There is no meaning to life

Chat about anything your heart desires here, just be civil. Factual or scientific questions about philosophy go here (e.g. "When was Socrates born?"), and so most homework help questions belong here. Note, posts in the off-topic section will not increase new members post counts. This includes the introductions and feedback sections.
Post Reply
User avatar
HIHIHIHIHI
Posts: 192
Joined: May 22nd, 2013, 2:42 pm

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by HIHIHIHIHI »

Theophane wrote:
I suspect that you don't want life to have meaning.
can't want what never was. i would blow you away in real life with my passion, and i haven't the drop of meaning in my life.

i do not create life; i appreciate life.
If you say you know me, then you do not know me.

If you think you know me, then you probably know me.
Daviddunn
Posts: 482
Joined: January 26th, 2013, 3:11 am

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Daviddunn »

Bad things happen. To seek the cause of bad happening is healthy, to force responsibility when none could rationally be found is not. A earthquake suddenly strikes, killing people and damaging properties; holding governmental services responsible for such losses is irrational. When bad things happen through the action of human being, moral responsibility has everything to do with it. The 'not in my backyard' perspective is very effective to laxist people who resolve to self pity and deferring of responsibilities on others for every bad happening, instead of helping themselves and allowing themselves to be helped. Help come to those who help themselves first. One cannot be burdened with some thing which is beyond one's abilities. Given one limited means, it is not possible to intervene everywhere sh** happens. May be one of the purpose of life might be to recognise this as a fact, and our life gets meaning to the extent that one is able to handle sh** and get through.
Schaps
Posts: 809
Joined: March 30th, 2012, 2:42 am
Favorite Philosopher: Nietzsche

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Schaps »

@Daviddun- it seems from your circular argument that you have taken NIMBY to heart since you profess indifference and a reluctance "to be burdened" by others' suffering etc.,- as was the attitude of policy makers in the UK and USA towards the ongoing massacre of millions of Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, and other so called "sub humans" by the nazi monsters - despite irrefutable intelligence that this was happening. It was well within the "abilities" ( both technologically and intelligence wise) to destroy the German factories of death very easily - but the UK and the USA failed to act.. thereby condemning themselves and forever blighting their track record of human rights. Remember for those murdered, they were not granted the privilege of handling their torture and slaughter and getting "through".... Such platitudes are indeed the attitudes of those who devalue life, and strip it of all "meaning"...
Daviddunn
Posts: 482
Joined: January 26th, 2013, 3:11 am

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Daviddunn »

The nimby is aimed at whoever thinks life is or should be a walk in the park, and is aloof to the realities of life and the human condition, and believes that thinking is hard and all one has to do is just wishing for everything to go well.

Now, do I condemn USA and Uk for the atrocities of the nazi? Absolutely not. If you think it is easy for someone to risk the life of their dear ones to save strangers, then i ask you have u ever made such a decision? How many american and british soldiers died in this war? How many american and british parent, wife and children wept for the lost of their children, spouses and fathers in this war? Judging by some abstract principles is easy, but putting myself in their shoes and the answer is not that strt forward. War on the field is awful, although in discourse upon some principle of ultimate goodness of upholding high moral standard sounds pretty. Therefore, I firmly stand by the principle that one should not be burdened by things which are beyond one's abilities.
Now, if someone chooses to burden himself/herself with greater responsibilities, like risking their lives and their dear ones for others, they should get respect and high moral status. They are setting the moral standard to a high level, which if one aspires to be up to, one should follow. However to put such a responsibility on someone as a general rule, I am not prepared and my limited wisdom advises me against for then i fear of being judged against my own principles.

America is a God believing nation, to the extent of their belief that God gives life, God sets standards for the rightful conduct of this life and to the extent that risking or giving one's life to save others is part of these standard, they make themselves responsible for others. Their failing to be up to these standards, render themselves accountable to God only, and no other human being can blame them, other than themselves. But you seem to be very eager to blame.

The way you say 'very easily' makes me think either you have great power or abilities yourself, or you talk without knowing of the implication war, especially in this neuclear pollitical atmosphere.

