I often make this question, and I just can't get a logical answer to that question, in the great picture life doens't have any meaning

we all know that we live to grow, we grow to reproduce and after we make our children grow we die, it's a neverending circle

we cannot choose not to be born and not to die
but we surely can choose not to reproduce
isn't that a "desing flaw"
if our purpose is mere reprodution how can we have a choice in that matter?

In East of Eden, John Steinbeck says there's only one story of life and we all live it. It is to look back on our life, just before we die, and say, "Did I do good or ill?" Was I good or evil?

Some say the purpose of life is to make a difference, to make an impact.
I believe there is more to life than just reproducing. The idea that all we are just a bunch of carbon based molecules just doesn't cut it for me.

Hell, if we really knew what the meaning of life was, what would be the point of living?

Logical statements and definitions of the meaning of life always run into problems because life is so infinitely unique to each one of us. You have to find your own meaning, whatever that may be, and hope that it fits in loosely enough with the statis quo that you won't be lynched.

yeah, liked that.....there are infinite meanings. troubly happenes when A status quo imposes a meaning and then that becomes the subject and we become the objects

the whole idea of us being here just for reproduction has a history. Patriarchy! where the babies and 'producers' mothers become the property of fathers. thus we have the Jdeic-christian doctrine caliming that sex should be soley for reproduction, or not done at all (christianity).......when we are oppressed we usually ask the question of 'what is the meaning of life' in a sad way. because the opression sucks the meaning OUT of life

there is no meaning. if you create a meaning then thats not a meaning. thats just an inserted preconception used to hide yourself from the truth that our lives are in fact meaningless. trying to find the meaning of life is like trying to read the label on the inside of a box.... assuming there actually is a label.

which there isnt.
reproduction isnt a meaning... thats a purpose.

I believe life is whatever YOU make it to be. If YOU want to think that it means notheing , that's your decission. I like to thgink I've made a difference , somehow, in the way things are for myself as well as others. Going to college, getting a good job, being happy, helping others, and having peace of mind are some things I hold high on my list of priorities. Just spreading some love and kindness around are good things also to accomplish. Life has many meanings, all YOU have to do is find out what YOUR meaning is and you will be fullfilled as many people are.

there is no meaning. if you create a meaning then thats not a meaning. thats just an inserted preconception used to hide yourself from the truth that our lives are in fact meaningless.

To say that our lives are meaningless implies that there is something that has meaning. So what is meaning then? It's a concept we've created and apply to ideas and conceptions.

You are stating an objective truth that no "meaning" exists. I guess this is true in a sense, because without humans, there are no human ideas, and so no meaning. But, there are humans and we create meaning. So, meaning exists on an entirely personal level and that makes your statement meaningless.
:m:

Life is just a complex chemical reaction. All the things that make us human can be changed with drugs and chemicals. That's terribly trite, I know, awefully unsubstantiated too, but sort of mostly true. Life's chemical reaction is self-perpetuating, so in short, life's purpose is reproduction.

Going to college, getting a good job, being happy, helping others, and having peace of mind are some things I hold high on my list of priorities.

College isn't the meaning of life, nor is happiness, helping others, or peace of mind. They're all purposes to assist in reproduction. College is money in the bank, and money is security, and security is beneficial for genetic material.

The methods of living, for humans, have changed, but the basic instinct is still there: procreate, save your genes.

does life have a meaning?
hmm easy!
you, you are the meaning of your life
i, i am the meaning of my life
humanity is the meaning of its systems that dont work

Philosopher Philocrazy

This is about the easiest question in the world.

The Meaning of Life. (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=life)

;)

hee hee hee...!

This is about the easiest question in the world.

It's true...

e. Slang. A sentence of imprisonment lasting till death.

;)

The question of weather life has a meaning is derived from our ability to recognize that death occures. The meaning to life is quite simply. The answer is live. Just live. We are not able to know from where we came short of written spiritual text and even with that the answers are not entirely clear as to why. We thus are not given anymore clear an indication short of spiritaul text as to what is beyond. One constant is that we came from something so must return to it or continue with its course. Given that please read the thread I wrote "Victoms of a Wrong Way". It eludes to our purpose and how life is complicated by our assertions as human beings.

Now follow this thinking:

You came from some where and are self aware.

