Meaning of Life

[Joker]

Anyone got any opinions on the meaning/purpose of existence?

[Rafael Domination]

I read the Bible! :D

[Andy]

Well, if you want a religious reason, it's so God could have other beings who would love him back.

Another answer that does not involve the number 42 is so that we can maintain order in the world that would not be possible with any creature with an intelligence less than a human's. For example, making sure no animals go extinct and keeping invasive plants and creatures under control.

[Rafael Domination]

Well, if you want a religious reason, it's so God could have other beings who would love him back.

Love Him back of their own FREE will. Otherwise, He would have created robots. ^^

[Nyx]

Eh..I'm still searching for the meaning.

[Rafael Domination]

Some people make their own meaning.

But as to the dictionary's meaning of life, it is 'a complex, varied, versatile and chaotic combination of sentience, emotion, desires, senses, ability and mass that form an organism with an automatic, self-ruling self'.

Okay, I made that up, but it's pretty close.

I like this debate, Joker! :D

[Mercy]

The meaning of life...The meaning is to live life the way you want to, without fear and without being under someone else's control (like a cult, stuff that takes all indepence out of you). You live life by what you think is correct and then hope is actually is in the end.

That's my really lame answer. x3

[Rafael Domination]

No limit is a little dangerous, though. For example, if that principle is to be applied to everyone, then people who murder shouldn't be punished, cuz' that limit's their freedoms.

Woot for making things more complicated! :D

[Mercy]

lol. Again, by saying that we should live without being someone else's control, I meant it in a more of a sense of being brainwashed. I'm perfectly fine with laws. x3 Although, sometimes laws can hurt the people and society, if under a dictator-like rule...so...I guess it all depends on the situation. xD

But, yes, if we add in the 'law' factor, complications galore.

[Rafael Domination]

Ah, but laws under who? :crazy:

[Nyx]

Oh no... here we go, with Raffy and his ever complicating questions :rolleyes:

[Mercy]

xD

Yes, more complications.
And laws are only opinions and are therefore subjective.
Thus, we can conclude that everything around us is subjective, with the exception of facts. And even facts are discovered from what we appear to see (and there is so much we don't understand...)

[Rafael Domination]

What if we're all living in a Matrix-type world? What do we do to prevent anything isn't an illusion? Eh? Scary thought.

[Mercy]

Ah, I love that movie.
I swear I'm in the Matrix sometimes....I'm just waiting to get out. x3
By the way, by 'prevent' do you mean 'prove'?
Honestly, there would be no way to prove that we aren't living in an illusion. Espcially since I live in the one in my head all day, every day. x3

[Rafael Domination]

Prevent or prove. It doesn't matter! :D

We're all living a LIE! :crazy: :(

[Mercy]

Prevent or prove. It doesn't matter! :D

We're all living a LIE! :crazy: :(
I love your emotes. xD

But yes, I wouldn't doubt it. In fact, even if everything were real and not the Matrix, people could still decieve us and we could still be living a lie, even in reality! We could be living in what we think is a reality but is actually a lie but we wouldn't know any different, so it would still be our reality.

:eek:

[Rafael Domination]

Ah, but if it is a reality, then how is it a reality if it is a lie that seems like a real reality when it really is a lie that seems real but in reality its lies really look like reality that is hidden in a lie really is a lie that reality is a reality but is a lie and not a real reality.

Wrap yer mind around that! ^^

[Mercy]

Because what we precieve individually is reality! For example: giving someone a thumbs up in America is the reality of a good-job gesture. But in India, this gesture is the equivelant of giving someone the finger.

Therefore, it can be concluded that each individual has their own reality, even if they are being lied to by someone else, the decieved will still see what they are seeing as their reality.

[Rafael Domination]

Ah, but concrete realities exist. One plus one is always two. That is a reality. Or is it? Maybe on some different cosmic level, the process of the addition itself results in a whole different variation of...things.