Anyway, on such issues I am not lavish on blaming, and prefer to draw lessons to be able to better myself rather than asking and requiring of others to be perfect in my place because I have difficulty to live perfectly.
User avatar
Theophane
Posts: 2349
Joined: May 25th, 2013, 9:03 am
Favorite Philosopher: C.S. Lewis
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Theophane »

HIHIHIHIHI wrote:can't want what never was. i would blow you away in real life with my passion, and i haven't the drop of meaning in my life.

i do not create life; i appreciate life.
What is the source of your passion? You must care about something to have as much passion as you claim to have. Something must matter to you if you have so much passion.
Schaps
Posts: 809
Joined: March 30th, 2012, 2:42 am
Favorite Philosopher: Nietzsche

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Schaps »

I will keep this to the point. The original post questions whether there is meaning to life. My contention is that one adds meaning to a life by demonstrating and validating life-affirming actions. Choosing not to respond to the suffering of others because it is thought to be too burdensome or because one wishes to emphasise that "life is not a walk in the park" or that others need to be able to "handle sh*t and get through" .. Is simply grotesque and outrageous. The nazi regime and the majority of germans during WW2 had lost all sense of "meaning" to life -to the extent that they were able to commit mass murder to a unprecedented degree. For them life had no "meaning" and no value. A previous poster does not understand that I DO NOT hold the UK or the USA responsible for the nazi atrocities... that would be blatantly ridiculous!! However everyone everywhere IS responsible for acting to prevent and suffering whenever and wherever that occurs. Your opinion may differ -- as should your ability to sleep at night. QED
User avatar
Theophane
Posts: 2349
Joined: May 25th, 2013, 9:03 am
Favorite Philosopher: C.S. Lewis
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Theophane »

It was because they derived so much meaning from their idealogy that the Nazis did what they did.
Schaps
Posts: 809
Joined: March 30th, 2012, 2:42 am
Favorite Philosopher: Nietzsche

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Schaps »

Theophane wrote:It was because they derived so much meaning from their idealogy that the Nazis did what they did.
. Yes- but that "meaning" had nothing to do with life...only with death..
User avatar
Theophane
Posts: 2349
Joined: May 25th, 2013, 9:03 am
Favorite Philosopher: C.S. Lewis
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Theophane »

Schaps wrote: (Nested quote removed.)

. Yes- but that "meaning" had nothing to do with life...only with death..
It had everything to do with Aryan life and everything to do with the death of non-Aryans. Good enough?
Daviddunn
Posts: 482
Joined: January 26th, 2013, 3:11 am

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Daviddunn »

Helping an old person, a handicapped or an orphane or someone suffering from pain where one is able to, or giving to charity to the extent of ones means to alleviate suffering is one thing. Giving one's life to save another life is another thing, especially for a stranger. On which ground one can judge one life to be more worthy than another? Thinking that the choice is an easy one, is deluding oneself. No human law can put such a burden on someone. It should be left to the individual to decide, and who can blame someone for valueing his life more than other lives?

Taking care of ones family, also adds meaning to life. Giving one's life for others is the ultimate action where one can demonstrate how one values life. It is not easy and should not be thought as such.

The nazi monsters are at the lowest end of the value spectrum, they are worst than animals.

This being said, I have much respect for those like late mother Teresa and people who does more than can be reasonably expected of human beings. To expect everybody to behave like that, one is on the way for great deception in life. I still maintain that our responsility does not excede our abilities, and i do not think it unreasonable or outrageous to live by that principle.
User avatar
Misty
Premium Member
Posts: 5934
Joined: August 10th, 2011, 8:13 pm
Location: United States of America

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Misty »

There is no meaning to life. There is no value to life. Yet, everything each person does and says, gives meaning and value to life. (value can be good or evil) Even suicide expresses meaning and value to or about life. Life per se is meaning and value.
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.
User avatar
HIHIHIHIHI
Posts: 192
Joined: May 22nd, 2013, 2:42 pm

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by HIHIHIHIHI »

Theophane wrote:
What is the source of your passion? You must care about something to have as much passion as you claim to have. Something must matter to you if you have so much passion.
What is the sources of my passion? Volumes.
If you say you know me, then you do not know me.

If you think you know me, then you probably know me.
IdahoJoe
Posts: 18
Joined: May 10th, 2013, 9:00 pm

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by IdahoJoe »

"This is not due to any God or third-party source implanting meanings in us, but this is rather the way human consciousness operates on conscious and subconscious levels."

Human consciousness is than the creation of what exactly? does it have any parameters? Is consciousness the creation of itself? Maybe meanings are implanted from the beginning; there is no implementation because we've been created as a whole, functioning entity. The bridge is not built as we walk across but it has already been built from the beginning of our understanding of 'time'. Our existence is the awakening from an infinity of sleep.
Harbal
Posts: 1532
Joined: May 6th, 2013, 4:03 pm
Location: Yorkshire

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Harbal »

Alphabravo123 wrote:Nothing we do matters at all. Our short physical existences are but a micro fraction of the blink of an eye in the face of time. Therefore, no emotion or action can make any true difference,
Have you thought about taking up a hobby. :)
User avatar
Sonofcheapthrills
New Trial Member
Posts: 1
Joined: October 20th, 2016, 10:11 pm

Re: There is no meaning to life

Post by Sonofcheapthrills »

There is no meaning to life other than what you create for yourself.
Post Reply

Return to “Philosophers' Lounge”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021