You have this experance to exist in.

What do you do?

Life is something given by something

That something (God by christian, Supreme Truth by hindu, etc.) allowed for this time.

It is a gift and is intended to be enjoyed but respected.

Nothing profound is required by us. Just live.

You can do with it what you please, that is our purpose but the most enjoyment comes from living it balanced and with respect to its good design. I think many get it wrong and waste alot of it and power now exist among man to send out deceptive ideas take detract from the basic simple truth.

The key is recognizing that it is unique and good. It is simple. Respect it.

All spiritual directives, laws, etc. are not meant to confuse they are meant to show one the basic which is enjoy life and respect all other life. Life is a good thing.

All rituals, observances, worship, institutions, careers, are human assertion and not in line with the truth of life. They come from the tendancy of humans to control. Death alone teaches us that despite all ones gains it is not lasting. Those that oppose or abuse it create all the harms that exist.

Then we die

Then as sure and unknowingly as we came in we continue on.

Live

kula

There seems to be no final end state to life as a whole. It's forms are constantly changing. It does seem to be heading towards increasing complexity, interconnectedness, and the dissolving of boundries; the transcending of mediums- first water, then land, air, space and eventually mind and body. I think it's great that there is no obvious meaning, otherwise, we would get there, and then what? Life is a leap into the unknown. Your purpose isn't reproduction. Reproduction is life. Ask yourself why you need a meaning, no one asks what is the meaning of music (outside of specific lyrics) but we make it anyway.

To encode our consciosness in the homogenous energy that may be the 'final' or finalish state of the universe and to encode it in such a way that preserves enough information to start the process again if the universe collapses.

Or to prevent it collapsing

I'm sure it has something to do with existance !

kula

Being a <A HREF="http://www.pantheism.net/">pantheist</A>, I believe we weren't created by a higher being. We just popped up. Some may think this means there's no meaning to life. Maybe that's true. But that doesn't mean we can't "make up" a reason. Sorta like a goal, if ya will.

Here's what I like to think: The meaning of life is to touch the lives of others.

Everyone else is, of course, free to adopt this reason for themselves.

sumed up into two numbers "42" =P

what a stupid question to ask?
ofcourse it does!
there's more to it here --->..........................

Philosopher Philocrazy

I believe there is more to life than just reproducing. The idea that all we are just a bunch of carbon based molecules just doesn't cut it for me.

Why not? Think abut it carefully and deeply! I really hate when people just say they have this feeling that there must be more to life. But hey, if it helps u to live......

Being a <A HREF="http://www.pantheism.net/">pantheist</A>, I believe we weren't created by a higher being. We just popped up. Some may think this means there's no meaning to life. Maybe that's true. But that doesn't mean we can't "make up" a reason. Sorta like a goal, if ya will.

Here's what I like to think: The meaning of life is to touch the lives of others.

Everyone else is, of course, free to adopt this reason for themselves.

Thats what I believe/believed as i'm not sure anymore. The thing that got me thinking is, that to pop up by chance, the amount of 'potential' for the universe to become many other things is incredible. Imagine the possiblities that could become manifest with so much potential energy and no space and time. But coincidentally, we get all these self referencing patterns.

If we did pop up by chance, then maybe the evolution of consciousness will require us to make the universe conscious and enable its continued existence.

theres another purpose !

kula

your can spend an entire life time searching to the meaning of life without finding or you can forget it and just live

The idea that all we are just a bunch of carbon based molecules just doesn't cut it for me.

Why not? Think abut it carefully and deeply! I really hate when people just say they have this feeling that there must be more to life. But hey, if it helps u to live......

Skipping Stones:
The biological explanation of life ("all we are just a bunch of carbon based molecules") is not the only possible explanation, and what is more, neither does it say that we must take it as the absolute explanation.

Being scientifc, it is the explanation most appealing to our reason, certainly, and as such, I think it is rational to accept it, and act on it when necessary (in medicine, sports, ...).

But to deem science as a *replacement* for religion -- I firmly believe this is wrong.

theres another purpose !

Yah, eating cookies!
:D

Yah, eating cookies!
:D

You're the messiah ! Lead me to the confectionary !

kula

Skipping Stones:
The biological explanation of life ("all we are just a bunch of carbon based molecules") is not the only possible explanation, and what is more, neither does it say that we must take it as the absolute explanation.

