What's the meaning of life?

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Belinda
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Belinda »

-0+, good questions,

I usually take 'meaning' in the sense of acceptably true and reasoned narrative, reasoned intention, ordered lifestyle, meaningful as antithesis of chaotic.

In the context of the question at hand I take 'of' to mean 'pertaining to an agent'. Life is not an agent therefore the question does not make sense. However what the question usually implies is that there is a supernatural agent who does all of the above listed in my first paragraph.

If there be an eternal realm that is also an ordered realm our intended meanings should be to emulate it. But this is a matter for faith not reason or knowledge. Under another topic it was pointed out that the eternal realm (I paraphrase) is ordered by fractal theory but this fact says nothing about our duty as human beings to emulate the supernatural order, a duty which is a duty of faith not fact. Some people love order and truth with no reference to metaphysics.
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MadeUthink
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by MadeUthink »

My point is, the only way something will ever have a meaning is if we give it a meaning. And even then, that meaning would be strictly literal. You can only give meaning to a word, by using another or more words. And words are not real. We designed language in the same way we designed cars. This is why we will never "know" the meaning of life in a logical or literal sense. But if you observe nature very closely,(observe and sense, not label or measure) you will get a strange, almost overwhelming feeling of understanding. But it will be impossible to explain that in words. Because in the most purest sense, life is not a word. It is an experience.




Isn't it odd how the more powerful our microscopes get, the smaller, and smaller, and smaller sub atomic particles get? And the more powerful our telescopes get, the bigger, and bigger, and bigger the universe gets! It is because "We" ARE the universe, observing and experiencing ITSELF. And you can never "know" yourself. Does a fish know that it's a fish? We will never know the actual origin or meaning of life, it would be like trying to look at the back of your own head, and all that does is make you go around in circles... "The meaning of life is not a question to be answered. It is a mystery to be experienced..." The only problem in the entire universe is language. The only solution to the only problem in the entire universe is language.There is absolutely no need for questions.
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Present awareness
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Present awareness »

" The only problem in the entire universe is language.
The Tao, cautions against the use of words, and then goes on using words to explain. "The Tao that can be named, is not the nameless Tao" is a famous quote to illustrate the problem with using words.

Humans have the tendency to name things, label them with sound to create language. If I make the sound "tree", everyone may form an image in their mind about what I'm taking about, but for each person, the image will most likely be different, depending on their experience.

The meaning of life, also depends on ones experiences. For some, life is good, for others, not so good. One thing for sure is the meaning of life won't be found in words and language. Words are only pointers, pointing to the thing itself.
Even though you can see me, I might not be here.
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Averroes
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Averroes »

But what's the meaning of meaning in this question? Sometimes, the meaning of something is what it refers to, something beyond itself. Thus, the word "dog" can refer to a specific creature. But what does the word "life" refer to? I think it refers to nothing. Life is just is.

-- Updated August 14th, 2014, 11:34 am to add the following --
Present awareness wrote:
" The only problem in the entire universe is language.
.... Words are only pointers, pointing to the thing itself.
A word (signifier) doesn't directly point to things (signified) in the real world; rather, a word and its concept in our minds refer to real things in the world.
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NihilistSage
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by NihilistSage »

cynicallyinsane wrote:What's the meaning of life? What's the purpose?
See the Ecclesiastes for your answer. If you don't like the answer see Nietzsche.
WordsOfWisdumbass
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by WordsOfWisdumbass »

Some have taken on this question by way of defining "life" as meaning "my personal, human life" while some have taken it to mean "Life" as a concept and pertaining to ALL living beings. My contribution is coming from the latter interpretation.

I don't think mine is an original idea (Asimov and Hitchhiker's Guide come to mind) but feel convinced that All Life is the answer we are being given, and philosophy to me, is the contemplation of "What was the question?" and "Who is doing the asking/answering?". This is why I am here.
Belinda
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Belinda »

NihilistSage wrote:
cynicallyinsane wrote:What's the meaning of life? What's the purpose?
See the Ecclesiastes for your answer. If you don't like the answer see Nietzsche.
It was a daring thing for the editors of The Bible to include Ecclesiastes :) "All is in vain" indeed!

