What's the meaning of life?
- Perdita
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
First off. I haven't read this entire thread and over time I might, though for right now it's not on my top list of things to do. I'm new here, first post. Not sure if this is the place for me cause but we'll see.
After decades of contemplating this question and others while asking and trying to understand fully other peoples points of view below are my answers to the meaning of life and the purpose of life.
The meaning of life:
The meaning of life is to ensure the future of your species.
The purpose of life:
The purpose of life is happiness.
These are the most basic forms of these questions I can get to. With that said they are easily expanded. First I should state something that makes us humans different from animals (always exception to the rule.. and that might be how we are here.. but that's different topic).
In my philosophy humans are the only species that can ignore their meaning of life. Animals/non-humans will always move forward with that meaning/purpose. Humans on the other hand can ignore the meaning but the purpose will always be followed.
This means humans can (commonly) go against trying to make sure the future of our species is good.. These people are easy to spot.. and I don't need to list any cause there are just soo many.. Often this comes with power/money.. which again is a different topic.
However most of us kinda gravitate towards this meaning naturally. Aka someone who likes animals might become a vet receptionist.. sure they dislike dealing with customers, but helping the animals that help those humans lead more happy/meaningful life's helps humanity overall as opposed to someone who does something that might make people happy but the cost is not good.. and often makes things worse for humanity overall. Often the reason to do those things is because of the purpose of life. There is more to this than just that; though that's a framework for you to understand my thought.
The purpose can't be opposed.. it is that every single decision that you/I/animals/ect make is because we believe that will bring us the most happiness. Animals can't look too far ahead but humans are not animals. Even the closest can't make decisions that would effect their offspring's offspring. Even when we know that it'll hurt us short-term or for the rest of our life's; when we make that decision it is the best one we could think of at the time and going against that would again make you think that's the best decision to make even if it's wrong. A good example of this would be when someone saves a child and sacrifices themselves in the process. For a mother to save their child that's what they will do cause to them that's their purpose (not saying all would), and it's amplified by the fact that it's also the meaning of life. We want to live by happiness.. not by misery.
I know what I hope by sharing this. I'm a human.
You see me & hear me & there are millions who think just like me.
I am not here for validation, but rather to figure out what we can do. What there is to do. I have my answers.. but I find them hopeless. I guess that's a different topic though.
Anyways. Let me know if you think I'm wrong and what a better answer/fit is. This is my answer and I can't think of one that fits better. I only wish for all mans happiness.
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
- Brew1203
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
- LuckyR
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
I agree with your view of a life well lived, though I am not sure that is what many, if not most would classify as the answer to the OP.Brew1203 wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 1:47 am My name is Ben, I'm 16 and I'm not religious, but I've been thinking about this question recently, and I think I found at least my answer to it. I think the meaning of life, is how you affect those around you, while you are alive. If you can take your life, and use that to change two people's entire lives for the better, whether it is your kids, a friend, your family, or anyone else who may need help for the better, that is my meaning of life. Creating a positive impact on people, animals, mother earth, and in general, giving back is what I believe life is about. Whenever I think of this question, It always makes me think of the idea of when you die, are you going to look back on your life, are you going to see all the good things you did, or are you going to see all the bad things you did? Seeing the good things, in the end, gives me purpose. The idea of helping someone or passing something down to someone that would change their lives for the better is my purpose, and I believe that it may be similar to the purpose of all people. Whether I know if I'm right or not, I don't know, but I feel like living your life to its fullest and giving back seems like a good start to it.
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
Having in the past few minutes read five pages of the very early posts, I think Ben's prescription for meaningfulness will be acceptable to everyone here. I like it very much. But it does not account for people whose meaningfulness is personal power.Brew1203 wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 1:47 am My name is Ben, I'm 16 and I'm not religious, but I've been thinking about this question recently, and I think I found at least my answer to it. I think the meaning of life, is how you affect those around you, while you are alive. If you can take your life, and use that to change two people's entire lives for the better, whether it is your kids, a friend, your family, or anyone else who may need help for the better, that is my meaning of life. Creating a positive impact on people, animals, mother earth, and in general, giving back is what I believe life is about. Whenever I think of this question, It always makes me think of the idea of when you die, are you going to look back on your life, are you going to see all the good things you did, or are you going to see all the bad things you did? Seeing the good things, in the end, gives me purpose. The idea of helping someone or passing something down to someone that would change their lives for the better is my purpose, and I believe that it may be similar to the purpose of all people. Whether I know if I'm right or not, I don't know, but I feel like living your life to its fullest and giving back seems like a good start to it.