The fact that we are composed of organic molecules IS the only explanation. Why? Because we have no other contradicting evidence.

There may be more to us than just that but why would u think it is not going to be scientific when every other explanation for everything in our universe sees to be scientific!

The fact that we are composed of organic molecules IS the only explanation. Why? Because we have no other contradicting evidence.

We are made of molecules, that's science. But, I believe there is more than that.
There IS contradicting evidence according to me. Of course, I can't logically prove it exists outside of my own imaginative thoughts. To believe the way you do would detract from the beauty of my reality.

your can spend an entire life time searching to the meaning of life without finding or you can forget it and just live

In a lot of ways, the search is the meaning. It's the path, not the destination.

The fact that we are composed of organic molecules IS the only explanation. Why? Because we have no other contradicting evidence.

There may be more to us than just that but why would u think it is not going to be scientific when every other explanation for everything in our universe sees to be scientific!

John, darling, you know how you feel for cats. And for me. Now how scientific is *that*?

its very scientific.

just its clouded at this point in time how it is.
it will be clear soon enough.

We are made of molecules, that's science. But, I believe there is more than that.
There IS contradicting evidence according to me. Of course, I can't logically prove it exists outside of my own imaginative thoughts. To believe the way you do would detract from the beauty of my reality.

Do u ever find it strange that people who have believed that there was more to life, all throught the history of time, have never proven that there was more. There has never been any convincing evidence for supernatural activity anywhere in the world EVER.
I believe that if this was any other subject, we would have dropped the idea long ago. However when it comes to the afterlife, GOD and meaning, humans really have a soft spot and become irrational creatures.

Long ago, since I was a kid, I stepped back from my subjectivity and realised this. I am a firm believer in evidence as the way to interpret things.

John, darling, you know how you feel for cats. And for me. Now how scientific is *that*?

"Feelings" are very scientific Rosa! If u cannot understand why feelings evolved then fair enough.

This kind of stuff makes me wonder about my fellow humans sometimes! Its time to stop thinking about our feelings of love etc as evidence for the existance of God or the supernatural. There is absolutely nothing supernatural about love despite how wonderful it is.
Rosa here has just shown what I think is the biggest barrier to us becoming a bit more objective about our universe.

However when it comes to the afterlife, GOD and meaning, humans really have a soft spot and become irrational creatures.

Naturally. I think maybe it's in our phyche. We don't like to think that after death, there's nothing. We don't like to think our existance is meaningless. We're here and we're gonna die. We don't want this to mean nothing.

So we make up this stuff about the afterlife and a being more powerful than ourselves. We want to believe it. Therefore, most of us do.

Do u ever find it strange that people who have believed that there was more to life, all throught the history of time, have never proven that there was more. There has never been any convincing evidence for supernatural activity anywhere in the world EVER.
I believe that if this was any other subject, we would have dropped the idea long ago. However when it comes to the afterlife, GOD and meaning, humans really have a soft spot and become irrational creatures.

Long ago, since I was a kid, I stepped back from my subjectivity and realised this. I am a firm believer in evidence as the way to interpret things.

A meaning does not have to be supernatural John, and as you say, there is no evidence that life has a meaning beyond existing, so the meaning could be quite simply, we exist to find ways in which to continue that existence one way or another.

If we are using evidence, then we can postulate that the earth wotnt last forever, that we need to physically evolve to survive in the future, we need to find ways of sustaining ourselves, possibly evolving other life forms to facilitate it etc. |That sounds meaningful to me

kula

Do u ever find it strange that people who have believed that there was more to life, all throught the history of time, have never proven that there was more. There has never been any convincing evidence for supernatural activity anywhere in the world EVER.

Usually, I'm just a cynical as you of supernatural activity but when I'm sitting under a tree on a beautiful afternoon and the breeze is just right, I can feel it. Maybe it's just my imagination of what I'd 'like' to perceive but I don't really care, it's the way I want to live and it makes me happy.

Maybe reason people attribute supernatural qualities to nature is because they want to feel more a part of it, that they want to be able to touch it with their heart, to love it. If we think of nature as just a bunch of molecules, it tends to lead to a sense of separation, that nature doesn't need or want our love.

