Life cares about perpetuating its own existence and yet it eats itself for that purpose. It seems intuitively contradictory and inconsistent with the ontology of life. It seems intuitively evil that what is deemed inferior is sacrificed to its superior without empathy for what itself would not desire in an inverse relationship. Perhaps my thinking is the consequence of human experience and intellect. Perhaps I am anthropomorphizing the values and desires of life. Perhaps I am applying an ought and comprehending it as an is. I have no experiences of the life of any species except of my own. The intellect of a human coupled with the experiences of a livestock would not comprehend the ethics of man. It is fully capable of understanding its sacrifice to the desire of man, but it will never understand why man desires its own survival more than itself. No one can understand until its condition becomes what it is not. Life encompasses all conditions of individual experiences, but it is ultimately sustained to evolutionizing to something greater. This cycle of sacrifice for what life considers to be a greater good is a conditioning of egoism. What are your thoughts on what I said?

Question

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

Life, in its relentless pursuit of perpetuating its own existence, displays a paradoxical tendency to consume itself in the process. This seemingly contradictory nature of life raises profound questions about the underlying ontology of existence. It appears inherently evil that the weaker or less favored aspects of life are sacrificed to uphold the superior or more desirable elements without regard for their own desires. Is this a reflection of the flawed human perception, projecting anthropomorphic values onto the essence of life itself? Are we imposing our own moral judgments onto a system that operates beyond our comprehension? Perhaps we are conflating the 'ought' with the 'is', attributing human ethics to the inherently indifferent mechanisms of life. Our limited perspective, shaped by our own experiences and intellect, hinders our ability to grasp the true nature of existence. Just as a human intellect coupled with the experiences of a livestock would not fully comprehend the ethics of man, we struggle to comprehend the intricate workings of life itself. The cycle of sacrifice that life undergoes for what it deems a greater good is a manifestation of its intrinsic egoism, a drive towards evolution and progress. Only through transcending our own limitations and expanding our understanding can we hope to glimpse the deeper truths of life's eternal dance of creation and destruction. So, what are your thoughts on my musings?