phidelis07

I think living for the moment is good, but sometimes living for others, at least for a moment can give us satisfaction and purpose. I realize we influence others, and our influence will live on, for a brief period. Isnt it every man's desire to leave something for the world ? Something that reminds the living this person existed ? And with this legacy immortalizing himself, or is this just the thought of somebody ego-centric. Anyways back to my point people's purpose, their meaning will eventually die. People will forget you ever existed and through out generations the effects of your life will be so deluded it will be non-existent. The point i raised earlier is that this universe is bound for destruction, and with this the destruction of anything that ever mattered

jaej

Even if there is a personal god, well over 99% of all people ever will be forgotten by humanity. I agree completely about satisfaction through living for others. I've gone through long stages of depression when I think about how unlikely it is that history will remember me, but it's not a big deal to me anymore. Living for my life, while I have it, has become most important to me. Live fast, die young, I'm sure you've heard. Not completely, but I agree with a lot of the connotation that phrase brings. I'm not going to waste my life, and whether or not there is any cosmic significance really doesn't bother me right now.

As I grow older perhaps it might. In psychology class last year I learned that old people are often consumed by doubt about whether they lived their life as best they could. That's something I don't want. I live under the philosophy 'hakuna matata'. No worries, no regrets.

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phidelis07

It's funny you mention psychology as that is my intended major. I guess for me there has to be an inherent meaning in life, otherwise i just don't see the point. I can have all the fun i want, but at the end of the day i'll still ask " what did i accomplish" and desiring such accomplishments to be meaningful. I'm not quite sure whether this desire to insert meaning and create it will be beneficial or not.
only time will tell i suppose.... I just don't see the point in existing as it will all be destroyed within a few trillion years

mister_lister

So far this thread has dealt with the metaphysical question of the meaning of life. I focus on the physical meaning of life, namely offspring. The purpose of every living thing on this planet is the following:

1. To Be Born and Survive to Adulthood.
2. To Sustain yourself and your tribe.
3. To meet a suitable or available Mate.
4. To procreate and rear your young to maturity
5. To die.

To look for any other purpose in life, especially a metaphysical reason is selfish and depressing to me. Anything beyond these 5 simple steps is masturbation when you really think about it. The ego is volatile and fleeting. The physical presence is the essence of life. Simplify and join the rest of nature. You are not ready to become a god.

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"The trouble is not with what we don't know, it is with what we think we know that just ain't so". ~ Mark Twain

phidelis07

Ok that is one of the prime directives in the physical life yes, but even that is trivial isnt it ? Existing just to exist?That in and of itself is the most meaningless thing i've ever heard. To me its depressing that life blindy follows its desire to propagate.

harleylove

I realize many people feel they must accomplish things with their life and I also feel that religion can fall into the same category of there being more out there and searching for a higher purpose.

I've always felt in the minority in that I don't need to have a meaning for my existence nor do I really have any preset goals of things I want to do before I die. Probably the main ones I've ever had were getting married and having kids. Since I've done those now I just live day to day just being grateful that I am here to be with my family.

I've always been fascinated by people who have their lives planned and know exactly what they want from it and wondered why I wasn't the same. My father always told me that I was unmotivated and lazy because I had no desire to be anything, as I am getting older I am realizing that I am blessed because of it.

Meaning of life has always been simple to me. Do what makes you happy and you'll have a fulfilled life.

Unbeliever

I couldn't care less whether I'm remembered after I'm dead. Even if some people do remember me, that is also only a temporary condition, and eventually all remembrance of my having existed will be gone, as will any effects of my actions. Even such people as Hitler, Caesar, Jesus and Buddha will eventually be forgotten, why should I be any different, and why should I care? Being remembered for a time won't do me the slightest bit of good, or bad.

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The need for critical thinking is becoming critical, I'm thinking.

"If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal."
Carl Sagan

"Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt."
Clarence Darrow( 1857-1938) American Lawyer

Unbeliever

OK, all that having been said, I do think that humans have a function to perform for the world. I think that the biosphere, while fairly robust in many ways, is also fragile to the extent that the planet could be sterilized by a cosmic catastrophe of a sufficiently devastaing nature. There have been several mass extinctions over the past 4.5 billion years, some of which nearly wiped out all the life on Earth. After each of these extinction episodes, the remaining species underwent accelerated evolution, recolonizing the newly vacated ecological niches, so that life didn't merely survive, but actually thrived. Each time, the species that remained were of a "higher" order than after previous extinctions. This process has continued until, at last, a form of life has evolved that is able to extend the biosphere of the Earth to extraterrestrial locations, either other planets or artificial habitats. This means that, if humans can spread the biosphere far enough, then it will be much less likely that a single catastrophe will wipe out our form of life.

I don't think this has in any way been guided by any sentient mind, it's just a natural process that may well happen with any inhabited planet, perhaps similar to the way an ant colony will ensure it's genetic survival by colonizing other regions.

I see the Earth as an egg, or a seed.

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The need for critical thinking is becoming critical, I'm thinking.

"If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal."
Carl Sagan

"Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt."
Clarence Darrow( 1857-1938) American Lawyer

The An-Jel

For what? I think life is a pleasent response but not an essential "caligraphy" to the Universe. The Universe doesn't need life to continue what it is doing. The real party is once we as a race get out there. I think life looks like more of an antfarm than anything mental or spiritual actually.

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"And let there be Light!" said the Blind man.

Life is simple, people make it complicated - Basilisk

Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti - Royal Gibraltar Regiment

harleylove

An-jel are you a poet? and I've always been curious, is that you in your avatar?

Sorry a little off topic..... still pondering the antfarm comments