"Feelings" are very scientific Rosa! If u cannot understand why feelings evolved then fair enough.

I think I know some of the ontogony of them, thank you, you have taught me that before.


This kind of stuff makes me wonder about my fellow humans sometimes! Its time to stop thinking about our feelings of love etc as evidence for the existance of God or the supernatural. There is absolutely nothing supernatural about love despite how wonderful it is.

I am *not* using feelings as "evidence for the existence of God or the supernatural"!
I am *not* saying that there is something supernatural about love!

I am saying that describing love as does not satisfy me. I cannot go to bed thinking love is [insert scientific definition] and be calm about it. If I would be satisfied with the scientific definition, I'd feel like a robot.


Rosa here has just shown what I think is the biggest barrier to us becoming a bit more objective about our universe.

Objectivity. Please explain why it is important to be objective. (I'm not kidding, we can do this [I]scientifically.)

A meaning does not have to be supernatural John,

LOL. No of course, but i think the "meaning" that a lot of people were talking about up until now DID have a supernatural nature!

Maybe it's just my imagination of what I'd 'like' to perceive but I don't really care,


Believe me, it is :D

Maybe reason people attribute supernatural qualities to nature is because they want to feel more a part of it, that they want to be able to touch it with their heart, to love it.

Actually, the reason we have such an affinity and emotion for nature is that we have evolved with it. For example, the sound of thunder and the colour of a sunset evoke very strong feelings within us. this is becase, all dow the million or more years we were evolving, these have been with us and they had to have some place in our genome. We associate thunder with fear or respect and this was a survival strategy.

If we think of nature as just a bunch of molecules, it tends to lead to a sense of separation, that nature doesn't need or want our love.

I don't think it does. Thats another argument I never like. That people who realise that the universe IS just a bunch of atoms, cannot appreciate it or find the beauty in it. I know that when I admire something, it is just because I was hard-wired to admire it, but that doesn't make me feel any less enjoyment from it when it happens! I think I have moved passed the stage where I NEED a God to live a fairly happy life.

Usually, I'm just a cynical as you of supernatural activity but when I'm sitting under a tree on a beautiful afternoon and the breeze is just right, I can feel it.

I get that feeling too. I get it listening to Coldplay, myself. That feeling is addictive.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that feels this feeling! :D

i am guessing many of you here are experienced with hallucinogens?
ok, those that are imagine this: you have ingested some delightful little substance and you are beginning to open up a bit more than usual.....ok?....you are looking enchantedly at a flower in the garden, say a passion flower....i find you , and ask you this:

"What is the MEANING of life?"

how do you imagine you would answer?

I am *not* using feelings as "evidence for the existence of God or the supernatural"!
I am *not* saying that there is something supernatural about love!

I am saying that describing love as does not satisfy me. I cannot go to bed thinking love is [insert scientific definition] and be calm about it. If I would be satisfied with the scientific definition, I'd feel like a robot.

Rosa, anything that cannot ever be explained by science is "supernatural". Now please tell me why it is so important that u abandon science when it comes to love? Think about the poor children who cannot feel love because of a birth defect. Would u actually bring research in this area to a halt just because u don't think science can explain it?

Come on Rosa

Objectivity. Please explain why it is important to be objective. (I'm not kidding, we can do this [I]scientifically.)

It is incredibly important to be objective. Ever since the first scientists decided to put away their feelings about religion, we have learned so much about our universe. We have reduced mortality and extended longevity way beyond what we could have anticipated. Being objective is being scientifically-minded and being that is the most important thing IMO.

i am guessing many of you here are experienced with hallucinogens?
ok, those that are imagine this: you have ingested some delightful little substance and you are beginning to open up a bit more than usual.....ok?....you are looking enchantedly at a flower in the garden, say a passion flower....i find you , and ask you this:

"What is the MEANING of life?"

how do you imagine you would answer?

I'm not experienced with hallucinogens, but I will answer anyway.

I can guess that I'd be in a good mood if I'm looking enchantedly at a passion flower, so I'd say something gushy like "The meaning is to make people happy and to be happy"; and then, since I'm high and lonely, I'd say "Hug me!".