[Crocolyle]

According to my understanding, since God can neither be proven or disproven, the general reason any individual lives is to pass on their genes and to better the lives for their children (or, if you are sterile or choose a life of celibacy, merely to better the lives of the following generation.) Though if you take a step back and ask why do humans exist at all, I don't think there's a reason. If you take a step back from that, and ask why there is life at all, I don't think there's a true meaning behind anything at all. I think the fact that we live is reason in itself because:
1) You know that at least you became alive.
2) You do not truly know God; to tie all life's meaning to a higher power is based entirely on faith and assumption. I can't construct a reasoned argument as to why something I can't prove exists would be the meaning of my existence.
3) You're alive; you might as well make the best of it.

[Mercy]

Indeed. Yet we do not know of all the cosmic levels and how those concrete realities differer from ours.

Despite these tangible facts, people still can not grasp them in their entirety and thus, they create their own realities so to understand them better.

[Rafael Domination]

Ah, but what if life has other concepts to it? :crazy:

[Mercy]

Indeed!
I believe that there is always a hidden meaning.
There must be some reason why we're here! Because as humans, we need a purpose, lest we lose our identity and lose our will to live!
So to retain my ablitiy to keep moving foreward, there must be a reason we were created!

Edit:

Perhaps the Meaning of Life is just a concept man has created so that it can have hope!

:crazy:

[Crocolyle]

By examining the fundamental functions of an organism, one can determine the meaning of life. To be a living thing you must be able to reproduce and you must be able to survive (by maintaining homeostasis, eating, drinking, having your needs addressed.) Sex and survival (so it lives long enough to be able to have sex) are the fundamental functions of the organism.

Virtually everything related to humans is also related to sex or survival? But survival only matters until you pass on your genes. I'm pretty sure our purpose is to pass on our genes, for the following reasons:
1) Perhaps the most intense Human emotions are Love and Lust
2) Though we think of "sex" and being a modern fixation--it has always been humanity's primary fixation. Porn existed before the internet. Nearly all poems and stories relate to Love/Sex or War/Death when stripped to their basics. (In Beowulf, swords and spears serve as phallic symbols)
3) I've heard the death of a child is worse than the death of a spouse.
4) While contraceptives are in use, they clearly do not remove the drive designed to encourage conception.
5) In our supposed "sophistication" and apparent "enlightenment" we may believe we strive for more "intangible goals" and to rise above our "instincts," but it is our instincts and drives that shape us as the human animal, and while we do need to show self-control, we should not deny who we are in exchange for the so-called intangibles.

In fact St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians 7:1-9, expresses his belief that men and woman should center their life not around sex, but around God (and therefore live lives of celibacy); yet, St. Paul concedes that since desire, lust, love, and passion are such driving instincts in humans, that such a life is impossible for most normal humans. Despite the human ideal of surpassing--and therefore suppressing--our instincts, our fundamental desires of sex and survival seem to be the key to who we truly are.

The mystery is not whether or not life has meaning, but [I]why the passing on of genes, the very expression of life, has meaning. Life has meaning because of reproduction, but why is reproduction meaningful?

EDIT: I apologize for not incorporating any philosophical mumbo jumbo about Plato's Allegory of the Cave or the subjective experience of reality and whether anything, whether object or idea, can be considered concrete or not. Since clearly everything in philosophy has to relate to that.

[Alex]

Although this is a hypocritical statements, why do we have this discussion. Will finding the meaning of life change everything that much? I never understood why we, as a race, search for answers. Maybe its the shear power of the ability to search, maybe its a subconcious fear of forces unknown, but if it wont change anything then why go after it?

That being said I have thought about it. I used to agree with Lyle, but then doubt settled in so I just tried to drop it. I can't say I've succeeded, but that doesn't stop me from trying. I don't want to have to worry about it, because so few people 'claim' they know, and yet they are still too self-centered to share with others. If they really do know the meaning of life, it can't be very happy-go-lucky if they aren't willing to tell. Maybe thats it, maybe the meaning of life is the search of knowledge and power ((which in some cases go hand-in-hand)), but again, I find myself wondering why I've rambled this long, even.

