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"The
good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge."
Bertrand
Russell, Philosopher
"...seeking,
without religion, the best in and for human beings."
Chambers Pocket
Dictionary
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Affirming
Life through Humanism Humanists find exuberance to be intrinsically worthwhile for its own sake. This is usually identified with happiness but I add that, in joyful exuberance, there is high excitement, the intensity of living, throbbing with passion, engaging in daring activities of enterprise and adventure. Joyful exuberance is enhanced when we not only fulfil our needs and wants, but creatively express our goals and aspirations. It denotes some degree of excellence, nobility, even perfectibility, of a person's talents and achievements. It comes to fruition for those who find life intensely worth living and at times exhilarating. More
than that, it involves a flowering of one's personality in that person's own terms.
And in its highest reaches it expresses the fullness and richness of living. This
occurs when a person is able to realise his or her wants and talents, dreams and
aspirations, and when a person is able to share the bountiful goods of life with
others-children and parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, colleagues
and neighbours-within the various communities of humankind. This is most eloquently
achieved when there is moral growth and development: a person is able to appreciate
the needs of others; there is a genuine willingness to relate to them, to love
and be loved, to share and even to make sacrifices for their benefit. Creating
Your Own Life Meanings The
meaning of life is not to be found in a secret formula discovered by ancient prophets
or modern gurus, who withdraw from living to seek quiet contemplation and release.
Life has no meaning per se; it does, however, present us with innumerable opportunities,
which we can either squander and retreat from in fear or seize with exuberance.
It
can be discovered by anyone and everyone who can energize an inborn zest for living.
It is found within living itself, as it reaches out to create new conditions for
experience. Eating of the fruit of the Tree of Life gives us the bountiful enthusiasms
for living. The ultimate value is the conviction that life can be found good in
and of itself. Each moment has a kind of preciousness and attractiveness. The
so-called secret of life is an open scenario that can be deciphered by everyone.
It is found in the experiences of living: the delights of a fine banquet, the
strenuous exertion of hard work, the poignant melodies of a symphony, the appreciation
of an altruistic deed, the excitement of an embrace of someone you love, the elegance
of a mathematical proof, the invigorating adventure of a mountain climb, the satisfaction
of quiet relaxation, the lusty singing of an anthem, the vigorous cheering in
a sports contest, the reading of a delicate sonnet, the joys of parenthood, the
pleasures of friendship, the quiet gratification of serving our fellow human beings-all
of these activities and more. The
meaning of life is tied up intimately with our plans and projects, the goals we
set for ourselves, and our dreams and the successful achievement of them. We create
our own conscious meanings; we invest the cultural and natural worlds with our
own interpretations. Life, when fully lived under a variety of cultural conditions,
can be euphoric and optimistic; it can be a joy to experience and a wonder to
behold. Paul Kurtz is editor-in-chief of Free Inquiry, professor emeritus of philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and chair of the Center for Inquiry.
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