I can guess that I'm weird when I'm high.

oh yesh, objectivity is bloody marvelous isn't it. we are currently seeing Nature being further more and more exploited at every turn, global warming, millions of people poverty stricken and starving, species going extince in their thousands, more and more people--millions in the 'sceintific-objectified' west having to take psychiatric medication, so much so i read in our Observer sunday paper on its front page that prozac is finding its way into the water systems due to its being pissed and shit out by so many people, and its toxix

so who are you kidding that objectification is the best thing to hit the planet. it has dessacralzzed Nature, and our sense of ourselves, ...who the ...would WANT to live longer in this world? only surely the ones who worship this nightmare. i am jnot one of them

Rosa, anything that cannot ever be explained by science is "supernatural".

You mean "anything for which we refuse a scientific explanation is regarded as supernatual"?


Now please tell me why it is so important that u abandon science when it comes to love?

I am not abandoning science, I bet I would be among the last ones to do it. But I like the creative personal touch to things. Hah.


Come on Rosa

Don't you dare "come on Rosa" me!


It is incredibly important to be objective. Ever since the first scientists decided to put away their feelings about religion, we have learned so much about our universe. We have reduced mortality and extended longevity way beyond what we could have anticipated. Being objective is being scientifically-minded and being that is the most important thing IMO.

Oh, and what do we have from this reduced mortality and extended longevity? More time to spend ... doing ... what?

I don't think it does. Thats another argument I never like. That people who realise that the universe IS just a bunch of atoms, cannot appreciate it or find the beauty in it. I know that when I admire something, it is just because I was hard-wired to admire it, but that doesn't make me feel any less enjoyment from it when it happens! I think I have moved passed the stage where I NEED a God to live a fairly happy life.

See, there you go! This is where I was waiting for you.

You have conceptualized this hard-wired admiration in a more scientific manner, while some other people conceptualize it in a more artistic manner. But both are talking about the SAME THING.

Some people however, who do not have the same scientific experience like you, view science as a cold place, with no room for things like admiration. To them, the scientific explanation certainly does not suffice.

I know scientists who do not admire. But with you, this admiration seems to be very much a matter of fact, a felicitious coincidence even.

EXACCTLY! doing WHAT? looking at a toxic fukin car park? cause thats where your cut off objective trip's leading us. and really you know your view of science is a rusty old one. checkout the cuttin edge is what i am saying. i'm not anti-science, i am anti-mechano scitenTISM

and btw, that website 'carrotsandaliens is very very creative. love it

You mean "anything for which we refuse a scientific explanation is regarded as supernatual"?

No, I meant what I said!

However I think u are trying to say to me that u didn't necessarily say that. That u DO believe that science is correct in this regard, but u don't want to believe it. Am I right?! :bugeye:

I cannot go to bed thinking love is and be calm about it.

Why not?

I am not abandoning science, I bet I would be among the last ones to do it. But I like [I]the creative personal touch to things. Hah.

Whats NOT creative about science?!

Don't you dare "come on Rosa" me!

I love saying it!!! It makes me feel like one of your parents :D

Oh, and what do we have from this reduced mortality and extended longevity? More time to spend ... doing ... what?

living of course:confused:

I would like to post what i think. IN the big picture life has no meaning at all. Their is no standard meaning to why we live. We just do.

However I think u are trying to say to me that u didn't necessarily say that. That u DO believe that science is correct in this regard, but u don't want to believe it. Am I right?!

No. You're not right. I am against rigid scientific minimalism though.


“ I cannot go to bed thinking love is [insert scientific definition] and be calm about it. ”
Why not?

I just can't.


“ I am not abandoning science, I bet I would be among the last ones to do it. But I like the creative personal touch to things. Hah. ”

Whats NOT creative about science?!

What is not creative about science is the wannabe scientists. Those who have abandoned religion out of some fear, and put science into its place, and now they worship it the same way as they used to worship God.

But I delight in a real scientist. It takes blood and guts to be a good scientist though.


I love saying it!!! It makes me feel like one of your parents :D

This is roundabout *the* weirdest remark you have made ever since I've known you. You are indeed being creative.


“ Oh, and what do we have from this reduced mortality and extended longevity? More time to spend ... doing ... what? ”

living of course

Oh. And make new problems ... so that science has something to do -- in trying to solve them?