[Midnight_Moon]

I believe the meaning of life varies for each person. Everyone has their own. But I think it call comes down to love (no I'm not saying that because it's a quote from a song, I really think that). The meaning of life is to love yourself, love the world you live in, love the people around you, love everyone moment you spend on this very ground, good or bad. Love is a gift; we all need to grab a hold and not let it go.

So, that's my say on the meaning of life.

[Joker]

Well, if you want a religious reason, it's so God could have other beings who would love him back.

Another answer that does not involve the number 42 is so that we can maintain order in the world that would not be possible with any creature with an intelligence less than a human's. For example, making sure no animals go extinct and keeping invasive plants and creatures under control.

Animals going extinct is part of the natural order. THat's us actually messing with nature. And the problems with invasive plants and animals are mostly our doing.

[Andy]

I never said we were even remotely successful at this possibility. :)

[Joker]

From what I can tell, Reality is really a balance between the objective and the subjective reality. It's like there is a basic pattern to everything, the objective reality, and then there are patterns that overlap it based on how we percieve the objective pattern, this is the subjective reality.

And when it comes to the meaning of life, I'd say that there is no definite meaning or purpose to existence, or if there is one it's too big for us to understand. Rather I believe that meaning of life, the reason the concept is there, is so that we'll think about it. By trying to understand the meaning of life, we come to understand more about ourselves and other things. It's more about the question itself than the actual answer.

[Alex]

From what I can tell, Reality is really a balance between the objective and the subjective reality. It's like there is a basic pattern to everything, the objective reality, and then there are patterns that overlap it based on how we percieve the objective pattern, this is the subjective reality.

And when it comes to the meaning of life, I'd say that there is no definite meaning or purpose to existence, or if there is one it's too big for us to understand. Rather I believe that meaning of life, the reason the concept is there, is so that we'll think about it. By trying to understand the meaning of life, we come to understand more about ourselves and other things. It's more about the question itself than the actual answer.

see, I agreed with this as well for a while, but then I stumbled upon the two questions.

1) If we do find out the meaning of life what else is there to achieve?

and

2) If we can never find the meaning of life is it really necessary for us to search for it?

But in all I understand what you're saying

[Nyx]

According to my understanding, since God can neither be proven or disproven, the general reason any individual lives is to pass on their genes and to better the lives for their children (or, if you are sterile or choose a life of celibacy, merely to better the lives of the following generation.) Though if you take a step back and ask why do humans exist at all, I don't think there's a reason. If you take a step back from that, and ask why there is life at all, I don't think there's a true meaning behind anything at all. I think the fact that we live is reason in itself because:
1) You know that at least you became alive.
2) You do not truly know God; to tie all life's meaning to a higher power is based entirely on faith and assumption. I can't construct a reasoned argument as to why something I can't prove exists would be the meaning of my existence.
3) You're alive; you might as well make the best of it.
I think I agree with most of that, it makes a lot of sense, and now I'm wondering why I've never reached this conclusion before:rolleyes:

2) If we can never find the meaning of life is it really necessary for us to search for it?


I think it is. You said yourself maybe the meaning is infact the search. Anyway, I think we never really understand enough about ourselves until we start to question the meaning of life and the search seems to be more important than the answer in a long run. Then again, I have yet to find out if that really is so, and all I've said is an assumption of my short search.

[Joker]

see, I agreed with this as well for a while, but then I stumbled upon the two questions.

1) If we do find out the meaning of life what else is there to achieve?

and

2) If we can never find the meaning of life is it really necessary for us to search for it?

But in all I understand what you're saying

I thought about that too. I'm pretty sure it's impossible right now for us to achieve. And I think it's necessary because its a good way to understand yourself.

[Alex]

If so then why strive for impossibility in a situation where getting close doesn't compare. Its not like second in a race, its either first or last, and if you know you are in last then why take the effort to run. Its just going to end in you having to waste your money on a gatorade later anyway...

