Philosopher Hugh Moorhead asked some 150 writers and thinkers a simple question:
“What is the Meaning of Life?” Not unexpectedly, the answers were quite diverse. Edward AlbeeL “Being aware of life, I should say.” Stephen Cahn “The meaning of life is invented, not discovered.” And there was some wit: “It hasn’t yet been decreed that life has a meaning, but then it hasn’t yet been decreed that it hasn’t!” The sum of responses was certainly less than any kind of consensus, but there was an undercurrent: the meaning of life lies in giving meaning to life, that is, the opportunity we have. I thought of all this while belatedly storing the remnants of our last holiday season, a time in our culture of sharing, giving, and caring. Hence the photos above, showing Penny addressing holiday greetings, and our tree, resplendent with shared family gifts. But Professor Moorhead’s queries were a 20th century adventure: would 21st responses show change? On the one hand wed now have the scientific breadth of Stephen Hawkins “A Brief History of Time”, on the other, the also current creationist theory put forth by the distinguished scientist, Francis Colliins, Director of our National Institute of Health , published as “The Language of God” One thing seems clear, however; as with Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, we are still dealing with theory, that is, with things hypothetical, perhaps even visionary, by definition waiting to be proven, modified, even disproven. A the least we can still ask: What might, or will, a 221st century consensus be on the meaning of life?