Life is the source of reason as reason is the source of life.

We need to emphasize the reason reason is important lies in the fact that it is integral to successful life, to flourishing.  Further, all the hints we’re given toward that conclusion (of the importance of reason) come from the awareness of ourselves as living, breathing organisms.

We should look at our effort to think and be rational as a biological imperative, something that nature, that life, "wants" for us.  This biocentric approach to developing our reason—because it facilitates the creative flow of living energy—is more conducive to the understanding of many.  It is sometimes easier to tune into our bodies, become aware of what makes us physically well, than to tune into reason from analysis.

As we are on this subject, keep in mind that the potential for life is changing.

Objectivism never cared much for the concept of life extension, prospects for immortality.  Instead, Rand believed our natural lifespan dictated the full range of our choices and actions.  But ever since Watson and Crick devised the blueprint of DNA, establishing the principle we can control our own biology, life is now riding a brand new open road.

The notion that we can engineer ourselves into longer-lived, healthier beings (be enhanced) is known as transhumanism.  Transhumanism as the ultimate expression of life is the ultimate expression of reason.  I got my start in transhumanism with cryonics, specifically the Cryonics Institute.  Cryonics, aka biostasis, is now intended mainly as insurance in case the bridge technologies don’t come along in time for us as individuals.(4)

Finally, the notion we are destined toward effectively immortal life folds into the notion we are destined for the stars.  It is the nature of life, and therefore of reason, to expand and colonize the environments in which it can flourish.  The galaxy lies before us.(5)

Let me conclude this section by suggesting achievements in life, from modest to towering, stem from the creative impulse, which we can individually nurture by optimizing the flow of our living energy and staying positively focused.  To do so we need also need a rather explicit moral code, the discussion of which follows.

ReasonToFreedom.com, Reason 101