"In simplest terms, my purpose is to solve a recognized scientific problem that I
- may be granted a pecuniary valuable title as an apprenticed problem solver, and
- may briefly enjoy a feeling of achievement for having successfully completed difficult intellectual task."
This quote is from the first page of my thesis. It seems to be even more generally applicable today to my life's purpose. However, I no longer have need of pecuniary support for my work, so the title is now irrelevant. I think I attempted to solve a number of problems, some successfully, some using scientific methods, others using alternative methods such as violence or love when situations seemed to demand. So as we all age we become expert problem solvers; it's just that we bring different perspectives, some say knowledge, to such "choices" (i.e. freedom, our "solutions" we attempt sometimes successfully to make occur by our conscious, sometimes scheming actions).
The joy of achieving an intellectual task is forever available as a pleasure or pain, and I have enjoyed many or Urania's pleasures and a few of her pains.
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