> Stephen De Vries wrote:
>[Ira]: Rule the universe to what end?
>[Stephen]: To survive. And survival is an end in itself. Survival
>can be the only ethic in this universe.
>[Ira]: What a grim universe it must be -- where the purpose of life
>is survival and survival is the only ethic.
>BTW, you wouldn't happen to be a survivalist? <g>
I don't know. Tell me what one is and I'll see if the label fits.
>Hopefully, there are purposes more noble than mere survival. And
>yes,
>sometimes it is more noble *not* to survive. But let's hope
>technological progress will render that unnecessary.
There is nothing nobler than survival. I agree that
sometimes it is nobler for me not to survive, but in doing so I
contribute to the survival of something else - The classic hero and
martyr themes are good examples where personal survival is sacrificed
for memetic survival. A very important decision to make is what
_you_ consider worth surviving.
We live in a binary universe - exist or not-exist.
Stephen
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Stephen de Vries phen@wwg3.uovs.ac.za
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/7827/index.html
- Challenge the guardians of the possible -