In my opinion, authenticity may be a key for human performance and is directly tied to the question "What is the meaning of life?".chewybrian wrote: ↑July 5th, 2021, 8:35 am What is it?
Is it important?
Can you find it?
Should you try?
Many people in the modern world see 'having fun' as the highest goal or purpose of life. When one uses value in the world as "meaning of life", what will happen when that value is lost? For example, when life may appear unbearable, how will one possibly find motivation to overcome the problems?
Some people cannot accept the idea that 'having fun' is the meaning of life. Some people question deeper and upon the consideration that there must be "a meaning of life" to be able to consider an aim in life to be meaningful, they potentially discover a deep abyss with no ground in sight and may find great difficulty to establish a convincing (authentic) mindset that provides purpose - a driving force or motivation - for their individual life.
Authenticity would be the key. When one grasps for a ground, one can find that it is not so easy to accept the value in the world (e.g. having a good time) as the meaning of life.
Why does value exist? Why should one create value? Why anything at all?
One then derives at the question "What is the meaning of life?" which isn't about having a good time. It is about something deeper, about the origin of emotions, about the origin of a feeling of purpose and fulfillment, about the origin of anything at all.
People who question so deeply may be motivated by authenticity. Without authenticity on a deeper level, one would lose one's identity and mind. The question can make one aware that his/her mental foundation isn't as secure as one may expect to be normal, which may result in anxiety and ideas leading to suicide.
Authenticity and finding meaning in life may be a key for talent, art and human performance. Many talented and top performing people have struggled with the question, which shows that the origin of the question may be something fundamental and that despite having success, thousands of friends and a rich social life, the question (or inability to answer it) is just as critical.
The simplest departure from pure randomness implies value. This is evidence that all that can be seen in the world - from the simplest pattern onward - is value.
The origin of value is necessarily meaningful but cannot be value by the simple logical truth that something cannot originate from itself. This implies that a meaning of life is applicable on a fundamental level (a priori or "before value").
Based on this logic, my argument is that it is relevant to consider whether a purpose of life is applicable to be considered as precursor to any value in the world, which would be a quest for authenticity when translated to the scope of human existence.