Given that things are worth doing and one is skilled, honest and brave enough to pursue action, there are three fundamental questions that need to be addressed - what, why and how to go about this often noble - but always valiant - enterprise of action.
The What is an important question in that it reflects what the doer deems as the most pertinent and valuable thing to do among all the things that can be done. The hero then refers established wisdom, seeks mentorship and summons the internet to devise a plan of action - the How. This scheming, popularly perceived as one of the most important things, often amounts to very little (if anything), because thinking is worth nothing and doing is worth everything.
In this post, I argue that the cardinal question to dwell upon is Why[^1] - or the correct motivations for action. Note that this is different from that existential question of “Why do things when nothing matters”. We will evaluate all the popular ends and decide:
I compare my findings with another popular mode of operation - the famous Fucking Around and Finding Out [FAFO]. FAFO is complementary to my recommendation because FAFOing ensures that ends are, at least, not wrong. But I have noticed that nobody FAFOs without being affected by other sinister and plebian aims that slowly and surely seep in.
All of this, ultimately, rests upon the assumption that you are interested in leading a meaningful life and that such a life actually exists.
Regardless of everything - action is sacred and it should be preferred over all kinds of non-action, irrespective of whether you have a system of values or a set of higher ends or a mode of operation.