The meaning of life,,the question exist to person when they are trying to get a life ( grip ) to really get an idea of what is going on, one would have to see and understand that no one has to DIE,,

It takes a tousand years to be done with living in the flesh,,and that is how long one can live and understand. We are in total control of our selves, Because you see people Die does not mean you have to.

So the question exist because you assume you have to die, but when you understand that to have life you must work for it, then the question needs not be asked.

After the thousand years you give up the body but the spirit will continue on
and the flesh will vanish,, you will not go in a grave.

The universe is comprised of six things only six, if you can understand those six you can overcome death.

The six things that makes up the universe includes every thing and every one.

As we have manifest ti was also fit that a tool to acheive this also manifested at the same time and that tool is the opposite of self ( male ? female )

All question and understanding will come to one when he or she tries to merge with the opposite.

With seeing it is not possible to merge with the oppisite, it can become clear to the person that the six bases exist and it has LAWS then one can project the possobility of the merge and remove the illision of options and work straight away with the laws of the six bases which can give contro; over self.
Thus life if you want and the question will not be asked ( what is the meaning of life ) ...

Eric

No. You're not right. I am against rigid scientific minimalism though.

Are u sure I'm not right?

You mean "anything for which we refuse a scientific explanation is regarded as supernatual"?

U should never refuse a scientific explanation IMO.

I just can't.

Awww :(

What is not creative about science is the wannabe scientists. Those who have abandoned religion out of some fear, and put science into its place, and now they worship it the same way as they used to worship God.

I believe most scientists respect science and are against the notion of worshipping anything.

But I delight in a real scientist. It takes blood and guts to be a good scientist though.

What's the definition of a real scientist? Why does it take blood and guts to be one?

This is roundabout *the* weirdest remark you have made ever since I've known you. You are indeed being creative.

Thank u :)

Oh. And make new problems ... so that science has something to do -- in trying to solve them?

there's never need to make new problems in this crazy world of ours!

"No. You're not right. I am against rigid scientific minimalism though."
Are u sure I'm not right?

Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough. I have nothing against science as such, but I am against rigid scientific minimalism though.


U should never refuse a scientific explanation IMO.

I don't.


“ I just can't. ”

Awww

What? There is a point where I refuse to be "rational" and depend entirely on my emotions. Some may call me "stubborn" and "unmanageable" because of that -- but that's just how I am. I am catty like that. And *never* would I trade this feeling for any scientific explanation.


I believe most scientists respect science and are against the notion of worshipping anything.

I really hope it is so.


What's the definition of a real scientist? Why does it take blood and guts to be one?

A real scientist is such who truly abides to the principles of science and logic -- in short, who does not bend scientific principles and logic for his temporary purposes (like "adjusting data"). It takes blood and guts to stick to the results of your research -- as they may often be quite everything but pleasing. Also, it takes those blood and guts to also be a human all along that scientific way.


there's never need to make new problems in this crazy world of ours!

Oh, but people do make new problems ...

U should never refuse a scientific explanation IMO.

I don't.

And *never* would I trade this feeling for any scientific explanation.

Please explain

U should never refuse a scientific explanation IMO.


I don't.


And *never* would I trade this feeling for any scientific explanation.

Please explain

With delight.
My above statements are an obvious contradiction, my knowledge system appears to be gravely inconsistent.

But: Within a longer period of time, a learning knowledge system is necessarily inconsistent within itself. When we learn, we do not just add new data, but we also alter already existing data or reconceptualize already existing understandings.

E.g., at T1 we knew "After physical activity, muscles hurt because of the acid that builds up in them", while at T2 we know "After physical activity, muscles hurt because the fibres rip". If the observed time frame includes both T1 and T2, our knowledge shows up inconsitency.

If we take a much smaller time frame, the knowledge system may very well appear consistent. But the question is: How do we come from one system to another? For we do, if knowledge in T1 is not the same as in T2. Do we leap, with blank spaces inbetween?

I don't know how else to explain this -- but that our knowledge system has a meta-system that allows for learning, that allows for states of temporary inconsistency. These states are apparently necessary, or the process of learning would be limited only to loading up data that fits the already existing knowledge patterns.

So when I said "And *never* would I trade this feeling for any scientific explanation. ", I was actually refering to one of those functions this meta-system has.

