Excellent discussion on the search for meaning and purpose in life in an era where religious or transcendence belief has essentially vanished, resulting in the social pathologies that we see everyday.
Without the core and unifying purpose dictated by belief in a higher being, and in a society where their physical needs are taken care of (which in past times satisfying those needs took up most of your time), people are left with lots of time in their hands and to their own devices to answer the question “what am I to do with my life?”
The answers take the form of various addictions such as addiction to drugs, Shopping, Sports, Alcohol, Vacuous Entertainment, Thrills, Vacationing, getting rich...
And then there are those that seek meaning in a cause - Do-Gooderism. They make saving the planet their purpose, or eliminating “inequality” by force, or gun control, or animal welfare, or normalizing delusions, or immigrants... and they will pursue those causes with the religious fervor of the most zealous missionary.
A lot of food for thought - thanks for posting it.
Existentialism is a philosophy not a religion. In it’s purest form it means “I Am”. The problem with Existentialism it provides no moral guidance. Could be that it’s Libertarianism carried to its most extreme.