by Asim Jalis
Is purposelessness a good idea?
A direct response to this would not make sense. Here are my
thoughts on why a response would not make sense.
1. The whole concept of something being a "good idea" only makes
sense in the context of a purpose. It's good if it takes us
closer to some ideal. Purposelesssness cannot be purposeful. It
cannot fulfill some higher goal, or appear to be a good idea in
the context of some bigger goal or purpose. So it cannot be a
good idea.
2. The question itself is asked with the goal of generating a
response -- a consequence. The question has a goal, which is the
response. And thus by responding I fall into this trap.
3. But I also did not post this with the goal of convincing
anyone of this idea. I posted and stepped away. It's possible
that this idea becomes implanted in someone's head, and it is
also possible that it is ignored and/or forgotten by everyone. I
see no point in adopting either of these ends as my goals.
Because regardless of how piercingly I argue it is not possible
to foresee the consequent effects of whatever I write.
Here is a vague justification for purposelessness.
It matches the patterns of nature. For example, evolution has no
ideal or goal that it strives towards. At each step all options
are open to it. In a similar way, purposefulness and goals limit
the possibilities that are open to us. They narrow our field of
view.
Once it is obvious that our actions have outcomes we cannot
control or predict it does not make sense to measure success as
the achievement of some specific outcome. It makes more sense to
keep engaging in action, purposelessly, and then to see a purpose
and a direction emerge in hindsight (just like it does in
evolution).
