“What should such fellows as I do crawling between Earth and Heaven?”

This is not meant to be a rhetorical question.

This is a question that each person should answer for themselves if they want to increase the odds of being content with their life.

Although there is no universal “right” answer, there are, from the point of true human happiness, some answers that are clearly wrong .

And, there are some answers that are objectively better than others … I so contend.

Should we seek salvation in an afterlife?

On the one hand, that is a goal that might not exist.

There is no proof for the reality of life after death.

But, on the other hand, the constraints imposed on those pursuing this end might have salutary effect on the seeker’s life.

It might be wise to live as if there is an afterlife which rewards the good.

There could be a lot of worse choses.

This may even be a necessary condition for a functioning society.

Should we strive for reproductive success? 

Our genes would approve, because it is they who are the units of reproduction, not human beings.

There are, however, probably better choices from an individual human-being point of view

Perhaps achieving reproductive success as a collateral effect of forming a stable, healthy, long-term, secure, 

loving relationship with a member of the opposite sex would serve the individual as a better life-goal.

 

Should we strive for security? 

Yes! All humans desire and need some measure of security.

This is an important, but narrow goal, and it is ultimately futile.

We all eventually die.

There must be more than this to seek in life.

 

Should we strive for pleasure? 

Probably not.

We should embrace it when it comes, but it might be counter productive to strive for it.

Ideally it will be the unintended consequence of pursuing other noble goals.

Should we strive for power?

Only if we want to use that power to do good … and have the wisdom to know what is truly good.

Unfortunately, this excludes almost everybody.

 

Should we strive for success? 

Yes! If we can achieve success by honest means and in a way that benefits society.

Aristotle suggests that we should strive for “Flourishing”, which is sometimes translated as, “Happiness”. 

This, however, leaves open the question of the definition of “Flourishing”. 

Aristotle’s advise only works if human beings know what is actually good for their “flourishing” and are willing to act on that knowledge.

I fear that too may people will not use his advice in a healthy way.

 

Should we seek love?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Life without love is hollow.

 

Should we seek Truth? 

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I conjecture that knowing the Truth is a necessary precondition to accomplishing any good.

I conjecture that acting on a falsehood will always eventually cause suffering.

i conjecture that acting in opposition to Reality (i.e. Truth) always leads to misery in the long run.