Much of the narrative can be seen as a metaphor for meaning in life. Philosophers have long pondered the meaning of human life, the reasons people are alive, and their purpose on the planet. Leary addresses this topic by treating the statement as part of a broader system of meaning-making, in which the purpose of an individual human life isn't the most important thing. Leary views individual identity and self-consciousness as an evolutionary phase that human beings uniquely inhabit, but through which they also pass.