Knowing Ourselves: Meaning, Existence, and Perspectives
After completing about 90% of the journey of getting to know ourselves, we reach the themes of existence and selfhood. If you have truly reflected on yourself and made efforts to resolve the issues in your life, you will have reached not existential despair, but existential confidence.
Instead of writing today’s questions at length, I will summarize them briefly: What does existence mean to you? How does it affect your life? What is the importance of spirituality and how does it reflect on your life? What beliefs or ideologies shape your spiritual thinking? How do you approach different perspectives? These are today’s themes — and you can ask yourself dozens of questions around them.
My personal perspective:
I don’t believe humans possess a separate soul. Rather, I think we personify a self created by our mind and, at points where we can’t explain things, we tend to deify it. In short: a small illusion.
Life itself, in my view, is simply existence and extinction in a universe of coincidences. That’s why it feels meaningless to place too much importance on daily worries. In the end, the outcome is the same: we disappear.
Sure, there’s a chance we might not be forgotten. It’s possible to be remembered for thousands of years — but eventually the outcome will still be the same. Like every planet, this one too will disappear. It will be forgotten, maybe it was never remembered, maybe it never even existed.
This doesn’t mean “life is meaningless, give up on everything.” On the contrary: because we exist only once (while we hope for many lives in different realities), we should embrace this life even more. That is the point of getting to know ourselves: to make the most of what we have. Viktor Frankl compares life to a film in his book: in the beginning, you don’t understand what’s going on, but by the end, your experiences gain meaning. I agree.
Philosophical Perspectives on Existence
The question “What is existence? What is consciousness?” has occupied millions of minds for thousands of years — driving some to madness, even inspiring the urge to run naked in the streets screaming. We cannot answer this fully here, but let’s briefly look at some philosophical perspectives:
- Ontological Perspective:
Focuses on the nature of being itself. Philosophers like Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre deeply reflected on existence and its meaning, emphasizing the concept of “being-in-the-world” — the connection between an individual and their environment. - Cosmological Perspective:
Deals with the origins and fundamental nature of the universe, addressing questions like the Big Bang, the nature of time, and the forces that govern the cosmos. Greetings to the atheists here. - Epistemological Perspective:
Concerns itself with how we know things and how we understand existence — diving into the nature of knowledge, perception, and how our consciousness interacts with the external world. - Ethical Perspective:
Often links existence with questions of ethics and morality. Thinkers like Albert Camus and Søren Kierkegaard explored the ethical consequences of living in an apparently indifferent universe.
About the Existential Crisis
The existential crisis relates closely to the questions we ask ourselves today. It is a psychological phenomenon where an individual engages in deep and intense questioning of the core aspects of their life, purpose, and existence — usually characterized by uncertainty, anxiety, and a sense of meaninglessness.
But as individuals who know themselves and understand their boundaries, we stand strong. 😛
Possible questions include:
- What is the purpose of my life?
- Why am I here?
- What is the meaning of existence?
- Is there a higher power or cosmic order?
- What is the nature of reality?
Existential crises can be triggered by major life events, personal struggles, or even philosophical contemplation. While such crises can feel unsettling, they can also act as a catalyst for personal growth, self-discovery, and reevaluation of values and goals.
Deep Thoughts and Perspectives on Existence
- Absurdism:
Popularized by Albert Camus, this philosophy suggests that the conflict between our search for meaning and the apparent meaninglessness of the universe creates a sense of absurdity. Camus proposed that while life might lack inherent meaning, we can create meaning through our actions and relationships. - Pantheism:
Proposes that the universe and everything in it is sacred and interconnected, emphasizing a spiritual unity between all living things and the cosmos. - Nihilism:
Argues that life lacks inherent meaning and all values are baseless. While often seen as a pessimistic view, some forms of nihilism encourage individuals to create their own subjective meaning and purpose. - Holism:
Emphasizes that everything is interconnected and that the universe is more than the sum of its parts — proposing an interdependence of all things. - Transcendentalism:
Transcendentalists believe in the inherent goodness of people and nature, stressing the importance of intuition, spirituality, and seeking deeper truths beyond the material.
In conclusion:
Where we arrive is the effort to make sense of ourselves and everything around us. Existential crisis can be described as being lost in that effort — but it can ultimately enable personal growth, self-awareness, and a more meaningful life.
Our goal in getting to know ourselves is to uncover this potential: not to drown in questions, but to illuminate our own path.
In this sense, exploring different perspectives, learning about different ideologies without prejudice — even those that contradict our own beliefs — and defining the life philosophy that best suits us is important.
Don’t be afraid to ask and to question!
bahadirhancicek 
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