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Life Values: Quantity, Quality, and Meaning
The current IEET reader poll asks: If you could be any age you desired, for as long as you chose, would you opt for it? To answer, we may have to consider whether we most value quantity, quality, or meaning in life.
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Posted by bryce on 05/11 at 03:34 PM
> "Most of today's intellectuals likely would say that the 'meaning' each individual gives to his or her life is a personal, subjective choice. Although a small percentage of scientists and other educated professionals around the world profess belief in God (or some other form of higher power), the large majority are either atheist or agnostic.">
Last I heard, 40 percent (a small minority?) of scientists believe in God. (Perhaps you meant biologists?) Scientists are but a subset of educated professionals (not to mention intellectuals), whose percentage is surely higher than that. According to Livescience, "Scientists' Belief in God Varies Starkly by Discipline," the number of believers is closer to 66%.
Sorry about focusing on the least important part of your article. The article raises some great questions. Having read Viktor Frankl's experiences in the camps "Man's Search for Meaning," I surmise that he'd vote for meaning. I think I would, too.
Posted by Baka Karasu on 05/12 at 12:33 AM
Actually about 93% of the members of the National Science Foundation are atheist/agnostic (6 or 7 on the Dawkins belief spectrum) - the other 7% are trying to get money from the Templeton Foundation. 
Meaning is both shared but uniquely personal and is derived from the ongoing process of life in a cultural context.
Posted by Mike Treder on 05/12 at 07:53 AM
Also, check out this article titled "Leading scientists still reject God" published in Nature, where you can see comparative results of surveys conducted in 1914, 1933, and 1998 among members of the National Academy of Sciences.
Posted by bryce on 05/12 at 12:00 PM
I guess all that Mr. Treder could've done in the article was to point out that he was talking specifically about "greater" scientists. Then, the individual scientists reading the article can fight it out amongst themselves as to who is greater. 
Posted by Fauve on 05/14 at 03:36 AM
It seems that quality and meaning deepens with quantity of life for most people. As time passes we gain experience in the world and our perspective enlarges. As our perspective enlarges our understanding increases and our ability to interact meaningfully in our environment grows. We learn from our failures and delight in our little successes; both push us forward. Perhaps the slowest learners with the most obstacles, both internal and external, have the most to gain from a drastically increased lifespan.
At the ripe old age of 57, I can enthusiastically embrace the idea of living in this physical shell for an indefinite period. I feel more fit, happy, competent, and confident than I did at age 28. I felt more unattractive then, although objectively I can see that it's not the case. It's just that time has allowed me to come to terms with my flaws; I really wouldn't change anything beyond continuing to work on optimizing health and fitness. I wouldn't trade my flawed body for a perfect Barbie doll bioshell. I hope I'll still feel this way when I'm seventy.
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