Pacing footsteps, hooting cars and, anxiety has become a part of our lives because we are always running late to do something giving weight to the view that time is one scarce and precious commodity that no one should waste. Unfortunately, such a view is only right to a certain an extent because in reality everyday hustles and bustles that have come to define life have done nothing but push human race away from the basics. Many people are driven by materialistic goals and attaining one step creates an impulse for the other and so forth. Based on this notion, it is unsurprising that a good proportion of the population often get to a point where everything losses sense rendering life itself meaningless. In 2015, suicide was ranked the 17th cause of death globally as statisticians estimated that about 800,000 took their own lives. Even though these figures imply the struggles that most people are undergoing concerning life’s meaning, most of us opt to brush it aside rather than use it as an opportunity to confront our fears and doubts on whether our lives are meaningful or not.
Personally, I grew up in foster care, and for a long time, I believed that my life would be worthwhile if I had a family. Throughout my childhood, the quest of having parents and siblings gave me a reason to remain strong in the face of challenges and try to give my best. However, I started asking myself what is it that I could do when I had a family that I cannot do at the moment that is when I realized that specific issues are way beyond my control and letting them determine my destiny would be unwise. This realization gave me a different perspective on life where I appreciate all that I have rather than focusing on the pain brought by things that I thought I was entitled to but were not available for me. The human race is just but a tiny part of nature hence any attempt to control it is an impossibility that drains one of life’s basics that is happiness, love and, peace. I consider myself a secular saint because I no longer look to critic concepts regarding human life instead I have shifted my focus to gaining an understanding that will allow me to internalize these teachings and be a better person. Today, I am a psychology student with an aim to help others who have gone through the foster care experience to realize the aspects that make life meaningful and work towards ‘better’ living, i.e. improving the society. This paper examines the concept of meaningful living by engaging in a dialogue with the views of some of the world’s greatest philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, Augustine of Hippo, Darwin, Faulkner and, Mother Teresa.
Discussion
Present-day psychologists have attempted to answer the question of how one can live a meaningful life by summarizing the so-called vitals to a complete life. Despite the different terms and phrases used they can be summed up as; belonging, purpose, transcendence and, using relevant experiences to create a coherent narrative (Suttie, 2017). A close look at these aspects reveals that they are not only interconnected but also derived from various philosophical teachings on the meaning of life. Alternatively, the factors leading to a meaningful life can be viewed as refined perspectives of the philosophical teachings to suit their application in the modern day society.
In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius demonstrates that acquisition of mere knowledge without applying it in everyday life is pointless. Therefore, people should strive to gain an understanding of philosophical teachings with the intentions of internalizing them to the extent where they guide their day to day choices and actions (Aurelius, 2009). Marcus’s concepts regarding meaningful living are based on three principles, i.e. nature, impulse and, desires. Nature has been described as a highly interconnected physical system controlled by God, and the human race is made up a minute part of it. The fact that human being is part of nature places limitations on our capabilities regarding the things that we can change making it practical to only desire that which is within our reach. According to Marcus, unhappiness arises when an individual fails to consider the ‘larger physical system’ which are beyond human control when yearning for a specific thing. For instance, I fancied having a family with loving parents and a good home, but at the back of my mind, I knew such an aspiration was impractical. Over time, I became angry at everyone including those who were trying to help as I tried to understand why I did not have parents like all the ’normal’ kids. My desires led me into entertaining thoughts meant to justify my anger/pain while blurring all the right things that I had but was taking them for granted.
From the example, it is quite apparent that it is impossible for a human being to have all his/her desires because the world is made up of a multitude of interconnected factors that are beyond our understanding and capabilities. However, this state should not make one feel helpless because happiness can still be achieved once a person learns to accept the things he/she cannot change while maintaining the principles that guide moral choices. Alternatively, it would be impractical to try and change the way people act, but that does not mean we should be swamped in the wave by imitating those habits. This point could be illustrated by considering what happens in the world of business where everyone is trying to get ahead, and some would do just anything to get whatever he or she wants. Therefore, acts of dishonesty and malice are not uncommon. In such circumstances, it would be prudent for an individual to continue doing right regardless of the unfavorable conditions. In other words, one cannot change the world, but he/she should not let the world undermine his/her guiding principles. Based on these arguments, it is apparent that Marcus’s teachings on desires, impulses and, assent come down to defining life’s purpose which encompasses the values that guide one towards doing good.
Other than Marcus, Augustine of Hippo has also made a significant contribution to the philosophy of meaningful living in his teaching about time as an extension and philosophy of history. Like any other concept, religion relies on the interconnectivity of facts because any form of controversy regarding a particular aspect is likely to create a wedge through the whole ideology. This notion is well-demonstrated in Augustine’s theory of time as an extension in reference to creation where he challenges the Manichaean’s view on the ‘events before creation’ which places significance on the aspects of time, i.e. past, present and, future. Augustine defines time as a creature created alongside the rest of creation rendering the ideas of events before creation meaningless. Such a description eliminates aspects that deprive people of joy, happiness and, peace by eliminating guilt which cannot be redone and anxiety for future because it is non-existent.
