Absolute Value?

Mr. Heidkamp’s lecture yesterday had everyone’s head spinning. It brought up many points that we agreed with and many that we didn’t. Obviously, his convictions - that pain, suffering, and death are the only absolutes and that the systems we create to justify them are harmful to one’s being - are not commonly applied in day-to-day life. Although I agree with much of what he says, I think this may be for the best.

It is, indeed, a certainty that all things living will die. This is the only absolute, in reality - the sole aspect of life that is undeniably certain. Thus, life is fairly absurd. There is no real reason for it, other than that we are born. We must not live for love and happiness, for so much of life is devoid of these emotions. We must not live for pain and suffering, for these are inherently unpleasant things.

So why, once born and sentient, do we choose to continue living?

Heidkamp argued that the systems we use to make order from the chaos of life’s meaning block us from reaching true independence. But they also give us reasons to live. Without love, morals, expression, etc., would being alive be more attractive that being dead?

This is why I believe that there is very little harm in buying into certain systems. If believing in God or unconditional love makes life bearable, then by all means, believe. Fabricating lies and cover ups such as these can do a lot of good in preserving one’s life.

Conversely, if these systems are cover ups, then is life actually more valuable than death? Obviously, suicide and murder create suffering in the lives of those left behind. But if we all become comfortable with death being the only certainty, with the fact that everyone we know will die, then the absence of life will become as meaningless as life itself. Is this enlightenment, or justification for genocide?