For an improved Life: apply the principles of Lifism (or Lifeism)

“Lifism: A Philosophy for Life”

(A blog written 19\4\2012 in Humberside for Triond and my own blog)

Description: Put aside your religious beliefs. Just look at the known Universe. What do you see? What is the best thing you are aware of? Is there a Purpose to it all? Well, maybe there is...

Think of all the pictures and descriptions you have seen or read about The Universe. Recall all those starry skies you've seen. It really is a wonder. All those galaxies and nebulae: stars growing in clouds of gas, eventually fading or exploding as super novae, to later form new stars. Solar systems forming then dying, generation after generation.

Put aside all your religious beliefs. Just look in child-like awe at that vast expanse of space. It would take one of our current rockets about 80,000 years or so to reach the nearest star to our Sun (Proxima Centauri).

Yet there is one thing that is the crowning glory of this great Universe: Life! Better still, life that is intelligent and sentient. Life that has a brain. Individual beings that are self-aware, empathic, able to think, compose music and who knows what else.

I have often wondered: what is The Purpose of our existence? When I was about eighteen I decided that “Survival” was the first priority. That’s fine as a starter. You have to breathe, drink, eat and be sheltered before you can do anything else. Yet surely we don’t exist just for the sake of existing.

Recently I read that there are some sea creatures which are, biologically speaking, immortal! That’s good, but what do they do with their lives? Something for another blog perhaps.

There has to be a “Higher Purpose” to all this. The best I can say is that Evolution has taken us in a certain direction. In short, Evolution has produced bigger and better brains. Life as we know it is still a work in progress. All we can say is that, collectively, we are aiming for higher intelligence, talent and general mental prowess.

Perhaps in the fullness of time we will produce people who possess telepathy, telekinesis and other mental super-powers. Eventually there may be folk who can make almost anything happen just by thinking things into being.

Who knows what mental powers might evolve in the future? For now, however, all we can do is cherish and encourage all forms of intellect and talent. Our collective “Purpose” is simply to improve things and help people to improve.

Let’s not forget: this also means educating people to be compassionate and loving. A high IQ is little use to someone without good Ethics and Morals. Anyway, IQ is a rather limited measure of intelligence: let’s not restrict ourselves to just that.

Progressive Improvement should be our aim: in the broadest possible spectrum of “human” intellect and emotional development. That is “The Purpose”. I rest my case.

Oh, and before I go: this whole philosophy I call "Lifism". Sort of "Humanitarianism" Plus. Of course, most good religions contain plenty of Lifism. Yet I would like to think the above is the essence of this philosophy, with no strings attached.

Paul Butters

How to Regain Paradise.

When I was eighteen I decided that The Priority in Life is simply to Survive. I cherish life. The blunt fact that we all Die eventually fills me with sorrow and resentment. If ever I talk of suicide, send me to a shrink. I Love Life. Yet surely there has to be more to life than survival and existence.

That is where our great religions come in. They try to teach us what is Good, what is valuable and worthwhile. Religions also warn us of the other side of the coin: Evil. Yet when you consider everything, Goodness is born from logical common sense. “Thou shalt not kill”: well, of course not! Stealing is not too clever either. And so on. What is needed to preserve and cultivate life is often quite obvious. Love is the key. Yet sometimes “doing the right thing” is very difficult: e.g. the police sniper shooting someone who is about to murder some people. It is comforting to have God’s backing, but the bottom line is whether an action enhances someone’s life in some way. We talk of humanitarianism here, but I would call this “Lifism”: cherishing and maintaining all life-forms.

So, picture your Paradise (“Regained”). I visualise a universe teeming with life: rampant vegetation, plenty of water, animals roaming the plains and swinging through the trees. Innumerable trees. Towering mountains, sweeping savannas, golden beaches and swelling oceans. I see finely designed citadels dotted upon the landscape. People of all colours and creeds going about their business, happy in the knowledge that they are safe, housed and well fed. No wars, strife; no haves and have nots. Here in Britain we seldom have the weather, but surely we can manage the rest. Sure, I am an Idealist, but at least I have something to aim for. Yet we can all aim together. Conservation, yes, but really we need more. We need to actively cultivate people and life in general.

Just look at the world and try to acknowledge all that is good. There are some very bright intelligences around, especially amongst the young. Enjoy your arts, sports, technological wizardry, and so forth. That glass there is not half empty, but half-full. Feel your Inner Strength, be Positive. (Eastern Wisdom is great for this). Love Life indeed. You only live once (in this form). “Carpe diem: seize the day.” Then keep seizing.

As someone told me, touch everything that you can. Do not stay aloof. Get in there and participate. Do not mull over the meaning of life too much. Just Do.