At some point, we give up rationality based on already existing data, and allow for a two-way inductive process: an understanding that is rational on the basis of *new* evidence that this very understanding enables us to see. In other words, insight. Strange, but this seems possible only if we are willing to give up strict rationality for a while.

Logicly life has no meaning. I have noticed through my observations throughout life that there is no meaning or purpose for anything we do.
Everything has an opposite an opposing force and they cancel eachother out.
Every actions has an equal and opposite reaction. I made up a simple equation that makes this idea a little more understandable.

-1 will be the number for all things negative

1 well be the number for all things positive

If you think that life isnt broke up into negative and positive you makeing this too complex. This is a very simple idea.

-1+1=0

0 is the outcome of all things negative and positive

What purpose does 0 have?

You may be thinking that this equation doesnt apply to life because life is too complex but i think life is very simple if you arent cought up in the details which to me are just distractions or white noise.

In the end you will die, In the end we all will die.
The end result is the complete opposite of the begining result.

Whatever purpose or meaning you can give to life is overshadowed by the big picture. You can attach some meaning to certain things to make yourself feel like your accomplishing something or that you have some purpose. In all reality your in denial and scared of the idea that your life is totaly pointless.

If you save a life you have only delayed death.
If you make a life you have only created death.
One will be happy when another is sad.
There will be a time when all actions of all things every created will be erased. There will be no past present or future. There will be no history to remember no future to look forward to and no present to live in. All will be gone and everything ever done will have ment nothing.

This is my opinion and belief, I am not presenting this as a fact for in all reality i dont know. And true knowledge lies in knowing you know nothing.

What purpose does 0 have?


What are you insane :), try and count to 10, 0 is the begenning and the end

logicaly your fucked with out 0

Life is FULL of meaning. like Nature it is prolificaLLy abundantly overflowing like a
depthless fountain......so is our depths because we ARe Nature. it isn't 'nature over there.....me/us over here' we ARe Nature...process. and this dynamic living process Is Meaning, and this Meaning is inclusive of polar related complimentary oppo-sites, like hot and cold, dry and wet, light and dark, good and bad, terror and ecstasy, life and death

Death isn't some 'abstract' entity waiting to swallow us up at the end of that other 'abstract' our thinking brain has conjured--thus assuming an antagonism, strife, conflict betwixt 'death' and 'life'.
Rather death is intimately interealted WITh the process. so for example, every
movement you make is constantly dying, and simultaneously living. what PHYSICAL death means is a dramatic part of this dance.
obviously we can't stay in the same body for ever and ever and ever. that aint natural. and you lose being 'suzy' or peter' or Mr Hunter, or Ms Widlow or whatever.....but the MEANING is not necessarily the role you are playing...the social role where you think 'i am an american, englishman, am a this or that (ie., in work).....your and my essence is awareness. and our awreness are unique. and this awareness awarenesses in unique ways........ask the Robin, Dolphin, Elephant, or your friend

Yes kunax and you totaly missed what i was saying, you are acting like 0 has some meaning other that the begining and the end.....you should realise that what i was trying to get accross is that there is nor reason or purpose for 0......if it is the begining and end that only proves that is it pointless.....Its a concept many cant understand. and by the way, what is the purpose behind counting to 10? and try not to think of the noisy details......think of the big picture......life may have a meaning in the trivial details of it all but in the grand scale of things there is no real purpose for anything.....that is what i am getting at :) and yes i do think i am insane at times :p Its a curse and a gift.

Duendy....I like your reply as it is most insitefull into another OPINION....it seems you pretend to know what death is and or how it works......you think of death and whatever about it makes sense to you becomes your set of reality rules.....


"One mans Reality is another mans Fantasy"

L8rz
Sly1

Life...what is its meaning? Personally - and I know this has been said here before - I say there is no real meaning to life.

If you look at ones personal life, well for me it would be to learn as much as I can, and enjoy what I can. Looking at the scale of humanity, I would say the purpose of life is procreation; for the continued existence of our species.

However, at the end of the day, why are we here? I go by the idea that life is the result of a chemical reaction during the creation of our world. This process probably happened all across the universe and is likely very common. Now, over time, life evolved into what we know today; some of it into us - human beings. We are capable of advanced thought and engineering. We can think things out on an advanced level(compared to other life forms on Earth) and build things. Simple as that. It doesn't mean there is some higher reason for being, some grand meaning of life.

