The Purpose

“Life without insanity, without crime, without evil, would indeed get rather boring,” said Plato.

“How do you mean?” Alexander asked.

“I mean, let us examine the purpose of life. Why do we live? Why do we exist? I would contend that life is a game. I would contend that the meaning of life is playing the game of life to its fullest extent. Such a statement begs the questions, though: What is a game, and what does it mean to ‘win?’”

“The word ‘game’ implies competition,” said Aristotle.

Everyone at the table seemed to agree.

“I believe, more so than competition, the word ‘game’ implies fun,” said Pythagoras. “A game is a fun activity, defined by a set of rules, that results in winning or losing, pursuant to those rules.”

“Such a claim brings us to the second question begged,” replied Plato, “that concerning what it means to win a game, regardless of what rules define its competitors.”

“Winning is a matter of following its rules perfectly - or more perfectly than any other participant in the game,” said Musk. “It’s a function of minimizing error. However, relaying this discussion back to my original point, imagine a game where everyone is perfect - imagine a game wherein, for that reason, there is no competition. Winning is effortless. I would argue that a world in which no one is insane, or evil, or sinful, or unjust, or whatever you want to call it, is inferior, because in this world, there is no more challenge, no more adversity.”

“I disagree,” said Alexander, “imagine a world in which everyone is peaceful, emotionally and physically, but nonetheless dissatisfied intellectually. There is no hunger, there is no violence, but there is still ignorance - therefore, there is still suffering. I contend that in order for the game of life to continue, there must be suffering. Crime and evil can disappear, but suffering - to whatever extent - must remain - even if the suffering is purely cerebral.”

Plato continued the train of thought. “You make a valid point. Perhaps, then, the meaning of life, the ideal society, the truest possible republic, if you all will, is one where we have afforded ourselves the luxury of learning all day, every day, because emotionally and physically, we are perfectly whole.”

“It can’t all be just learning, though,” I said.