We Are Stardust — Finding Meaning in the Universe

When I look at the amazing description of the Universe created by science, I find that it is anything but meaningless

Neurons in the brain of a mouse. Confocal microscope image by Hermes Solenzol.

I would define “meaning” as something larger than ourselves that gives a sense of purpose and direction to our lives. Having meaning in life is one of the key ingredients of happiness, because for most people a life worth living needs to have purpose in a larger context.

Meaning and ethics

Meaning is also important as a foundation for ethics. Systems of values can be reduced to a few fundamental premises from which codes of ethics can be developed rationally. However, those premises themselves are arbitrary unless they can be referred to some other knowledge, like an understanding of what it means to be human, or a description of the world.

For example, Christianity and Islam base their ethics on the will of God. This is based on the belief that God created the Universe and His will takes priority over anything else. However, this system of ethics falls apart when we question the belief in God, or the morality of submitting to the will of a God that allows suffering.

In Utilitarianism, ethics are based on maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering…