Why Do We Exist?
Introduction
This is a question that humanity has pondered upon for eternity. From being slaves to the Gods to simple chance, many philosophers and scientists have made arguments regarding this question. However, no answer has managed to stick out until now.
I will discuss the most prevalent theories which can be divided into four different groups: Existentialism, Nihilism, Scientific Materialism, and Theistic Existentialism. I shall end this article with my own opinion as well.
Existentialism
Existentialism has been introduced by many philosophers, most notably the two French philosophers Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. These two theories have come to influence many generations until this day.
Sartre’s version of existentialism argued that existence precedes essence, this meant that humans existed first and their essence was defined afterward through the actions they do and choices they make. This emphasized individual freedom and the responsibility we have to define our lives.
We can all see how appealing this theory is. We can define the reason we exist or our “essence” by our essence and choices rather than having that reason enforced on us.
Meanwhile, Albert Camus did the unexpected. He explored the absurdity of human existence. He implied that life didn’t have any inherent meaning behind it; however, we as individuals can find our purpose through our actions and we can revolt against the absurdity of the universe.
This might be confusing at first glance. Our lives don’t have meaning; well, let’s give it meaning! That’s effectively what Camus implied. This revolutionary view inspired many youth due to its rebellious nature.
Nihilism
Nihilism is a depressing and dark theory, fitting of its most notable advocators, the two German Philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche and Arthur Schopenhauer.
Nietzsche was a big adversary of traditional values and considered them meaningless social constructs. He carried those views towards life itself. He made his famous claim “God is dead,” suggesting that religious frameworks are no longer a basis for meaning. So, according to Nietzsche, there is no meaning in the world.
Meanwhile, Schopenhauer argued that life is filled with suffering and that the chase after desires can only lead to temporary relief against that suffering. He advocated the detachment from all worldly desires if one wished to achieve inner peace.
Scientific Materialism
Scientific Materialism explains our existence through scientific means. Today, it might be the most widely accepted theory in the Western Hemisphere. Two noteworthy Scientists drove this theory, The British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and the American Astrophysicist Carl Sagan.
Dawkins proposed that life originated due to natural selection and genetic variation and there was no supernatural intervention at all. He simply attributed the reason for our existence to the mutations driven by evolution that shaped human behavior.
On the other hand, Sagan reached his conclusion through the cosmos. He suggested that humans are the result of cosmic processes that took place billions of years ago.
These two theories are often interconnected as one can argue that Sagan’s theory was a prequel to Dawkins’.
Theistic Existentialism
Theistic Existentialism attributes our existence to a supernatural occurrence, like God for example. There are as many Theistic theories as there are religions in the world. We will be briefly discussing two of those theories by philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and Martin Buber.
Kierkegaard explained our existence by combining Christian theology with existential philosophy. He argued that there would always be tension between the faith in God and the reason of Humans. He advocated for the need for a “leap of faith” to overcome existential despair rather than other means.
Buber’s philosophy of dialogue and relational existence posits that human beings find meaning and fulfillment through authentic relationships with others and with the divine. He emphasized the importance of encountering the “other” as a unique and sacred presence.
Meanwhile, Buber’s philosophy revolved around the importance of finding meaning in genuine relationships with others and with God. He emphasized the importance of considering the “other” as a sacred unique presence.
These theories revolve around how faith in God can answer our existential questions and give meaning to our lives.
My Belief
All the theories discussed previously are viable theories to base your meaning to live around or not base it at all. I believe like Camus that there is no actual reason for us to exist, but I don’t find any defiance in looking for meaning in our meaningless lives.
Life has so much to offer. Suffering? It is still an emotion that has so much beauty in it. How much art has been created from suffering? We can fall in love. We can create what has never been created. We can experience infinite things in this finite time we have on Earth. We can even explore the world beyond Earth.
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not referring to hedonistic pleasure. Of course, physical pleasure is one of these experiences that we can enjoy, but it is not the only one. There are much more beautiful pleasures like being hopelessly in love for example.
We have life, so let’s live it.
Conclusion
In summary, many theories explaining the reasons behind our existence have been brought up throughout history. We have discussed the four major ones: Existentialism, Nihilism, Scientific Materialism, and Theistic Existentialism. My personal opinion would fall under the umbrella of existentialism, where although I don’t believe our life has a predetermined meaning, we can give it our own meaning by experiencing it while we can.
