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What does science tell us about the meaning / purpose of life?

What does science tell us about the meaning / purpose of life?

What is the meaning – or purpose – of life according to science? Let’s discover this question in this article. Read along…

What is the meaning of life according to science?

Let us see what answers the sciences and ideologies of the world give to the question of the meaning of life.

Science as such has not tried to respond to this question of the causes and purpose of life, which lies beyond its field of competence.  Nevertheless individual scientists, based on their scientific experience, have furnished interesting perspectives.

Albert Einstein – theory of relativity

Among the scientists Albert Einstein, the discoverer of the theory of relativity, answers our questions thus:

“The man who regards his own life and that of his fellow-creatures as meaningless is not merely unfortunate but almost disqualified for life.” (Einstein, The World as I see it)

And he also says:

“The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. He who knows it not and can no longer wonder, no longer feel amazement, is as good as dead, a snuffed-out candle.” (Einstein, The World as I see it)

He continues…

“You will hardly find one among the profounder sort of scientific minds without a peculiar religious feeling of his own. But it is different from the religion of the naive man.” (Einstein, The World as I see it)

Max Planck – founder of quantum theory

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Max Planck, founder of quantum theory, writes:

“Every serious and thoughtful person will understand that if man is to harmonize his spiritual faculties, he must find within himself the factor of faith and then develop it…  Surely it is no coincidence that all the greatest scientists in history were religious persons, even if they did not always show their religious feelings”. (Max Planck Where Science is Going p.288)

Lloyd Morgan – biologist

Morgan, world renowned biologist writes:

“Emergent evolution is from beginning to en a revelation and manifestation of that to which I have referred as the Divine Purpose”. (Lloyd Morgan, Life, Mind and Spirit p.288)

F.A. Lange – materialist

F. A. Lange, nineteenth-century German materialist, who wrote a The History of Materialism, considered one of the most important writings on the subject, states in that book:

“First, we discovered a strange thing, that, with the exception of Democritus, one can hardly find among the great inventors or researchers of nature one belonging clearly to the materialist school.” (ch.4)

What do ideologies tell us about this?

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As for ideologies, be they of an idealist, deist, or polytheist nature, they all agree in holding that life has a purpose on the basis of their belief in a superior being.

Read this next:  The Butterfly Effect Explanation: Change The World!

Only materialism does not recognize a purpose to life, does not believe in a superior being.  According to materialists the world appeared by accident.

Original text by Aladin & Lila Alaie

About The Author

Rubin

Hello! Thanks for reading these articles. My intention is to make happiness as simple and clear as posssible. By the way, excuse my English. I am not a native English speaker since I live in Amsterdam. Much appreciated if you use the comments to make suggestions on my grammar. See ya in another blogpost!

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