I also read this morning's newspaper. Besides people of good will who visit a philosophy website there are many others who apparently believe ordinary decency exists for them to break.
- LuckyR
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
Well it depends if the OP is read as a call for individual guidance or as a universal reason for being. Also if "life" means human life.Belindi wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 7:25 amHaving in the past few minutes read five pages of the very early posts, I think Ben's prescription for meaningfulness will be acceptable to everyone here. I like it very much. But it does not account for people whose meaningfulness is personal power.Brew1203 wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 1:47 am My name is Ben, I'm 16 and I'm not religious, but I've been thinking about this question recently, and I think I found at least my answer to it. I think the meaning of life, is how you affect those around you, while you are alive. If you can take your life, and use that to change two people's entire lives for the better, whether it is your kids, a friend, your family, or anyone else who may need help for the better, that is my meaning of life. Creating a positive impact on people, animals, mother earth, and in general, giving back is what I believe life is about. Whenever I think of this question, It always makes me think of the idea of when you die, are you going to look back on your life, are you going to see all the good things you did, or are you going to see all the bad things you did? Seeing the good things, in the end, gives me purpose. The idea of helping someone or passing something down to someone that would change their lives for the better is my purpose, and I believe that it may be similar to the purpose of all people. Whether I know if I'm right or not, I don't know, but I feel like living your life to its fullest and giving back seems like a good start to it.
I also read this morning's newspaper. Besides people of good will who visit a philosophy website there are many others who apparently believe ordinary decency exists for them to break.
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
LuckyR wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 12:04 pmWell it depends if the OP is read as a call for individual guidance or as a universal reason for being. Also if "life" means human life.Belindi wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 7:25 amHaving in the past few minutes read five pages of the very early posts, I think Ben's prescription for meaningfulness will be acceptable to everyone here. I like it very much. But it does not account for people whose meaningfulness is personal power.Brew1203 wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 1:47 am My name is Ben, I'm 16 and I'm not religious, but I've been thinking about this question recently, and I think I found at least my answer to it. I think the meaning of life, is how you affect those around you, while you are alive. If you can take your life, and use that to change two people's entire lives for the better, whether it is your kids, a friend, your family, or anyone else who may need help for the better, that is my meaning of life. Creating a positive impact on people, animals, mother earth, and in general, giving back is what I believe life is about. Whenever I think of this question, It always makes me think of the idea of when you die, are you going to look back on your life, are you going to see all the good things you did, or are you going to see all the bad things you did? Seeing the good things, in the end, gives me purpose. The idea of helping someone or passing something down to someone that would change their lives for the better is my purpose, and I believe that it may be similar to the purpose of all people. Whether I know if I'm right or not, I don't know, but I feel like living your life to its fullest and giving back seems like a good start to it.
I also read this morning's newspaper. Besides people of good will who visit a philosophy website there are many others who apparently believe ordinary decency exists for them to break.
Life in the biological sense doesn't mean anything (except to those who believe the creator of life is a Person Who is capable of meaningful intentions).
- Sculptor1
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
There several ways to interpret the Thread question.
CYNICALLYINSANE Has not answered a post since 2007, and as far as I know did not post to this thread except the throw down an ambiguous question bomb and run!
It is a good question but what is the meaning of the meaning of Life?
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
I think life has meaning only if it is external. If there is no life after death (even if God exists), this life is but a brief spark of consciousness followed by eternal oblivion. I fail to see any meaning in that.MyshiningOne wrote: ↑March 9th, 2007, 10:05 pmThis is a difficult question. Everyone has his or hercynicallyinsane wrote:What's the meaning of life? What's the purpose?
idea about what life is all about. A Christian's
view of life is definitely different from an
atheist's. The meaning of life for a Christian is
to follow God and serve Him in every part of life.
For an atheist, the purpose of life may be to
strive for success in this life--just because a person may not believe in a higher power doesn't mean is
life is devoid of purpose.
