The Secondary Nature of Intellectual Endeavors

In the not so distant past, thinking was all there was...an interesting idea there, juxtaposition of ideas here, jaded connections over there, and a wonderfully complex yet simple model to tie them nicely into a bow...Merry Christmas. But thinking as all there is? Epistemically conceited and ideologically blackmailed, my only real joy once came from the satisfyingly existential brain-farting encouraged by the academic community. What misplaced pleasure this is that separates the mind from the body, thought from action, theory from reality. A life-course can be criticized as merely living the life of a corpse, trodding the narrow path of life devoid of its essence in bloom if that life merely exists in the mind. Aristotelian potentiality does not come to fruition, into true actuality only in the mind. Modern-day academia is right in taking our minds to places not yet in existence, so drastically different in every shape and size that they seem as opposites. However, these endeavors should also exist to aid in practical, every-day decision-making rather than merely the thinking that goes into writing academic papers on practical issues when nothing is actually being done regarding the issues addressed. Placing the human brain on a pedestal can be a bit dangerous when it becomes such an elevated speciality seated on an altar of scientific inquiry while other matters are left on the wanting end of the utilitarian spectrum, i.e. poverty relief, etc.

All this to say that perhaps my search for what matters most only matters most because of my search for "it" and what matters most has always been and will always be despite my search for whatever that is. What matters most is somehow connected to the bond that unites my family -- my wife, my son, our extended family and friends. Call it "Love" if you will. Not "that good ol' feelin'" love, not that "I luv u baby" love, not that "I love you because I have to" love, not that "chemical-impulses-in-the-brain-instinctual-parent-husband-clan" love. There is an inherent blessing in the kind of love that exists in my life today with my wife and son...a blessing that matters most to me...and will continue to the rest of my days...

No better result exists devoid of a teleological motive of love for an other person.