Harris: Hey guys, how are you?
Neiman: Did you...abduct us?
Kaag: Uh…
Camus: I’ve been dead for years dude...leave me alone
Harris: As much as I’d like to do that, I really need some help for my philosophy final
Kaag: Oh great, we’ve only had to do this with like 20 other times with your peers.
Neiman: Let me guess…”What does it mean to grow up? Why should we?” and “What makes life worth living?”
Harris: You got it, so y’all wanna help?
Camus: We don’t really have a choice, do we?
Harris: No, I really need to make a decent grade on this...COVID is wrecking the world right now and transitioning to online school has been hard enough.
Camus: What is COVID?
Neiman: *Sigh* Alright. Let’s get started. I'll go first. What does it mean to grow up? Why should we? Well, growing up is coming to terms with the fact you are older. You don’t have the luxury of being a kid and having these wild and outlandish ideas, now that isn’t supposed to be bad, but growing up means becoming more realistic yet figuring out what it is to do in the world. While youth has any merits, we cannot allow our youth to define our adulthood and later years as bitter, boring, and just overall worse. It’ll be what we make of it. To the contrary, we shouldn’t waste away our youth eager to grow up. In this regard, we should cherish and enjoy all phases of our life. Growing up is just the natural path in life and that comes as you get older and older. What makes life worth living isn’t money or fame but rather finding and doing something that makes you happy, all the while finding fulfillment.
Camus: Well, life is kinda inherently meaningless. I once said “The literal meaning of life is whatever you’re doing that prevents you from killing yourself”. While that sounds really depressing, and well, it kinda is, death is going to happen to us all. With that understood, we are really left with two options. Drown in this sorrow of our ultimate destiny, or make the most of it while we still can. I don’t think growing up really even matters, but I think being grown up means becoming more understanding of the human dilemma, certain death at some point. I don’t think people put much thought to it but once you fully understand it and are at peace with it, then you can truly live. As far as what makes life worth living? Well, do whatever you enjoy. And as I said, do something that prevents you from killing yourself I guess. Now, can I go back to being dead?
Harris: Appreciate it, Albert. Not gonna lie I’m a bit down after that but I get your point.
Kaag: Guess that leaves me? I think I agree with Susan on the second question, I think finding what you enjoy makes life worth living. If you enjoy and love what you do, well the fulfillment for life will come with that. I mean, who would really enjoy life when they do something they don’t care for and enjoy? I tend to notice people who love what they do have a greater love for life. As far as “what does it mean to grow up?” and “why should we?”, well that’s up to personal experience. For some being grown up means being financially independent from their parents or loved ones, for others it may mean living on their own, and for some growing up is just analogous to their age. I think we should grow up so we can do the things we enjoy. You’re a pilot, right Harris?
Harris: Yep.
Kaag: Good, so you enjoy it right?
Harris. I love it.
Kaag: Exactly, so you couldn’t be a pilot when you were 10 years old, and you’re 20 now, so growing up has unlocked this newfound love for you.
Harris: I think I see what you mean. Well guys I appreciate your time, fingers crossed for my grade. I’m sorry for abducting you but I wrote this kinda late and I figured that, combined with the fact my classmates have asked you the same questions would make you apprehensive to help. Please do not contact the authorities. I’m still trying to get my degree.
20? I wish. But they're still important questions.
ReplyDeleteYou have no links. Camus said lots of quotable things you mighta linked to, for instance. If Sisyphus was happy, after all, why shouldn't we all be? (Did he really say you should do something that keeps you from killing yourself?)