Is it possible for us to create a purpose?

[Gambit]

Your life only holds the purpose you give it on a 1st person sort of level.
There is no objective standard purpose that I can think of, and there really doesn't need to be.

What you are failing to understand is that the intention to create a purpose requires a higher purpose in order to account for the intention.

 

[RedDragon94]

Is it possible for us to create a purpose without acting on some higher purpose (which we ourselves did not create)?

Gum is good when chewed, but it can also be used as something to throw at people after it is chewed. I disagree with the premise that everything has some divine purpose. The inventor (a human) of a thing gives purpose to whatever he makes, he doesn't have to ask a spiritual being what the purpose of thing he has made is. It's whatever he wants it to be. I agree that we should all seek for things to be used for good and that is most likely our purpose in life, to look out for the good of the species, but it's not because God wants us to. We're intrinsically good on our own.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

Evolution gave you the survival instinct and the instinct to procreate. You just followed your instincts.

"Evolution" however, is not a cognitive being. It may have given me the drive - but the form and function of my choices among those available to me in life is not within the purview of evolutionary activity. Among the available options presented to me in life, I used the brain given me by those evolutionary processes to make the choices and respond to the drives. In other words, without me (the final product of the evolution) evolution itself makes no "moves" in the world. Therefore I am at the center of my own activity - my evolved brain/instincts/drives and all. It is all part of "me" - not the other way around.

 

[Deathbydefault]

What you are failing to understand is that the intention to create a purpose requires a higher purpose in order to account for the intention.

Says you.

 

[ArtieE]

"Evolution" however, is not a cognitive being. It may have given me the drive - but the form and function of my choices among those available to me in life is not within the purview of evolutionary activity. Among the available options presented to me in life, I used the brain given me by those evolutionary processes to make the choices and respond to the drives. In other words, without me (the final product of the evolution) evolution itself makes no "moves" in the world. Therefore I am at the center of my own activity - my evolved brain/instincts/drives and all. It is all part of "me" - not the other way around.

Sure. Makes sense. Well put.

 

[McBell]

What you are failing to understand is that the intention to create a purpose requires a higher purpose in order to account for the intention.

You keep repeating this mantra but have not shown it to be true.

 

[Desert Snake]

Many atheists are inclined to argue that the only purpose we have is that which we create for ourselves. But creating a purpose qualifies as a purpose in and of itself. IOW, whatever is driving the atheist to create a purpose is itself a purpose which the atheist him- or herself did not create.

Question: Is it possible for us to create a purpose without acting on some higher purpose (which we ourselves did not create)?

"The good is what all desire." - St. Thomas Aquinas

No, of course not; Since everything was created, we are creating purpose within that created, /theistic paradigm. Then again, what is sin? It's freewill, so, there really isn't one answer to your question. It's both.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Many atheists are inclined to argue that the only purpose we have is that which we create for ourselves. But creating a purpose qualifies as a purpose in and of itself. IOW, whatever is driving the atheist to create a purpose is itself a purpose that the atheist did not create for him- or herself.

I think you're confusing "purpose" with "cause".

 

[viole]

Many atheists are inclined to argue that the only purpose we have is that which we create for ourselves. But creating a purpose qualifies as a purpose in and of itself. IOW, whatever is driving the atheist to create a purpose is itself a purpose which the atheist him- or herself did not create.

Question: Is it possible for us to create a purpose without acting on some higher purpose (which we ourselves did not create)?

"The good is what all desire." - St. Thomas Aquinas

Is it possible for God to create a purpose without acting on some higher purpose?

Ciao

- viole

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Many atheists are inclined to argue that the only purpose we have is that which we create for ourselves. But creating a purpose qualifies as a purpose in and of itself. IOW, whatever is driving the atheist to create a purpose is itself a purpose which the atheist him- or herself did not create.

IOW, every example of human will is just an expression of God's will?

So much for the idea of a benevolent God, eh?

 

[Mycroft]

What you are failing to understand is that the intention to create a purpose requires a higher purpose in order to account for the intention.

Why does it? You make very authoritative statements, but provide no supporting date. Like...ever.

 

[Mycroft]

IOW, every example of human will is just an expression of God's will?

So much for the idea of a benevolent God, eh?

Or free will. And I suppose that that means the 'higher purpose' of Jack the Ripper (for example) was also the Will of God. What a douche!

 

[George-ananda]

But creating a purpose qualifies as a purpose in and of itself.

The above point is the one I am not clear on. A classic atheist response would be; why can't a person create a purpose just using the consciousness in his brain? Why does that require a higher purpose?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Many atheists are inclined to argue that the only purpose we have is that which we create for ourselves. But creating a purpose qualifies as a purpose in and of itself. IOW, whatever is driving the atheist to create a purpose is itself a purpose which the atheist him- or herself did not create.

Question: Is it possible for us to create a purpose without acting on some higher purpose (which we ourselves did not create)?

"The good is what all desire." - St. Thomas Aquinas

We do create our own purposes. I create a purpose/reason based on being hungry right now. So, I will fix a sandwhich in the next five minutes. That brings on the intention/motivation/drive and when I actually get off this computer, I go forward with the action.(Actually fixing the sandwhich).

There was no force behind that. It didn't just pop in my head. My body told me this and my brain interpreted it to create a reason and that reason gave me motivation, and soon I will follow it with an action.

Why does someone need a higher purpose behind their creating a purpose in order for it to exist? (If I got that right)

I mean, I don't believe our bodies move without a force/energy. I don't interpret as higher. So, I'm kinda confused at the point at the moment.

 

[ArtieE]

We do create our own purposes. I create a purpose/reason based on being hungry right now. So, I will fix a sandwhich in the next five minutes. That brings on the intention/motivation/drive and when I actually get off this computer, I go forward with the action.(Actually fixing the sandwhich).

Feeling hungry is a signal that you lack sustenance. The purpose of fixing a sandwich is to provide sustenance needed for continued survival.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Feeling hungry is a signal that you lack sustenance. The purpose of fixing a sandwich is to provide sustenance needed for continued survival.

Yes?...there is still a purpose and still a drive.

 

[ArtieE]

Yes?...there is still a purpose and still a drive.

The definition of purpose is "the reason for which something is done or created". The ultimate purpose for creating the sandwich is survival and you didn't create that purpose, you didn't create your own survival instinct. Another purpose for creating the sandwich is to stop feeling hungry, and you didn't consciously create your own hunger either... what purpose did you create?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The definition of purpose is "the reason for which something is done or created". The ultimate purpose for creating the sandwich is survival and you didn't create that purpose, you didn't create your own survival instinct. Another purpose for creating the sandwich is to stop feeling hungry, and you didn't consciously create your own hunger either... what purpose did you create?

What purposes do we create?

If I had no motivation to do X, and nothing outside of my control prompt me to do X, is there a way to have a purpose of doing that action, or?

 

[Jumi]

Also if having a purpose requires a higher purpose to exist then wouldn't lack of purpose require there being a higher lack of purpose.

 

[ArtieE]

What purposes do we create?

If I had no motivation to do X, and nothing outside of my control prompt me to do X, is there a way to have a purpose of doing that action, or?

If doing X would serve no purpose why would we do it? I think we would need specific examples here.