Are you living a meaningful life if all you do is follow your natural instincts?

Question

Certain behaviors are instinctual:
* Eating is an instinct
* Avoiding death is an instinct
* Reproducing is an instinct

Every animal follows its instincts, but humans have the ability to transcend theif instincts. Humans have the opportunity to take their fate into their own hands, unlike animals who are strictly limited to following the instincts they were born with.

When you perform behavior dictated by your genes, is that you acting, or is it some other force commanding you to act in a certain way? Is it really your will when you have no choice over it?

Most people live for their families, that is they get their meaning in life by following their instinct to pass on their genes. This is best characterized as their selfish genes acting to make sure that the genes survive.

When you reach the end of your life, and upon reflection, decide that you only followed the behavior pattern dictated by your genes, only acted instinctually, will you have lived a meaningful life?

Suppose that I have genes that make me prone to alcoholism. Drinking alcohol makes me happy.

If I spend my life in an alcoholic stupor, following the dictates of my genes, will I have led a meaningful life?

Drunkenfist51 - you seem to think I am trying to tell you how to live your life. All I am doing is asking a question - are you afraid of the answer you will reach if you honestly consider it?

seaofcolour - you have some interesting points.

However, some scientists believe we treat our friends well because they may share some genes with us. Thus, kindness to our friends may be instinctual too.

Many other activities, such as mountain climbing, are a form of play, which can be explained as practicing key skills for survival.

The motivation for drug use is a puzzle, but I've never heard anyone say their life was meaningful because of the good drugs they took (not that you're saying it either).

schizo - your profile says "only loyal to my own pleasures".

Imagine a robot I create. I want it to behave a certain way, so I give it feedback. When it misbehaves, I give it negative feedback, when it behaves the way I want, I give it positive feedback.

Since a robot is incapable of feeling pleasure or pain, its feedback is a number stored in its brain. I program my robot to maximize that number.

The pleasure is exactly the same as the number for the robot, and it is your genes have programmed you to respond in that way.

Roger S - exactly how did you misconstrue my question to infer that having children is bad?

The rest of your answer seems intelligent, so please use that intelligence to read more carefully.

Answer 1

All lives have meaning. But if you never rose above your natural instincts even though you know you could have, then I would say that your life was wasted. Because we are so much more than just animals. Well, maybe not THAT much more.

Answer 2

A meaningful life is subjective to each person. What is meaningful for one is not meaningful for another. Are you saying that if you avoid having children, does that make your life more meaningful? If so, then OK don't have kids and see if that makes you have a more meaningful life. When you are at the end of your life and you look back at all the times that you took steps to change you behavior to avoid behavior that is "dictated by your genes" do you think you will have had a more meaningful life? I think the opposite will be true. I think in that case, your actions have actually been MORE dictated by genes because you force yourself to act in a certain way.

I don't think that anyone could really reach the end of their life and say they only acted instinctually. Sometimes we all do things for no reason related to natural instinct. However, if you do reach the end of your life and ONLY followed behavioral patterns dictated by your genes, then you have to ask if that behavior led to happiness for yourself or others. Then you will know if your life had meaning.

Final answer....
A dog is an animal that acts on instincts.
My dog's life was meaningful because even though he acted only on instincts, his behavior provided meaningful experiences to others (my family, friends, and me).
If the life of a dog can be meaningful, then the life of a human can have meaning too despite if the human acted instinctually or not.

Answer 3

If people only took care of their family members to pass on their genes then it does not make sense why they take care of their friends. I believe there is a bit more padding around our base instincts, and that padding is what makes life so much more interesting..

Drinking alcohol, doing drugs, scaling a mountain or doing a cross-word puzzle.. those are things above our natural instincts.. we don't need to do them to survive.. They are the padding that keeps things from getting dull (bum sniffing like the wolves must feel a little redundant after a while).. At least we create interesting concoctions for ourselves like cocaine and hot chocolate to keep life InTerEstIng as possible..

Then again.. what exactly makes life meaningful? Our children may be the things that give us meaning in our lives.. or our jobs (our accomplishments).. But wait.. reproducing -- that is, producing a child because of sexual intercourse may happen because of following those 'natural instincts'.. but why is taking good care of your children 'till they are 18 years old not instinctive?? Too bad it's not..

My instincts tell me that I'm babbling. ..and I think I'll listen and shut up now. Still though.. I feel that my babling was meaningful..