Now we find that Nietzsche and Ecclesiastes are good for postmodern man who has to find, he surely must find, something believable to trust in, even if this something to trust is mankind and man's infinite possibilities.
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Felix
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Felix »

Judging by the success of this thread, the fact that it was started 7 years and is still going, I'd say the meaning of life is to ask and answer questions that everyone is interested in, like say, "What is the meaning of Life?" :)
"We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are." - Anaïs Nin
Wizard
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Wizard »

Putting life into words reduces life into what it is not.

Therefore defining the meaning of life, only can ever define a reduction of what life wholly was.
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Onethreetwo
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Onethreetwo »

Some questions can only be answered in ones own mind and if one did understand the meaning of life could they express it. people in modern society ideas are too closely linked to words. A deaf man can still be understood by those who know him even though he cant speak. When you group together the words "what is the meaning of life" it is represented by a thought which correlates to an idea embraced by the mind. Each person that reads those words in that order will have different thoughts so the answer if a answer can even be obtained will be represented by different thoughts and even if people use the same words to answer the question it doesn't mean that the same thoughts arise.

But for the thought of whether it can be answered i would say no and that answers don't actually exist. If you look at questions over the history of humans existence each time period generally has different answers to questions and eventually is proven either to have a different temporary answer or the meaning of the question asked changes. I think that question or more of a way to measure ones understand and the answer they currently have represent their progress in obtaining understanding of the question. The best answer to a question is a question. So, can you ask the question of what is the meaning of life if you do not know the question of what life is first.
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Paradoxdevoured
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Paradoxdevoured »

The meaning of life a question with many dimensions of thought... Is the question to ascertain the purpose of all life or simply the meaning of purpose. What though is constituted as life.... The earth is alive as we know it as there are many dead planets. Same with a star burning hot and loud while another star has fallen into neutron. If the question is to ask that of the purpose of life as a whole then I argue breath... And the continuation there of...

If one examines the the purpose of a plant it life starting as a seed to reach into the earth take in the rays cast down from the heavens in photosynthesis, drink that of the waters and breathe... Examine the first life in the theory of evolution excluding for the time being theology. First life to start was single cell algae upon the oceans and the fungi grows first on the ground... A mushroom being the fruit of the fungi exhales carbon dioxide and the algae breathes it in and vise versa... All life was meant to perpetuate this fact... A bee makes honey yes but in so by doing spreading pollen. The spread of this pollen to germinate and allow the reproduction of plant life so that it will provide for both the plant and the bee in the continuation of breath... In order to prosper step up the evolutionary ladder moss stretches onto land, over time it and the fungi join to become lichen to increase the perpetuation of life, for the purpose of breath is it not.

Even the sun at it's core creating fusion the heat generated allows the propagation of species that rely on it in the act of photosynthesis. Although true life at the beginning could be argued that it was generated by chemo-synthesis at the thermal vent from the ocean depths... Yet still reaching eventfully to the surface... Electricity static charge generated in cloud and even in dust looking for a ground spikes to the earth for less than a second. Yet in so by doing science proving that this action tears the molecules in the air releasing nitrogen oxides, then dissolving in water to form nitric and nitrous acids that plants can not obtain from the atmosphere needed to provide nutrients that then fall and are soaked up in the roots. Electricity then formed by interactions between life of celestial objects allow the perpetuation and the plant life flourishes.

Even fire serves the same purpose... And it too breathes. If the balance was thrown out of proportions as scientists believe has happened at least once in the past by a dangerous build up of oxygen in the atmosphere a bolt of same lighting can engulf a continent in fire. And although the trees have been burned, their ashes provide more nitrogen and the process of combustion creates carbon dioxide at a rate that was not obtained previously, yet fungi under the surface would and could be protected by this however trees through evolution have prepared for this. Many of the larger trees have evolved so that as a fire spreads the heat will allow the seed pods to open and begin life in the forest again. A worm consumes and produces better soil and the tree has fresh compost and lose soil to grow in. Some seeds only activated after ingestion by an animal causing stomach acids to trigger and as the animal defecates the seed takes root and has fertilizer.

