The Purpose of Life

Book: Sirens of Titan, Page #253
 

Constant rubbed his hands together. The only company he had left on Titan was whatever company his right hand could be for his left. "I miss her," he said.

"You finally fell in love, I see," said Salo.

"Only an Earthling year ago," said Constant. "It took us that long to realize that a purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved."

Constance and Beatrice, the two who fell in love, were marooned on the planet Titan together. They hated one another, but they learned to love one another by being nearby each other.

I do not think it an overstatement to say that the purpose of life is to love whoever is around to be loved.

Anymore, we seek out groups of people from the ends of the earth who share the same interests as us. We make friends with people who love the same things we do.

We "like" people, people please us and we love them because we find their company enjoyable.

How different it was once, in small towns or village, to be without choice in the matter of who we were to spend time with.

If we "love whoever is around," as Vonnegut puts it, we spread love around equally. There are so many people who are of no value to a world of affinity formed around common interest. Who would love these people?

Rather than loving people who can give back to us, people who we like, or share affinity with, love those that are nearby! When we do that, fewer people will fall into the cracks between shared interests and pleasure.

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About the Author

Hi. My name is Jeremiah John. I'm a sf/f writer and activist.

I just completed a dystopian science fiction novel. I run a website which I created that connects farms with churches, mosques, and synagogues to buy fresh vegetables directly and distribute them on a sliding scale to those in need.

In 2003, I spent six months in prison for civil disobedience while working to close the School of the Americas, converting to Christianity, as one does, while I was in the clink.