communities and geological processes. I felt like I was a part of a great biological tradition and I felt
lucky to be able to witness the "grandeur of life" with a deep appreciation for its intricacy and knowledge
about its functioning. The deep sense of satisfaction I got, and still get, from studying and participating in
nature, leaves me perfectly content with the proximate meaning of it all.
Even though I can't formulate any ultimate meaning for it allI know I am just a small part of it and I will
soon be dead and so will my offspring-I know that the studying, teaching and sharing of natural history
provides a lifetime of meaningful enterprise for me. I don't feel empty or at any kind of loss from my
conclusion that life has no ultimate purpose. Passing on proximately meaningful traditions and rituals is
enough for me. It always has felt like enough for me. Maybe that will change, but I doubt it. As I have
learned more I have felt an even greater pull toward my conclusion that there are no ultimates.
The so-called "existence" of notions that there is more than this world alone I whole-heartedly reject. It
might be that we are taught poorly as kids. It might be a symptom of our imperfect education that we are
told there is an ultimate meaning to things. What if our society stopped passing along inaccuracies by
removing such language from the learning curriculum? Would the notion of ultimate purpose cease to
exist? I believe strongly that it would be virtually nonexistent in society. We can live with proximate
purpose alone and still live fully satisfied lives without the mythology of ultimates. I believe humans
would feel just as emo tional and loving and caring in the absence of ultimates as they do going about
carelessly thinking that a better world awaits them when they die. I think that we, like other social
organisms, use proximate meaning and proximate purpose to get through life. Ultimates are an invention of
theology, and one we cannot easily shake from our culture.
You have said to me that you don't even know what ultimate meaning could be. [Greg is referring to a
note of Preston's that has been lost.] Almost everyone believes their life has ultimate meaning, especially
religiously minded people. This comes from the belief that God somehow pre-ordained their conception
and loves them specially-from their belief that they are living for God and because of God. God caused
them to be born. God is the reason for everything. Since you are educated it is no wonder you find it hard
to understand what ultimate meaning could be. You learned theology, you are highly literate, and I know
you read about science. Your struggle is maintaining a belief in ultimate meaning in the face of learning
more and more about a world whose natural phenomena stare you right in the face and say: There are no
ultimates, my friend, when it comes to meaning and purpose.
Sincerely,
Greg
Dear Greg:
Of the inspiring passages in your note, the one I most identify with is this one: "As I grew more worldly
and empathetic I learned that there is a world out there that ex ists and functions regardless of my
presence and influence. To me, this is a part of growth and maturation, a humility that develops with age
and experience."
I also have learned that there are great limits to what I can accomplish and that, for the most part, it
doesn't matter what I do. I don't mean that it's irrelevant whether I'm a thief or a nurse. But so long as I'm
not intentionally harming other people, it doesn't really matter in the big scheme of themes whether I teach
or write or clean floors. Whatever I do is unlikely to endure for long on earth, so I should focus on using