Life Without A Purpose: The Smart Choice

According to the first chapter of the book, "intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason of it's own existence" (p. 1). If this is true, then we are the only "intelligent" species in this world as we know it. We don't see dogs going to Pre-Ap English class learning about the QUESTions. But who knows. Maybe animals do believe there's a reason for their existence.

Let's suppose we're the only species that have questioned our existence. Was it the smartest thing to do? If we compare nature's system to ours, I'd say nature is wiser. It's system is flawless. There's no corruption and no violence unless it's necessary. We've been reading these books in class about finding the perfect world, detaching from material things and accepting death. Mother Nature already does all these things, and she doesn't need books to tell her what to do. When a lion catches a zebra, the rest of the herd moves along. They don't stop and weep for the lost life. Animals understand there's a food chain that consists of eating and eventually, getting eaten. They may not be conscious of all of this, but I'm starting to think it's better that way. Look at us. We understand we shouldn't attach to anything and we still do. Nature has created this amazing utopia, where things aren't good or bad. They just are. The best part of all, is that animals can't get bored of this "perfect life" because they're purpose in life is not to enjoy. The only purpose they know of is reproduction. Wouldn't life be much easier this way? Look at the examples in the book. A black gull can swallow a baby and not feel guilty afterwards. A female praying mantis can eat the male without hesitation. Animals don't suffer like humans do. They accept nature's course and act on an instinct of survival. You're probably disagreeing with me. Thinking animals don't suffer as we do, but they can't feel emotions we feel either. I ask you, what does that affect them? How can you miss something you never had?

If we had never questioned our reason of existence, we would have never developed many of the emotions we have right now. We wouldn't want to be happy, because we wouldn't understand it's meaning. Without happiness, there wouldn't be sadness, therefore, we'd live in a perfect state; not happy, but not sad either. We wouldn't miss what we wouldn't have. We'd just live to survive.

So, in the end, was finding the reason of our existence a smart choice?