I would argue that nothing gives life more purpose than the realization that every moment of consciousness is a precious and fragile gift.
Interpretation
Life is a precious gift, and being aware of our conscious moments gives it purpose.
In this quote, Steven Pinker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of life and consciousness. He argues that when we realize that each moment we are aware is unique and fragile, we begin to appreciate our existence more deeply, and this appreciation brings a profound sense of purpose to our lives.
In practice
During a motivational speech, to emphasize the importance of cherishing every moment.
The foundation of individual rights is the assumption that people have wants and needs and are authorities on what those wants and needs are. If people's stated desires were just some kind of erasable inscription or reprogrammable brainwashing, any atrocity could be justified.
The linguistic clumsiness of tourists and students might be the price we pay for the linguistic genius we displayed as babies, just as the decrepitude of age in the price we pay for the vigor of youth.
If we are not to abandon values such as peace and equality, or our commitments to science and truth, then we must pry these values away from claims about our psychological makeup that are vulnerable to being proven false.
We adults protect ourselves with laws, police, workplace regulations and social norms and there is no conceivable reason why children should be left more vulnerable, other that laziness or callousness in considering what life is like from their point of view.
The idea that children are passive repositories to be shaped by their parents has been massively overstated. A child's peer group is a far greater determinant of its development and achievements than parental aspiration.
Reason is non-negotiable. Try to argue against it, or to exclude it from some realm of knowledge, and you've already lost the argument, because you're using reason to make your case. ... We don't "believe" in reason.
You like every one; that is to say, you are indifferent to every one.
To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
There's a lot more hypocrisy than before. Racism has gone back underground.
People talk about places like Mumbai as a tale of two cities, as if the rich and poor don't have anything to do with each other.
A sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier times.
Our Creator would never have made such lovely days, and have given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal.
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