Image via WikipediaWhat is the meaning of life? Nobody really knows, but many (most?) people have an opinion. Moreover, is that question itself meaningful, and if so, is it the most fundamental question one can ask about life? I think not. I think more fundamental would be to ask, "WTF is life?", assuming Bill Clinton has the decency to define what the meaning of "is" is.
Given that "What is life?" is a fundamental question, perhaps we should inquire about some of life's most prominent attributes? Well, I think we can agree that, fundamentally, life is a natural process of finite duration (for every instance that is not "supernatural"). If so, then I think it is worth asking, "How should one evaluate the quality of one's life?"
To the extent that one can affect the course of one's life process, it seems clear that a useful guideline would be to optimize one's own quality of life. Naturally, this begs the question, "How can one evaluate quantitatively the quality (or net worth) of one's life"? I am quite confident that one size does not fit all, so to speak.
It seems to me one must begin by identifying one's own personal "currency" for the evaluation of one's own quality of life. For the sake of this inquiry, I choose bacon, which at least half the world's population can agree on as a worthwhile currency. Others will probably choose something like "wine, women, and song". Preferably, one would include all of the foregoing as different denominations for the quality-of-life currency.
Although an appropriate currency is necessary, it is not sufficient for the evaluation of a life well lived. As the saying goes, "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game that counts", though that, I think, is an overstatement. Winning isn't everything, nor is it the only thing, but it does count for something. Nevertheless, though my focus here is on self-evaluation, one can not lose sight of the reality that no man is an island, the quantity of available resources is finite, and ethical standards must be considered for the greater good. Wisdom that has withstood the test of time is Hillel's Golden Rule.
With that in mind, what does our guideline require us to do about our lives?
Post 1,485 On the Ethical Acquisition and Efficient Consumption of Bacon
Given that "What is life?" is a fundamental question, perhaps we should inquire about some of life's most prominent attributes? Well, I think we can agree that, fundamentally, life is a natural process of finite duration (for every instance that is not "supernatural"). If so, then I think it is worth asking, "How should one evaluate the quality of one's life?"
To the extent that one can affect the course of one's life process, it seems clear that a useful guideline would be to optimize one's own quality of life. Naturally, this begs the question, "How can one evaluate quantitatively the quality (or net worth) of one's life"? I am quite confident that one size does not fit all, so to speak.
It seems to me one must begin by identifying one's own personal "currency" for the evaluation of one's own quality of life. For the sake of this inquiry, I choose bacon, which at least half the world's population can agree on as a worthwhile currency. Others will probably choose something like "wine, women, and song". Preferably, one would include all of the foregoing as different denominations for the quality-of-life currency.
Although an appropriate currency is necessary, it is not sufficient for the evaluation of a life well lived. As the saying goes, "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game that counts", though that, I think, is an overstatement. Winning isn't everything, nor is it the only thing, but it does count for something. Nevertheless, though my focus here is on self-evaluation, one can not lose sight of the reality that no man is an island, the quantity of available resources is finite, and ethical standards must be considered for the greater good. Wisdom that has withstood the test of time is Hillel's Golden Rule.
With that in mind, what does our guideline require us to do about our lives?
- Two things:
- Acquire as much bacon as you might enjoy, with the understanding that "bacon" is a placeholder for whatever commodity and/or achievement floats your boat.
- Consume the bacon that you manage to acquire as efficiently as you can (i.e., don't waste any).
Post 1,485 On the Ethical Acquisition and Efficient Consumption of Bacon
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