In a 2014 interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson, the astrophysicist argued that philosophy distracts from scientific progress. “Look, I’ve got all this world of unknown out there. I’m moving on. I’m leaving you behind,” he said, describing what a scientist said to a philosopher. In Tyson’s view, philosophy inconveniences people by slowing them down with questions that seem abstract or impractical.
Yet in dismissing philosophy, Tyson is unknowingly philosophizing about what kinds of questions are worth asking. His criticism assumes that philosophical pondering is an obstacle to discovery.
Tyson is not alone in doubting the importance of philosophical reflection. In the 1970s, philosopher Thomas Nagel became well known for arguing that human life ultimately has no real significance. According to Nagel, the things that seem important to the individual appear trivial from a broader perspective. If we step far enough back, our ambitions, struggles, and accomplishments begin to look absurd.
Nagel also criticized religious explanations of meaning. He joked that humans praising God might resemble chickens “sharing in the glory of coq au vin.” In other words, if humanity’s purpose is simply to serve a divine being, we might hold as much importance as animals destined for a recipe.
Other thinkers, such as Albert Camus, Carl Sagan, and Stephen Hawking, have also wrestled with the possibility that humans are alone in the universe. Some conclude that this cosmic loneliness makes our search for meaning seem small or even pointless.
Yet introspection may be the very thing that gives life meaning.
“You are, on the one hand, the most complex thing in the entire universe, and on the other, someone who can’t even set the clock on your microwave. Don’t overestimate your self-knowledge,” said Psychologist Jordan Peterson in his book 12 Rules for Life. Because of this, introspection is necessary. Reflecting on our behavior—recognizing our flaws and correcting them—improves our lives, as well as the lives of others.
This idea echoes one of the most famous statements in philosophy. At his trial in ancient Athens, Socrates declared, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
To examine life means to cultivate self-awareness. It means judging our actions by their consequences, learning from mistakes, and shaping our lives according to our moral convictions. Without reflection, a person drifts through life guided only by habit or impulse.
Artist Pablo Picasso once wrote, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
The universe may be vast and mysterious, but that does not make human reflection meaningless. On the contrary, it makes it necessary. To discover purpose, to craft meaning from chaos, we must dare to examine ourselves—lest life’s richest gifts pass unnoticed, like diamonds scattered in the abyss.
Lily is a 18-year-old JAC student. She loves science, politics, drawing, writing, and speaking. If she vanishes, look in the trees.
