This week I attended the Seattle Flower and Garden Show in the downtown Convention Center with Judy and daughter Shannon. At one point we stopped at a booth attended by an older couple selling some garden stuff. (I can call the older when they look older than I do, right? Is that agist?) We struck up a friendly conversation and it was quite apparent that they were a lively couple, and fun to talk to. When he asked me if I had any questions he could answer, I asked, "What is the meaning of life?" He said "Just a moment." and turned to his wife and asked that same question. Without hesitating, she replied, "Don't get married." So, there it is. Why have I been working so hard to answer that question when everybody else seems to have a ready answer?
We did Meaning of Life in October last year, so that seems too recently to try and expand on what we said then. Last week it was suggested we talk about Taylor Swift and her impact on the NFL, but that is now past and we need to look forward to other things. When I asked for questions at the end of our last session people's moods seemed a bit dark, as the questions had to do with dysfunctional societies based on different religious perspectives, what will the tipping point be for revolution in the USA, and what is the meaning behind the movie, "Leave the World Behind". I have to admit I have not watched the movie to the end at this point, so that is off the table at least for tonight's meeting. The tipping point question is a good one, but isn't that a sociological question, and not a philosophical one? And the tipping point for revolution could also be for WWIII, for that matter, as things seem to be going downhill in many places and in many ways.
And the other suggestion raised was quite broad, with population growth, climate change, pollution, and the rise of AI all rolled into one mega-question that all threatens the human population of the earth. Maybe the best approach for tonight would be to tease out these separate topics and try to discuss them individually first, and then integrate them into a discussion of the breadth of the threat to our personal lives. It sounds like too much to do in one session, but it might work. Do a little homework on your own, pick our your most concerning threat to human existence, and come prepared to defend your choice with examples and information. Use bard, if you like: www.bard.google.com Just frame your question as you like and see what you get.
See you tonight!
No comments:
Post a Comment