Meaning of Life, Human Nature, and Delusions

Our tendency to wonder "why" life is as it is and what its "purpose" is-often considered to be among the most noble features of human evolution and humanity-is in reality profoundly linked with some of the darker moments in our history, including animal abuse, colonialism, and the rise of racism and the eugenetics that culminated in the Second World War. In order to try to avoid the continuation of such dark events and pave the way for a more rational, accurate, and less-biased understanding about life and our day-to-day, we must reframe our questioning. Once we grasp that there is no ultimate purpose or master plan for the existence of inanimate objects or biological organisms and the way they live, "why" questions lose importance. Instead, investigations into natural events such as the occurrence of earthquakes and wonders such as the flying of birds should be framed with "how" questions: how did the earthquake occur and how did the current behavior of organisms evolve? Integrating information from diverse scientific fields, this book argues against the widely accepted idea that wonder in the purpose of life constitutes one of the noblest human qualities. As such, its arguments are intended for biologists, historians and philosophers of science alike. Students, teachers, and researchers of any scientific field, as well as all those who are fascinated by questions about their daily inner-lives and their "cosmic purpose" will be intrigued by unique discussions into themes like racism, colonialism, and eugenics.