by Jan G.

Created on: June 21, 2009   Last Updated: June 22, 2009

Is life worth living? My guess is that I should limit this evaluation on my life only, and not with that of the others. But what fun would that be? Assuming that I have been taking healthy doses of self-respect, which tells me that I live for myself and not for others, hence, my life is worth living or not, that would be for me to think so and not. If I were to conclude that my life is worth living, I just might conclude the same for the others and possibly for the whole of mankind?

If I were to be brave enough to speak for mankind, on life in general, whether it is worth living, this has to be a philosophical question on existentialism. Being philosophical, every brain mass could have its own opinion and none really matters to the view of the other nor does it change anything of significance; it's for argument's sake. We shall not end any life for that matter, even if it's arguably not worth living. Even if you were to agree, disagree or choose to be neutral to a philosophical subject, it is merely a matter of choice-making, with perhaps no mathematical or scientific conclusion.

Rather than revolving around existential definitions is this question: "Is life worth living" the same as "the evaluation of life's worth"? I choose to simplify and to equate the two. The question is about living, which is versus not-living. Now, do we agree that being of worth, there needs to be a meaning and a purpose, and that is the tricky part, the definition of meanings and purposes, the next question would be to whom?

Are the clouds of any worth if it does not serve the purpose of sheltering the earth from the scorching sun; are the flowers of any worth if not to ensure the continuation of its type? If a table does not serve its function by virtue of its definition, is it still of any worth? Is a life worth living if it does not serve the purpose of its function? What then is the function of life; could living be for living's sake and without fulfilling its place in this world?

In another words, is life worth living if it is in absolute isolation and void of influence on its surrounding; and so is life worth living when it serves no other purpose but for its own sustainability? Do we want to add in the notion of good, bad and better off? Is the life not-worthy, better off not living?

Is there a purpose to the world's being in the first place, because if the parts were to derive its purpose of existence from the whole, there had better be some worth in the existence of this world?

I'm tempted to say no, if life is merely for its own sustainability and if it is not to serve its purpose and role to the world around it. The good news is, purpose is not given to us, purposes are to be found and realized. It confuses us a little less when we take existentialism a little less serious and inject a little of the philosophy of life.

In my view, philosophies of life counter most of the argument's sake of hard-core theories and thoughts. Because being and living is the reality and everything boils down to it. You find that life is worth living, because you have found the purposes or place in the world, but humbled by the fact that with or without yourself, the world goes on. If I am allowed to speak for myself, life is worth living simply by how my worth is found and seekers are finders.

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