What is the nature of the process of choosing our reasons for living?

Question

Those who believe that there is no external purpose of life, i.e. from God, still must find some reason for living. Disregarding God, I would think that evolution must be the process by which we are forced to invent these reasons for living. Since evolution is a natural process and has no goal or purpose in mind, how do we logically select a reason for living that will satisfy this non-rational, evolution-provided demand? We can't argue or negotiate or even have an intelligent conversation with evolution.

So do we go through some list of things to do and try to pick out by feelings what we think will work? Save the whales? Save the snails? Save the ...

I chose the phrase, "reasons for living" which refers to internally derived purpose to distinguish it from externally derived purpose.

Angel: People constantly sit down and ask here on Y!A to get help to work out their reason for living. I think that is solid evidence that we do need a reason. "Life is to BE lived. Not rationalised" That is what animals do but humans can't help but to think about these things.

Pour la Paix: You've told me what you have chosen but not how you went about choosing what you did.

Persona: If we don't think about such things, then there is no problem. Again judging from the number of questions about purpose on Y!A, people are not able to prevent themselves from thinking.

Answer 1

No one chooses a reason for living, no one chooses when, where or how to be born.

I think you are born, given life, then find personal reasons for carrying on. Things to stoke your imagination, passion and interest. Curiosity....

No one really sits down with pen and paper to work out their REASON for living. There doesn't need to be a reason, as long as you LIVE and experience. Life is to BE lived. Not rationalised.

As for save the whales or the snail, err no couldn't care that much about either cause! Rather "save" my own sanity and preserve my own mental and physical health thank you very much.

You don't need some external, global "cause" to get all hot and bothered about. I say find yourself, save yourself, better yourself, and help make the experience of life as pleasurable as possible for all concerned.

Answer 2

I think living is the default solution. If you don't think at all, you will still be alive. You need reasons to not live before you start pondering reasons why TO live.

Maybe these are opposites? You see all the crime in the world, so your reason for staying is to be a crime-fighter? The biggest injustice in one's life tends to be their focus, positive and negative.

Answer 3

searching for my best personal values (require some choices),

then promoting them by acting on them.

could be called growth.