 |
 
| The Basics of
Behavior Analysis
|
| Parents
|
| Love & Sexuality
|
| Employees & Bosses
|
| OneScience
|
|
 |
 |
A Meaningful Life
Can Science Help Us Achieve It?
In order to develop the perfect prescription, the perfect plan, for living a
life that is full and meaningful and happy, one must take many things into
consideration.
We could figure out how many calories we should eat every day and how
much exercise to get. But could we figure out how many friends we need?
What is the maximum distance we should live from our extended families?
How many compliments we need to overcome the
detrimental effects of one negative comment? How
often we should watch our favorite movie? What is
the perfect age to get married? Have kids? How many
kids to have?
If I was a mechanic, I would know all the things an
engine needs to run well. I would know what parts
the engine needs, what auxiliary systems are
required, what specifications and settings the various
systems need to be adjusted to. I would know what
kind of fuel to use and what kind of lubrication to
provide for the moving parts. I would rely on information passed down to
me from the inventors and manufacturers of the engine and it parts. If I
was a mechanic, I could make an engine run well.
But I am a human. Trying to understand how to make my life work is like
the engine trying to make the engine run well. I didn't invent or create
me, and I have no information from my designer that tells me all the
specifications for making my life work the way I want it to.
Of course, there is no shortage of religious information that asserts itself as
the answer to that question. But for every religion, there are examples
that prove its value as well as examples that prove its uselessness. There
are happy Christians and there are Christians who commit suicide. There
are happy Buddhists and there are Buddhists who suffer painfully in misery.
There are happy Muslims and there are Muslims who hate everything about
the world they live in.
Throughout history, humans have sort of collectively decided that we need
five basic things to facilitate good living.
We need family to create and nurture us.
We need education to train and socialize us.
We need government to rule us.
We need commerce to allow us to exchange our goods and services.
And we need religion to give us meaning.
Every society that ever existed had these five institution built within its
structure, and yet there has always been suffering.
So how can we know the best way to live a rich, full, meaningful life? Can
Science help?
Perhaps this is an area where Science does have something to offer.
Science certainly can assist individuals in designing a means of living that
provides them with the best opportunity to live a meaningful life. But this
can only be done on an individual basis because everyone, and everyone's
circumstances, are different.
With all the so-called experts out there who claim they know exactly what
everyone needs to be happy, can Science help us decide which expert is
right? Religion says we need God. Hollywood says we need Love.
Psychology says we need Self-Reliance. Community says we need Family.
Culture says we need Money. Can Science figure out all the things humans
need in our lives to make them good?
The answer is no. Science cannot develop a prescription, a pill, a behavior
plan, a method of psychotherapy, a consumer product, a philosophical
concept, a machine, a business plan, a technology, a line of clothing, a
computer program that will guarantee a good life to anyone who uses it.
Here again, the responsibility lies with the individual. But on this issue,
there is at least help available. There is help in churches, in therapy, in
family, in literature, in working. And it is imperative that anyone not living
a life that meets their expectations seek out and find the help that is
available. Life is too short to spend it suffering. But we can't rely on
Science to tell us where to look for help or which help is right for us. We
can only know that by knowing ourselves.
Our top priority should not be paying bills, meeting schedules, making the
grade. Our top priority should be fulfillment, and if we are not
accomplishing that, then what on earth are we doing?
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
Seeking the big answers in modern life:
Of mice, men and higher powers. |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Receive Behavior-related info in your E-mail box free with "Consequently".
|
|
|
|
|
|
