The search for a pre-defined “meaning of life” is a recipe for anxiety. We look to the universe, our genes, or society for a manual that doesn’t exist.
What if I told you that this is not a crisis, but the ultimate liberation?
In Youth’s Inquiry, I dismantle the idea of objective meaning to clear the way for something far more powerful and personal.
Step 1: The Disappearance of Meaning
You’ve started the journey by asking what gives life purpose and meaning, and you’ve explored the foundational idea that the world is information. Now, let’s dive into the complete structure of Youth’s Inquiry: The Rational Guide to Life’s Biggest Questions.
This book is designed as a step-by-step journey from the most fundamental questions about reality to practical applications for living a meaningful life. It’s not about giving you answers—it’s about equipping you with a mental toolkit to build your own understanding.
How would you answer the most fundamental question: “What is the world?”
We often think of it as a collection of things—trees, phones, people, stars. But to build a truly rational understanding of everything that follows—life, consciousness, society—we need to start at the very base layer of reality.
In my book, Youth’s Inquiry, I argue that the essence of the world is information.
Modern physics reveals that reality’s foundation is energy, constituting particles that form everything we see. Both energy and matter can be understood as a set of attributes—that is, information.
This question haunted me throughout my teens and twenties. It’s a quiet hum in the back of your mind during class, a persistent whisper on late-night walks, and a daunting void when faced with life’s countless choices.
I asked everyone—teachers, friends, strangers on trains. The answers were either absent, confused, or dismissive: “You’ll understand when you’re older.” But I didn’t want to wait. I needed a rational answer now.