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Introduction

This ancient mysterious question, the topic of eminent philosophical debates, religions and secret ritual initiations, could perhaps be answered, at least in part, by looking to the contributions of Evolutionism and modern Psychology. Evolutionism describes, as objectively as possible, the processes, tendencies and laws of the developing universe. Psychology describes the deepest needs and aspirations of man, and how they can be durably fulfilled.

During the 20th century both these sources of fundamental knowledge, objective and subjective, were dramatically elaborated, and appeared to yield the same conclusions. As is argued elsewhere (Integration), the fact to use several complementary sources of knowledge adds evidence to the plausibility of this description of the Sense of Life and Existence.

The Sense of Life and Existence

Existence is the progressive development and integration of ever more complex and conscious structures from strings and quarks up to a socialized planet (and universe). Human life is the opportunity for a conscious participation into this universal integrative evolution.

The most central process in this universal and psychological realizations is the phenomenon of integration. This process, that occurs spontaneously in all forms of evolutionary progress, and that also can be consciously performed by intelligence, consists in a constructive combination of dynamic elements, factual or conceptual, often hidden in a non-integrative and even confluctuous shape.

Most of religious, philosophical and even political theories can be interpreted as an intuitive approach to this formulation. But the lack of universal applicability of most of these theories often allowed distorted and sometimes dangerous conclusions, as illustrated by every kind of indifferent, or even aggressive and destructive behaviour perpetrated with the endorsement of moral, religious and/or political authorities.

The fundamental Law of Existence

We could put one more step inwards, and try to define to most fundamental Law of Existence. Although Integration is a very important process, it is perhaps only the concrete way by which a deeper law is applied. To integrate is a way to participate into the existence of other systems, things and people, but what is this drive which pushes us towards active participation?