The ultimate question of metaphysics is God. This whole philosophical thing is not about matter vs. consciousness, but about unfaith vs. faith.

“How great a friend [the metaphysical concept of] material substance has been to atheists in all ages were needless to relate. All their monstrous systems have so visible and necessary a dependence on it that, when this corner-stone is once removed, the whole fabric cannot choose but fall to the ground, insomuch that it is no longer worth while to bestow a particular consideration on the absurdities of every wretched sect of atheists.” — George Berkeley

“We must return to a deeper origin, to a fountainhead from which all faith once welled forth in its particular historical shapes, to this wellspring which can flow at any time man is ready for it. When trust in that which is manifest and given in the world no longer supports life, then trust in the Origin of all things must lay the foundations.” — Karl Jaspers

“Faith is not a matter of the goals of volition, nor of the contents of reason that become purposes. For faith cannot be willed, it does not consist in propositions, between which one has to choose, it evades the programme. ... Faith is not a particular content, not a dogma—dogma may be the expression of an historical shape assumed by faith; but it may also be a delusion. Faith is the fulfilling and moving element in the depths of man, in which man is linked, above and beyond himself, with the Origin of his being.” — Karl Jaspers

“Pure immanence without Transcendence remains nothing but deaf existence.” — Karl Jaspers

Each time I mention God and faith, several people unfollow me on Twitter. Repression. There is a dark force in us that resists faith — the force of egoistic self-will, for “If there is no God, then everything is permitted.” (Dostoyevsky) Demonic arbitrariness vs. self-constrained freedom, i.e., evil vs. good.

Egoistic self-will is self-destructive, it runs down the spiral of chaotic (often violent) willing and submission to the power of whatever worldly authorities it creates for itself, terminating in the power of machines. It believes that it wants freedom but, in fact, runs away from it into an abyss of unfreedom.

“Without Transcendence Existenz becomes a barren and loveless demonic obstinacy.” — Karl Jaspers

The ultimate question of metaphysics is God. The ultimate existential choice is between good and evil.