Why should people strive for goals, marriage, a family, etc if everything dies eventually? Why become a doctor when you'll die eventually and your patients will die too?
2007-07-20 12:25:43 · 31 answers · asked by KatGuy 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I see you changed your name... hmm... well, uh, to answer your question, which is a very good question, these things have to be done because they are what will make life enjoyable for us while we are here. The thing to remember is to have fun though. Many of us forget to do that when life is so short.
2007-07-20 14:05:07 · answer #1 · answered by Bunny Boiler 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Great question and has been tackled many times by philosophers throughout history. You are correct. Life is incredibly short; so why try? There are two reasons:
1. Genetic. We are genetically disposed to struggle and spread our genes. Basically our "evolution" has caused us to become a bit fond of life - regardless of how short it is (and it's always short) and to create "versions" of ourselves.
2. Faith (In God, the Human Race, etc). Some humans (well, most humans) believe that things will "get better". That somehow, through struggle, study, work, love, marriage, sex, effort that we make the world a better place for our ancestors. And, in fact, a few humans have been able to change the world and improve things like: lifespan, health, quality of life, etc.
So, genetics keeps us from killing ourselves and our "faith" (in something other than ourselves) gives us the hope that we can create a new, better world for those beyond us.
That is, we have the power to alter the world. Perhaps hundreds or thousands of years from now we will live hundreds of years, experience life in unfathomable ways, and actually have a reason for existing - this is the esoteric hope we cling to (whether we even realize it or not).
It's as if somone or something "designed" us to be this way. But, that sounds crazy.
2007-07-20 12:43:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because life is about now. Not about we're going. It is too easy to overlook exactly what is happening right now because we have plans for a certain future.
There will come times in your life which will bookmark where you are at that particular time; The birth of your child, your first love, sunset over a beach, hearing a song for the first time, kissing someone for the last time. Each of these experiences make us what we are.
Being able to appreciate these experiences as they happen can make us stronger and happier. When my son was born, the last thing on my mind was how he would die. The thought never even occured. One day he will die, but for now he is alive and happy and the most precious thing in my world. So why should I worry that one day I will die? Today I am happy.
2007-07-24 02:31:45 · answer #3 · answered by jonah_fro 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like several people before me have said, you will live for a while. Life spans are commonly 80+ years now. I would prefer to have a wife, family, friends, and do things over that time than sit and do nothing. Also, I am a Christian and believe in an after life, as do Muslims. Many Eastern religions believe in reincarnation and that in order to move to a higher plane you need to "improve" in the current life. So no matter how you look at it, life is worth living well.
2007-07-20 12:35:34 · answer #4 · answered by cyclist451 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We strive because happiness is possible within this lifetime.
When you are young, life seems eternal, and the horizon is infinite. When you are older, you discover the horizon is not infinite, and never was infinite. You discover there are limits to what you can do. Yet, you also discover that life is worth living, that there are things worth strving, worth dying for. We are not born with this awareness, this knowledge is something you learn. Once you discover what you consider valuable in life, you seek to get it. You find happiness in those matters, or in the quest for them. Of course, what is a valuable goal in this context is personal, and can be different in different people and still be properly desired.
Just look at the people you consider healthier among humans. They do not go gently into that night. It is not some animal instinct that keeps them alive. Humans are the only animal that can choose to terminate his life. To live is a choice, and the healthiest among us found a reason to live. They consciously chose to fight, to stay alive.
2007-07-20 12:43:49 · answer #5 · answered by epistemology 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very good question.
Its not about becoming a doctor or getting married or anything. It's about pursuing and doing something that you enjoy doing in life. If marriage is what you enjoy you must do it. If becoming a doctor is what you will enjoy doing before death comes do it. For the most part, people do things because they enjoy doing it during this journey of life, until the final call comes. It is for you to decide, what will you do with it.
2007-07-20 14:00:56 · answer #6 · answered by buddy_nice 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your given the chance to make something enjoyable out of it, even though it inevitably comes to an end, looking back and reviewing what you did when you had the opportunity makes it all worth it.Why would you sit around and just not care about anything? You lose out on the chances of experiencing the good and bad times. You can die happy knowing you gave it a shoot vs. just looking back reviewing your life full of miserable times.
2007-07-20 12:41:33 · answer #7 · answered by St3v0 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good point. But you need to pass time, dont you? Or you'll sit idle for your whole life? Anyways you cant sit idle for you whole life. So, if you have to pass time, then why not pass it in doing something which will make you an individual? Why not do what you like, so by that, time willl be passed quicky!
Be a Doctor for your Patients sake atleast? Be something for someone.
2007-07-20 12:41:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you wake up and have yourself a good cup of coffee, does it not feel good, does it not taste good? Would you throw it away because it will not last forever? When you feel your lovers arms around you would you tell them to go away because it will not last forever? Would you turn your back to a beautiful sunset because it will not last forever? Take these things, they are the gift to you for your life. Enjoy them while you have the opportunity. Then think that maybe when it is time for you to die how you would feel if you find that in the after life that all you have is the vivid memories of your past life to exist with for the rest of eternity.
2007-07-20 16:15:55 · answer #9 · answered by everymansmedium 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no logical reason, but life isn't logical. If the goals you list mean nothing to you, are there no others that do ? Make your own choices and your own life. In general, if the process of attaining something isn't of value in itself, the attainment will be empty. It's the journey that matters, not the destination.
2007-07-20 17:16:40 · answer #10 · answered by Bruce M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is something deeper within us that craves these things. All of our goals, whether they are career, marriage, family- all of these things are designed to have contact with others. Since we don't know for sure (we have spiritual beliefs or ideas) what lies on the other side, we can't know for certain that our physical lives are so meaningless.
2007-07-20 13:37:04 · answer #11 · answered by saracatheryn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