Enjoy it all.. whatever you can, and whatever it may be!

Answer 4

Certain instincts are backed up by choice. You can choose to eat or you can choose to wait. Just because you have to eat to survive doesn't mean it's an instinct. We don't see a hamburger and lunge at it like a dog would. We are not born with instincts but learn them. A bird won't learn to fly unless it is taught. As for one's wish to live for their family, it's due to the fact that they love their family, and that they want to take care of them, NOT because they have to.

Answer 5

God created earth and animals, and then he created man "in His own image." That means that we are on a different level than animals. We are created to know God and unless we come to that knowledge (through Christ) we will NOT live a meaningful life. We'll get to the end and think, "What was that all about?"

Answer 6

Excellent question!I think that's one of the most fascinating,thought-provoking questions,to ever be asked on here.
You're a lot like I am.Very,very deep,analytical,and searching for answers.Answers to the deep,hidden,more confusing kinds of questions,that most people don't even think about.
I believe,that to live a meanigful life,you need to have the power of choice.You need to live your life in a way,where you're given the freedom to decide for yourself.If you don't have that freedom,if other people make your decisions for you,then you're really just denying your rights as a human being.If the family tradition,is to marry,raise children,and stay at home with the children,yet that's not what YOU want to do,then you should break that tradition.In your own case,that is.If your wish is to have a job where,you travel the world,and don't get married and have children,then you should do so.What works with everyone else,might not work for you.I'm the kind of person,who doesn't follow everything I've been taught.I have a different way of thinking about things,and how I see things.I don't agree with everything I've been taught,and I don't necessarily respect it,either.When it comes to tradition,some things are important to pass along.Like,the basic values of life.Honesty,trust,respect,kindness,etc.But with some traditions,the attitude in which these values are presented,is where I draw the line.Yes,I understand that it's important to have respect for other people.And to be kind,helpful,and mannerly.But if I'm expected to just do for everybody else,and neglect myself and do what everyone else expects of me,and not have a life of my own,then natural instincts,whatever they may be,take predominance,over my power of choice.It's my choice if I want to help other people,and show kindness to my fellow human beings.But it's NOT my choice,if I'm expected to live my life for just that purpose.Everyone needs to have a purpose in life,that's about them,and doing what makes them happy.Helping other people is important,yes.But it's also important,to have a life,doing something for yourself.
Tradition teaches us,that life has certain values,where we can meet these standards of moral behavior.But it's the way in which these values are passed down,where my belief system has become distorted.Tradition,to me,seems to overemphasize the importance,of everyone else's rights,and the insignificance of the children's rights.As children,we're told to do this,don't do that,and so we obey.But if we're told these things,in an attitude of coldness,disapproval,or the threat of punishment,things get very distorted.If we're not told,in decency and respect,in a loving,kind manner,but instead in a way where,we fear punishment,or we fear the loss of our parents' love,then it's easy to become fed up with tradition,altogether.
Good moral behavior,is easier to come by,when one chooses to do so.But it's hard to choose to do what's right,when you feel you have no choice.You MUST do this,or something bad will happen.If somebody tells you this,won't you get angry,scared,and resentful towards the person,who told you this?I'd rather be told,that it's good if I DON'T do this particular thing.Because I'm loved and cared for,and someone's looking out for my best interest.It's hard to have respect for someone,if they say,''if you don't do what I expect you to do,I'll take my belt to you later.''That's an angry,abusive person,who only wants to control you.Not look out for you.
In regards to your question,if you have no choice over something,how can that be your will?It's not your will.Somebody has taken their will,manipulated you into thinking you MUST do this,and forced their will upon you.Your will is only in control,when you're doing something,you really,truly want to do.Force and control and manipulation,are what other people use,to get you to do what they want.It's only your will that's in control,when you do what you want.
Great question.I hope I answered it in a way,where you can understand what I'm saying.I think,that to have a meaningful life,it takes more than just natural instinct.The freedom of choice,is really where,you find the power over your own destiny.

Answer 7

if you helped people along the way and put others needs ahead of your own then you can be sure you have lead a meanful life

Answer 8

Breathe, pray & yes confession, very meaningful.

Answer 9

Who or what decides whether my life was meaningful? And meaningful to whom? Me? You?

Answer 10

Only you can answer that if your life is meaningful or not Tom. And please don't try to tell me how to live mine.