Ontological Meaning Of Life

A Philosophy professor at a Catholic University  in Diagnosis of the Times column of the Catholic Peace Weekly considers a topic that receives a great deal of coverage in modern times.

He begins by stating that in order to establish a culture of life rather than a culture of death, the  culture needs to respect life and reveal its mystery, must understand the meaning of life. However, our modern culture, where life resides, is entirely founded on science and technology, and the political and economic system is structured by capitalism. The path to establishing a life culture in this environment is bound to be difficult. It would be safe to say that the culture of death and killing that is so widespread today is due to the science, technology and capitalist system that we take for granted. 

 

At first glance, this may sound like a rejection of not only the science that guarantees factual knowledge, but also the technology that has been the basis of the tremendous success achieved by humans in the real world. Or, one may hastily think that this is a communist statement against capitalism, which made a democratic society possible along with economic prosperity. But that is not the case at all. Rather, when we do not reflect on the science, technology, and capitalist liberalism that made the modern world possible, its internal logic becomes excessive, and eventually the culture of death that drives life to death prevails.

 

We must be wary of the fact that science, technology, and capitalism, which are legitimate in and of themselves, may become poisons that cause death if we do not reflect on life and its ontological meaning.  

German philosopher Martin Heidegger divides human thinking into calculative thinking and deliberative thinking. Calculative thinking is the thinking that supports the positivism that dominates the modern world, and is the foundation of a culture that thinks by reducing everything to calculable objects. In contrast, deliberative thinking refers to thoughts that reflect on the meaning of existence. What is needed now is reflection that faces the limitations of capitalism, which has brought political freedom and economic prosperity, as well as scientific knowledge and cultural wealth that are legitimate in themselves.  

 

At the same time, we must achieve a cultural transformation so that we can share the meaning of existence discovered through this process with the world we live in, other people, and other life forms. Therefore, despite the human success of modern society, a philosophy of meaning that complements its limitations becomes urgent. Life philosophy seeks to answer that urgency by revealing the ontological meaning of life. This philosophy does not scientifically explain life, but seeks to reveal the meaning of life. When capitalism sets capital as the standard for life and society, a philosophy is needed that says capital is merely a means. What are our society and church saying today against science, technology, and capital?  

 

We need to look back at the church again and think about the numerous institutions it runs. How do hospitals and welfare institutions, as well as elementary and middle schools, universities, and other businesses, including the media, contribute to spreading the spirit of the gospel? Society judges the church by its actions, not by its words. There is no doubt that the institutions we run are a touchstone for judging whether the church's words of truth are legitimate. We need to examine whether these organizations are buried in their own logic and have forgotten the fundamental spirit of the gospel that we must carry out, and furthermore, to what extent we are showing through our own words and actions this truth.  

 

The core of the gospel spirit lies above all in truth and life, and the fundamental heart that guides it is love for others, which carries the same weight as love for God. Perhaps the culture of death is due to this mind and attitude that prevents us from seeing. As we look at ourselves again with a critical eye and the culture of death prevalent outside the church, we must reflect on how much of a culture of life we live.