On the scale of the Universe, there is no meaning to life. It's just the result of one of the many reactions that occur in the Universe.

On the scale of the Universe, there is no meaning to life. It's just the result of one of the many reactions that occur in the Universe.

Best line I've ever heard. Life is just another chemical reaction. Get over it :D

The meaning of life is life itself, if your not satisfied then there must be something wrong with you...

The meaning of life is life itself, if your not satisfied then there must be something wrong with you...
"Life" could be quite different. You could be a 400 hundreds pounder doing some meaningless paperpushing job for $70k/year. You could be a slave sold to Arabs or Chechens. You could be many other things... which I doubt you'll enjoy/be satisfied with independently of the attitude adjustments.

Meaning of life?!?! hahaha, we can't even define the concept yet!!! but if it were anything, I doubt the 3 pound piece of stuff we call a brain can figure it out

Aristotle said that all humans seek happiness, that all humans only act for the sake of happiness. This should be understood as, the happiness that they perceive, rather than happiness as an objective entity.

The Buddhist philosophy says that we all seek to rid ourselves of suffering. I see this as another form of seeking happiness, for why would you seek to remove suffering except that you want to be happy? Suffering causes unhappiness.

The question arises, if we all seek happiness, then why is there so much unhappiness? This goes back to " the happiness that we perceive." Often people perceive things as offering them happiness, but often the perceived happiness is only shallow, and leaves the person seeking out more and more (like addiction). Or the perceived happiness also brings with it an unperceived unhappiness. To answer the question, there is much unhappiness in the world due to lack of understand, knowledge, wisdom, forsight, etc...

Aristotle went on to say that because we not only seek happiness, but we also seek greater happiness, that what we truly seek is an ultimate happiness. A happiness that brings no suffering, that lasts and does not leave the seeker searching for more. He called this happiness our final, ultimate end.

Another question arises, how can we know what will make us happy? Consider all the things that do bring happiness (in whatever form). Security, friendship, victory, pleasure, growth, knowledge, love, freedom, competition, peace, health, and so on. There is a commonality that these things share; that is their naturalness. Nature is simply the way that something is designed, or designed to function. You experience happiness when you act, or exist, as your form is designed to. This is because you are fulfilling that design. When you break your arm, you experience pain, because that is an unnatural state (your nerve endings transmit this to your brain so that you may be able to prevent any further injury and you may be able to fix it). Begin examining your own experiences of happiness, from where do they stem?

Another question arises, if this is true, then what will the ultimate happiness be like? If we examine someone who is addicted, or someone obsessed with gain, light can be shed on the answer. It is said that the human capacity to learn is infinite, that if it were possible for man to live long enough to learn everything, then it could be achieved. A person with an addiction never remains at one level of experience of that addiction. For example, a person addicted to drugs will never be satisfied, and will always try new and more effective, more potent "stuff." A person addicted to alcohol will not stop with beer, they will seek the mos potent alcohol that they can. A person addicted to pornography, eventually will not stop with softcore, but will slowly seek out the more hardcore. This is because satisfaction does not come with the old familiar. Some satisfaction does, but not all. Even the Buddhist will persue a greater level of self-awareness. It is also said that the human appetite is infinite, that it can never be assuaged by what it has. If it were possible for a man to live long enough to learn everything in the universe, to experience everything in the universe, that would still not be satisfying.

The only thing that can assauge an infinite capacity, is an actually infinite thing. If a man could attach himself to something that was Actually Infinite (see Infinite Set Theory), then that person would grow infinitely, experience, forever, greater and greater happinesses. Such an attachment would constitute our final, ultimate end, since there would never be a moment of unhappiness or unsatisfaction.

The question of the meaning of human life, may be answered in this way, since every human seeks happiness. The meaning of life, in general may simply be answered in this way, that all living things are meant to act according to their nature.

interesting responses here. here's my take: life equals entropy which eventually results in death. life is about learning to let go of your ego. your possessions, your family and friends, and basically everything. life's about dealing with all the choices you've made, dealing with the things you control, and dealing with the things you can't. life's about laughing at all the unfair cards you've been dealt, but eventually deciding you could have got a much worse hand. life's about letting go of the illusions you built up and believed were so real. life's about living and it's also about dying.