doesn't seem like it could be that though since I think that's trivially true. (My personal favourite philosophy on that is 'embrace the absurdity')
So, that's my answer, or, I need you to elaborate, please.
I would say that truth and self deception are relevant to this thread, so I don’t see this as a derail.
Let’s say that earlier in my life when I felt unfulfilled, my impulse would be to binge eat. After several cycles of this over the years, I realized that this was an insufficient response, so I took a step back and decided that I was going to take the problem more seriously by engaging worldview, philosophy, science, etc rather than just following my impulses. I conceptualize this new response to the problem of feeling unfulfilled as truth seeking.
In this hypothetical, let’s assume that the empirical data, based on rigorous scientific study, concludes that the best way to fulfill the desire for meaning is an intimate, long term relationship and having 2 children. So, I do that because I follow the truth and this is what is true.
Fast forward to the present and suddenly I begin to feel that exact same feeling of being unfulfilled and feel the desire for meaning arising. I recall my protocol: resist the short term impulses and seek out truth. Then, I remember what the truth calls for, backed by rigorous science, and realize that I am already living in the truth. As a result, I suppress the arising desire for meaning. And I repeat this pattern ad nauseam.
Which is more true: the unfulfilled desire for meaning or the propositional, empirical, thought patterns which are in response? Can a desire be more true than our truthful propositions? In the hypothetical, is my suppression strategy based on what is empirically true mistaken? If so, how can it be unless the desire for meaning is more true.
Last edited by craig1120; 07-15-2021 at 06:47 PM.