The philosopher René Descartes said: “I think, therefore I am. ", but as sentient beings we are much more than a set of thoughts and therefore cannot live through rational thought alone. Our senses connect us to the world and we are therefore part of a universe larger than ourselves. Our actions affect others, but less obviously, our actions affect us personally. I accept the utilitarian belief that the good of the many trumps the good of the few. However, I go a little further and believe that when I harm others, I harm myself. In the same way, if I strive to help the common man, I will increase the collective good and thus improve my own position. Therefore, it is in my interest to consider how best to advance the common good. However, contemplation alone will not achieve a better world. This is a fundamental tenet of existentialism, the notion that meaning springs from our thoughts and flows through our actions. I go further and believe that not only do we have the free choice and power to influence our world, but we have the responsibility to participate in it. The idea that each person is responsible for creating meaning in their own life was first proposed by Soren Kierkegaard. Just as a ship's captain charts his course by first determining his destination and then making subsequent course corrections, we too must first identify our core beliefs and implement a system to gauge our adherence to those ideas , and be willing to adjust our thoughts and actions. Although others may indeed argue that certain moral truths are universally accepted, I do not fully subscribe to this objective worldview. If I want to be part of this larger whole, then it is essential that I understand the whole and recognize the inherent differences...... middle of paper ...... discussions about our beliefs and exercise of our virtues will be the most significant. As our thoughts become actions and our actions shape our character, this foundation will give us the strength to stay the course and remain true to our beliefs. Nothing could be more important, because compromising our values ​​creates moral harm that time and reflection cannot heal. Ultimately, the most important thing we can do as sentient beings is to wrestle with our morality. Few lives will be defined by a single event. Rather, a virtuous life is the culmination of a life of right thought and action. Just as an ax becomes dull when felling a tree, we cannot expect to be part of this world and remain impervious to our actions. As long as I consider myself part of this world and care about the management of my fellow human beings, I will be able to reflect on a virtuous life well lived..