A temporary human life has no more objective meaning than the life of a flea or a virus ... which in turn have no more meaning than rocks or dust or water or air, me thinks.
Although to be fair, one needs to define "meaning", which might be impossible.
P.S. I am a practising Catholic and believe in both God and eternal life.
- AgentSmith
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
Given how things are, it looks like the meaning/purpose of life is to find the meaning/purpose of life. It's kinda like being hired by a company and your job is to discover why you were hired.
How does one go about doing that? Where do I or you begin? With myself (temet nosce/know thyself)? After all, as they say, "the right man for the job!" Surely, I can't be given a task for which I'm ill-suited!
- LuckyR
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
To me life is in the living (not in the explaining).AgentSmith wrote: ↑February 5th, 2022, 8:59 amGiven how things are, it looks like the meaning/purpose of life is to find the meaning/purpose of life. It's kinda like being hired by a company and your job is to discover why you were hired.
How does one go about doing that? Where do I or you begin? With myself (temet nosce/know thyself)? After all, as they say, "the right man for the job!" Surely, I can't be given a task for which I'm ill-suited!
- jacobprince
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
Kill tension before tensions kill you, reach your goal before goal kicks you, live life before life leaves you.
- Dr Doughboy
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
I am interested in perspectives of those on this forum. What brings you the most meaning in your life? Do you have a calling or purpose in life? After nearly completing my dissertation on these weighty topics, I am very interested in your perspectives. I just completed an online course to help answer some of these most difficult questions and help people figure out their “why” in life and practically turn this introspection into an action plan. I am now translating the content of this course into book format, so your thoughts would be timely and helpful!
- LuckyR
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
Good luck to you with your academic career. My guess is that the folks in this thread are speaking of intrinsic "meaning" of life as opposed to your topic of the subjective meaning of life to individuals.Dr Doughboy wrote: ↑February 20th, 2023, 5:56 pm I will feel more fulfilled when completing my PhD! 7 years down--hopefully this is the year! I ran across some recent interesting stats: 73% of Americans say it’s important to pursue greater purpose and meaning in life, yet only 25% have a clear sense of their purpose in life. In interviewing 18 educational leaders and 5 students, most people found their meaning and purpose in their spiritual lives and in their family relationships. Yet surprisingly the majority of them discovered that the greatest satisfaction and fulfillment in their lives came through exercising their calling and passing on their passions, knowledge, and beliefs to others. These generative expressions of teaching, caring, loving, serving, leading, guiding and intentionally investing in others with their time, talents, and resources provided the context of their legacy.
I am interested in perspectives of those on this forum. What brings you the most meaning in your life? Do you have a calling or purpose in life? After nearly completing my dissertation on these weighty topics, I am very interested in your perspectives. I just completed an online course to help answer some of these most difficult questions and help people figure out their “why” in life and practically turn this introspection into an action plan. I am now translating the content of this course into book format, so your thoughts would be timely and helpful!
I suggest you start your own thread to address your question.
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Re: What's the meaning of life?
That's so. Ben is healthily and morally practical; whereas "many. if not most" who seriously ask the question in the form it was asked are concealed believers in God (whether they know it or not).LuckyR wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 3:04 amI agree with your view of a life well lived, though I am not sure that is what many, if not most would classify as the answer to the OP.Brew1203 wrote: ↑November 13th, 2021, 1:47 am My name is Ben, I'm 16 and I'm not religious, but I've been thinking about this question recently, and I think I found at least my answer to it. I think the meaning of life, is how you affect those around you, while you are alive. If you can take your life, and use that to change two people's entire lives for the better, whether it is your kids, a friend, your family, or anyone else who may need help for the better, that is my meaning of life. Creating a positive impact on people, animals, mother earth, and in general, giving back is what I believe life is about. Whenever I think of this question, It always makes me think of the idea of when you die, are you going to look back on your life, are you going to see all the good things you did, or are you going to see all the bad things you did? Seeing the good things, in the end, gives me purpose. The idea of helping someone or passing something down to someone that would change their lives for the better is my purpose, and I believe that it may be similar to the purpose of all people. Whether I know if I'm right or not, I don't know, but I feel like living your life to its fullest and giving back seems like a good start to it.
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
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
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