Does our world matter?

Author's name: Now Watts

In this book, I play the role of the philosopher, as I am supposed to be, and I strive to assume the mantle of a thinker who retains his innate purity. I still look at the world with wonder, contemplating those things that sensitive people take for granted, while I see them shrouded in incredible mystery. I am unable to shake this deep feeling that the everyday things that seem familiar to us are in fact amazing phenomena beyond imagination!

Socrates expressed this feeling by saying, "Wonder is the beginning of philosophy." For my part, I live in a constant state of astonishment before the fact that I exist on a ball of rock, swinging in space and revolving around another ball of fire! How can I not be amazed by the existence of this enormous labyrinth within me? How can I not marvel that I am a living being within a strange system that includes this large number of living beings that derive their life from devouring one another? This painful arrangement confuses my feelings and conscience, for I personally would not want anyone to devour me! But if germs and worms eat me after my death, unless the undertaker precedes them, would that be just compensation for all the creatures I have devoured during my lifetime: cows, sheep, birds, and fish? I wonder in amazement: Is this biological system based on mutual devouring and killing a strange, irrational system, leading us quickly toward a dead end? Or is there a hidden wisdom behind this strange arrangement that surrounds us?!