It seems to me, tiberry, that your argument presupposes that time is logically prior to motion. But it's my opinion that motion is logically prior to time. Nevertheless, you bring up a good point -- there seems to be a difference between truths like "2+2=4" and "the meaning of life". Now, we're fairly clear on what '2+2=4' means. What does 'the meaning of life' mean?
There are a few different answers one could give. Firstly, one could mean something like 'what does it mean to be human'. And it seems like 1) there are objectively true and false answers to this question and 2) there are also better and worse answers. To say that to be human means to be capable of laughter (the medieval view) is a better answer than to say that to be human means to have legs. The risibility of man is a better clue to man's being than the bipedality. (If I may coin a word)
Secondly, one could mean 'what is the meaning of my life?' That is, is there some sort of end towards which human being in general, and my being in particular, is supposed to go towards. And anyone who is truly religious is going to say that there is such a thing, though of course they disagree on what that is. So here we have three questions:
1. Is there a goal to human being?
2. Does each human being have the same goal?
3. Is there more than one way to this goal?
But note that these are all objective questions, not subjective. The only way it could come out that there is more than one 'truth' to human being, that is, the only way my existence could have a radically different meaning than yours, is if you answer no to 2.
But note that there is another question which might be asked: how determinate is the end goal? Let me use differing Christian beliefs on this, because I'm the most familiar with these. All Christians believe that the end of man is union with God. (Whatever 'union' might mean here.) But to what extent does that interfere with our individuality? Does that mean that our lives all have one meaning? Some Christians will say yes, that God determines one best path for our lives. Others say that, even under this one overarching goal, we can choose various ways to serve God -- the goal does not determine all of our actions. If one takes this second view, there is a sense in which we can say 'We each have our own truth', in that the meaning for my life might be the quest for philosophical truth, while the meaning for your life might be giving aid to others. But because there is this overarching goal, there's a deeper sense in which our lives have the same meaning -- to serve God.
Or did I misunderstand the question?
__________________
"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."
"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
|