A satellite considered nothing more than a moon small and dead. Yet this satellite churns the oceans causes tides helping to break down the rocks and minerals absorbed become nutrients and the rock to soil for plant growth.... Even the life existing as it falls like a leaf begins to rot it's corpse to become that of the soil itself and help with the propagation and continuation of this. Our ancestors be it mushrooms or that of theological Legacy's breathed this air absorbed into the leaf, our breath soaked up as though water in the roots then falls... Every dry leaf filled with the history of our lungs, and our brothers and sisters of all the species of this earth. As the wind pulls across the surface of the earth spores of mushrooms are carried on it spreading across the whole of the world. Everything is born of in the whole of the universe to perpetuate this one ancient tradition. A super massive black whole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy holds together billions of stars in a spiral and our sun orbits it...

If intelligence was not evolved or in theological reasoning created then the purpose would still be the continuation of breath our basic purpose driving the forces that make us, including reproduction. Yet with intelligence a new dimension to the question is added. Yet this dimension is not perpendicular it is very much parallel, the purpose of intelligence is it not the continuation... So it could be argued the very basis of purpose is the continuation. Of a species or of a specific technology one being philosophy. The purpose of philosophy be it the continuation of thinking as the social species evolves in intelligence and language. But also to unite. Like language blending over time, evolving like the mushroom and the moss to that of the lichen. But also the question pertaining to the dimension of an individual to prosper in this realm and dimension. In all facets of life and to reach out and simply be alive and experience life this then within the definition of both continuation of breath and continuation of intelligence. A doctor helps to perpetuate life through the gaining of knowledge, and by preforming his or her calling abiding by these rules. A farmer equally important in his purpose and also abiding by this.

All life then can be defined by it's meaning of continuation but beginning with breath itself. Although parallel by the perception of continuation these two also become perpendicular in a dimension higher. And that's by it's implications of abuse if intelligence then allows us to prosper our purpose of breath cannot be forgotten for if it does look at the ramifications if the deforesting of the whole earth was enacted. The balance of this chemical atmosphere would not be able to sustain life itself. Our actions of pollution and mistreatment of our earth is killing it's ability to maintain purpose. For then it it can also be proved if the continuation of breath is not a basis purpose and by definition meaning of life even if it's not the whole of our life like that of algae but just in aspect of it then all will fail. The root being on this planet then must be the continuation of breath through the combined efforts of all beings, or be it death. Then even the act of survival then is defined by this.. Breath simply our atmosphere here in this dimension but in the dimension of life as a star breath would be that of light.
I_Dont_Know
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by I_Dont_Know »

Life is meaningless, pointless, and absurd.
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Barry Sears
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Barry Sears »

What's the meaning of life? The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy is a science fiction book. In this story a super computer was to answer one question. What is the meaning of life, the universe and everything? The computer worked on this one task for several years, until it finally produced the answer. The answer was forty two. This drew many simple questions. The first is obvious, how do you derive at such an answer? What was the question actually asking? What did the answer actually mean?
Belinda
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Belinda »

Meaning implies intention , usually conscious intention. Only physical entities can have conscious intentions. Life is not a physical entity. Therefore life is not qualified by any meaning.

The ethical implication of the above is that an ethical and social species of beings makes its own intersubjective intentions. Therefore we as individuals and as societies make our own meanings.
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Misty
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Re: What's the meaning of life?

Post by Misty »

Belinda wrote:Meaning implies intention , usually conscious intention. Only physical entities can have conscious intentions. Life is not a physical entity. Therefore life is not qualified by any meaning.

The ethical implication of the above is that an ethical and social species of beings makes its own intersubjective intentions. Therefore we as individuals and as societies make our own meanings.
Hi Belinda,

"Life is not a physical entity."

What do you mean by this?

Misty
Things are not always as they appear; it's a matter of perception.

The eyes can only see what the mind has, is, or will be prepared to comprehend.

I am Lion, hear me ROAR! Meow.
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