We can look to the Natural kingdom and learn so much from it. But can we do this with the meaning of life? I don’t know but let me give you some of my thoughts on this.
First we have to tease out one question. Are we actually a part of the natural kingdom?
That might sound like a strange question, almost ridiculous to ask. It may be true that we are and it may be true that we are not. We are definitely living within the natural kingdom so in that aspect we are part of it. But, we might also be outside of that system.
If we look to the bible: It presents man’s relationship to the natural kingdom not as an owner, but as a steward, caretaker, and manager acting on behalf of God, who is the true owner of all creation. While humans are given “dominion,” this is generally interpreted in theological terms as responsible, benevolent care rather than exploitation or destruction.
This isn’t explicit but it does lean us toward the opinion that we are not part of the natural kingdom.
In my first argument let’s take the stance that the meaning of life is clearly laid out for us by the Natural Kingdom. With that in mind it seems to me to be very easy: Be what you are, and continue to survive. Do what you do, continue to survive and pro-create to bring more of what you are into existence. That’s it. The meaning of life is life!
Morality throws a wrench into the theory of following Nature’s lead.
In nature the rules of existence are brutal and vicious. A lion makes a kill and a pack of Jackals steals the kill. Sorry Charlie, Might makes right. A cuckoo lays an egg in another birds nest. The cuckoo egg hatches quickly and pushes the other eggs out of the nest to their demise. Parasites gleefully feed off hosts – often to the death of the host.
Throughout all of Nature you can see examples of trickery, deceit, poisoning, trapping, and killing of every conceivable type. The only rule is that if I survive that is all that counts. I will cooperate with others if it benefits me.
Humans have a bit of this but we are also modulated by what might be a higher calling.
Saint Thomas Aquinas expressed it very well when he wrote love as willing the good of the other with no regard to self.
So it might be that for us as humans the meaning of life is life. But with some added dimensions: Will the good of others with no regard to self and be a good steward, caretaker and manager of the kingdom that we live amongst.
The whole thing to me seems to be both a gift and a test.