In his work Confessions, Augustine states that the past, present and, future are memories, sights and, expectations respectively. This view reduces the time to human’s extension of thoughts. Therefore, if time cannot be defined based on specified magnitudes, then our existence is at this very moment meaning that all that is considered agonizing would eventually become memories. In other words, the problems that we think we have been created in our minds because they stopped existing long ago and all that remains of them is nothing more than memories. Unfortunately, we often strive to hold onto time re-living every bit of the torment which creates a negative perception regarding our lives. The outcome is paranoia that results in anxiety regarding a future that in reality is ‘non-existent.’ Think of a situation where a young boy is walking down the streets and gets hit by a speeding car. Luckily, he survives, but his parents scared of losing him keep him locked up in the house, but one day a hurricane blows off part of the house injuring and killing his siblings. This example demonstrates that what we have come to refer to a future is unknown and beyond our control, however, we often foresee it based on past experiences which is inaccurate. Therefore, obsession with time has come to torment people who try to work to counter things that are unknown and whose existence cannot be affirmed. Personally, Augustine’s teaching on time as an extension contributes positively to my understanding of meaningful life as a secular saint as it illustrates the importance of living in the moment thus eliminating aspects like greed and anxiety that often drives people in engaging in the unimaginable.
Other important teachings that have contributed to my understanding of meaningful living as a secular saint by applying the philosophical concepts in everyday life are A Fable by William Faulkner and Mother Teresa’s famous notion about helping others. In the “A Fable’ Faulkner describes a human being as a frail and fragile creature exposed to challenges that surpass his/her capabilities, but through unity and collaboration, the human race prevails. By referring to Marcus’s concept that specifies that humanity is a small part of the whole creation whose complexity cannot be fathomed by a human mind. Hence desiring things that are beyond our reach leads to unhappiness. Even though this view might be correct, it encourages unassertiveness in dealing with the various issues within our surroundings. Therefore, Faulkner’s view could be viewed as a refinement of Marcus’s ideology of the place of humanity in the whole creation. Alternatively, achieving a certain goal might be impossible for a single person, but it is achievable when many people come together, share ideas and work towards a common goal. A century ago the idea of having something like an artificial beach was inconceivable, but today there are several artificial beaches like Singapore’s Sentosa Island and South African’s Sun City.
Faulkner’s view of humans’ capabilities when they are united supports the concept of meaningful living by creating a sense of belonging. The author admits that the human race is physically weak yet our survival depends on how well we tackle problems within our surroundings leading to the conclusion that we find strength in working with others instead of relying on our views. By extension, Faulkner’s teaching merges with that of Charles Darwin’s Evolutionary theory that specifies that humanity uses its intelligence to maintain and refine bio-friendly universe that would sustain life (Price, 2014). Therefore, God is the creator and controller of evolution which is a painful process meant to bring out the best in every creature gradually. This view partially explains why people suffer even though God has the ability to alleviate all agony. Therefore, people should understand that they are social beings i.e. they need others to counter the day to day challenges. However, healthy interaction is impossible if people fail to control their impulses that determine how they behave towards others as specified by Marcus’s in his principle of impulse. By understanding the role that people play in giving our lives meaning, we will be able to get to a point where all choices and actions are directed towards helping others as specified by Mother Teresa. From these arguments, I can agree that Marcus, Augustine, Darwin, Mother Teresa and, Faulkner teachings positively contribute to my understanding of the concept of meaningful life as a secular saint.
Conclusion
In general, the teachings covered in this essay merge at some point to promote that life becomes meaningful when the philosophical concepts are learned, internalized and, applied in everyday living. Even though these teachings address varying issues, they all support the view that life gain meaning when people develop a sense of belonging, transcendence, purpose and, reflects on the various events to form narratives that emphasize that we might not comprehend everything that happens to us, but surely all events have a reason. Based on the presented arguments, it can be concluded that Marcus, Augustine, Darwin, Mother Teresa and, Faulkner teachings support Dr. Ambrose’s view of a secular saint who purposes to apply the acquired knowledge.
References
Aurelius, M. (2009, January). The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Meditations, pp. 1-157. Retrieved from https://radioman.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/meditations.pdf
Price, M. E. (2014, September 5). Can Darwin Reveal the Meaning of Life? Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwin-eternity/201409/can-darwin-reveal-the-meaning-life
Suttie, J. (2017, January 20). The Four Keys to a Meaningful Life. Greater Good Magazine. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_keys_to_a_meaningful_life
