A thought, or two

I was asked the question about life that I often ask myself. You know the one about there being a point, and why we prolong it? This time i found myself on the other side of the argument - I defended life and what it has to offer. I've never been good at debating, and we hardly came to a resolution. I guess if mankind could ever really answer that question we would've stopped asking it a long time ago. Still, you can't help but think: If there's no definite answer, then what's the point? I mean if you can't think of a purpose towards living, then why live?

Historically we've found reasons to live. Making life easier for generations to come. Advancing the progress of mankind so as to explore new things. Making personal achievements, so as to achieve immortality, and etching yourself into the edifice of time. But those reasons are all coming to pass now. With the massive growth in almost every aspect of human activity, people are starting to change their focus. Nowadays, it's not about, "What's the world gonna be like for my grandchildren?" These days, it's about, "How am I gonna afford my estate and live the life i want to live?" The reasons why this is the case is a topic all by itself.

Recently I've come to think, that maybe it is precisely because there's no answer to the question that we continue to live. Maybe the fact that there is no ONE answer is precisely why life is worth living. Asking the question, "what's there to live for?" is as open a question as asking, "what should I do today?" In both questions, there are things that have to be done (in life, and today), and things that you may want to do (in life, and today). Regardless, the answer to neither question should be "nothing." We often feel we need a day to do 'nothing' after several days of exhaustion. It's a natural feeling. The problem lies when we use the same outlook towards our life at large. After a lifetime of trials and tribulations, we sometimes feel as though the best escape is death, the absolute realm of nothing. It is important to note the biggest difference between the two scenarios. We enjoy a day of nothing for the purpose of resting up for future days of activity, but death is a finality.

Discussing suicide further is not a simple task. I've recently become moved by the question, "Who are you to dictate moral absolutes?" It's such a profound statement. Surprisingly I picked it up off a cartoon. They probably stole it from a philosopher. But it's true. With any subject, who is really to say what's right and what's wrong? Who's really to say where the line is between respectable suicide and selfish suicide, or whether there is a line at all? Really no earthly being has the authority, which is probably why people turn to God. An authority figure is needed for moral absolutes like these. Suicide, capital punishment, war, means vs. end; with topics like these, many people need something to tell them where to stand on issues like these. Only a few of us are skilled enough walk along the fine line an authoritative being or doctrine helping us along the way. And furthermore, some of us only think we possess such skill.