In discussions like this occasionally I’ve seen someone take an extreme position of this sort, along the lines of, “the universe is going to end in heat death in some tens of billions of years, therefore everything is ultimately pointless, therefore, nothing matters.” There are actually people so morose and hyper-idealistic that they have trouble getting out of bed because of something that may happen in the distant future, far outside the scope of their own existence.
The common denominator I see in such folks is the demand to understand the meaning of life and everything, which is what Douglas Adams was poking fun at in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where an advanced computer was asked for the answer to this question and the answer turned out to be “42”. Such questions are overwrought and meaningless, because meaning and purpose are found within the scope of individual lives, and sometimes, even smaller scopes. The heat death of the universe, or the return of Jesus, are irrelevant to my current scope of existence. If Jesus surprised me by (1) existing and (2) setting up his kingdom on earth tomorrow, I’d have a new scope of existence and have to find new meaning and purpose [shrug].
Or another good example: I’ve lived in a pretty free and democratic and just society my whole life, and that is currently being flushed down the toilet … new scope again. Such transitions, should they happen during one’s lifetime, can be painful, but all is not lost. Some portion of the relationships, assets, and skills from my old scope will translate to the new scope. Others will be foundational to new strategies and skills, or may lead to new relationships. So life goes. People lose jobs, and loves, and opportunities, and abilities sometimes. And it can be tough, but one of the great secrets to a successful life is to flex with life, to let it pass through you rather than run you down.
Do you go down whimpering or fighting? Caring about what’s right or about what’s easy, certain, and expedient? Your call. Humanity might end, or it might regress back to a 16th century (or stone age) standard of living, and eventually recover. Or something less than that. I don’t want any responsibility for that; others can bear that stain on their soul, which is just as bad if you’re the one setting the arson fire or just standing by without resisting or accepting your fate without preparing to cope with it as best you can – and helping others to do the same.
I’m supporting my family, am fortunate enough to aid a few others along the way, am advocating in my homeowner’s association for mutual aid. I have a deep pantry, emergency power and water, spare medications and tech to help others with. That’s very meaningful, IMO. Meta questions such as whether I actually reduce or just prolong human suffering thereby, are outside my knowledge and scope. I work with what’s in front of me and what I can definitely ascertain.
Things like evil, cruelty and war may not be able to be eliminated completely, but can be reduced, eased or compensated for to an often very significant degree. Today an ex-military guy showed up at the men’s group I attend on Saturday mornings. He struggles with PTSD and is trying to get out more, meet new people, do new things, distract himself from his demons. Should I have just told him that his head is permanently screwed up and he should hang himself because he’s always going to have these burdens? Or should I have done what I actually did, which is welcome him to join us, warts and all, and enjoy a game of cards and have a warm invitation to return. Was extending ourselves toward him “futile”? Maybe in some sense. But is that relevant? Not really. The guy needs friends. It costs us next to nothing to be those friends.
Look, I’m no Pollyanna – far from it. If anything, I’m a native pessimist and very practically minded and strive to have as few illusions as possible. I am, for example, somewhat antinatalist in the current environment. BUT, I have come to understand that our brains are wired to constantly scan the horizon for new threats, and to miss the found blessings in every moment that are there, so you need to make a bit of effort to see and enjoy these blessings “anyway”. I try to help myself and others detach from the constant stream of threats and create their own peace within them. Seems to work pretty well.
I have lost several close loved ones during my life, including a wife and a child. I could choose to be entirely defined by “my terrible sorrow” and piss and moan about it 24/7, but I have chosen not to. I’m also just too cussed to succumb into some downward spiral. I find meaning in this. Maybe some people find meaning in despair, but I don’t see how.