[electrilad]

Hmmm... meaning of life... well, as an atheist searching for an atheistic religion, I'd have to say that...

Hmm. This is a tough one. Lemme come back to ya.

[J.L.A.Montoya]

Meaning of Life, um, I think I'm off track, but I think the purpose in life is to experience the world around us. By world, I mean space, too. To feel all our emotions, see the world and more. That's what I think. Oh, and not die until it happens "naturally" (old age, if that's how you want to go).

[jordanisonfire]

My opinion: there is no meaning. Make your OWN meaning! I'm a nihilist (which means I believe in no higher power and our actions do not matter), but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy life!

[Crocolyle]

No. You're an existentialist. Nihilism is no meaning. Existentialism is to create meaning through your actions. Or maybe you're sort of both... but the fact that you create meaning makes you an existentialist. Like what you mean is "The only meaning is that which you create," or "There is no meaning, even if you try to create one," otherwise you contradict yourself. Pick one and stick with it.

[jordanisonfire]

Thanks for the lesson, Croc. I'll research existentialism, see if I ca go better with that.

/spam

[phobophile]

to quote dennis leary, "happiness comes in simple forms. its a cookie, a cigarette, or a five second orgasm. you eat the cookie, you smoke the butt, and you go on with your day."

[ElephntFalingOffClif]

You guys are so way behind on things because I'v already figured out the meaning of life. But i'm not going to tell you........... *Sigh* ok fine you got me, I'll give you a hint.....(leans in and wispers in ear) Watch the movie "The Meaning of Life" by Monty Python duh.....

[ScottyMcGee]

Whatever you want it to be.

[ElephntFalingOffClif]

So your saying if I want the meaning of life to be eggs and saussage then the meaning of life is eggs and saussage? That doesn't hardly make sense. SHould we all be warshipping eggs and saussage? Haha thats sounds kinda funny *pictures church full of people bowed down in prayer, up front is a plate full of eggs and saussage, "Oh holy breakfast foods..." they say*

[electrilad]

The meaning of life... this is probably going to be a bit rambly as I type my add-thoughts. From a religious standpoint, it may be to give god company, but I've never read the bible. From a scientific point of view, there isn't really any meaning- just an insane coincidence that we evolved and such. Since I am currently in the process of moving out of my mostly secretive atheism and into a buddhist lifestyle, I'd have to do a bit more research on the zen meaning of life. I'll get back to ya.

[dj4ever]

"The Meaning of Life" by Monty Python duh.....

I think I just fainted.

*gives Ele four billion cookies*

Just ignore this spam

:)

[Hypocrit]

...Meaning of life is self-evident. You live. Period. Peopel complicate things.

Purpose? Why should you have purpose, anymore than the bacteria on our body? Because you can think? Because you can build and draw hypothesis and notice the trajectory of bouncing balls and wavicles? Because you can reason your way to the conclusion that a leather bound collection of processed paper with some scribbled symbolism in INK has anything to do with the universe that created it, outside materials?

People couldn't reason yourself out a paper bag. Get off that Kirkegaard shit. It's CASHED.

[jordanisonfire]

...so, I'm gonna guess you're a nihilist? Or something close to it? Or maybe not even that, just someone who's realistic.

[Joker]

I've never understood nihilism. If theres no point to existence then why bother? Most of the time I've seen it devolve into lethargy or hedonism, and neither of those is good. Lets say we are fooling ourselves, that any purpose is an illusion, think about how much has been accomplished by believing in that illusion. Sometimes, whats real or unreal, or what truth or lie, becomes immaterial.

[jordanisonfire]

I can see where nihilism is coming from. I mean, if we're all just the result of the Big Bang, then I can't really see us having a deep purpose. But I don't believe we're pointless, either. In the absense of something greater, a divine or greater power, we've made our own purpose.

[Hypocrit]

I've never understood nihilism. If theres no point to existence then why bother? Most of the time I've seen it devolve into lethargy or hedonism, and neither of those is good. Lets say we are fooling ourselves, that any purpose is an illusion, think about how much has been accomplished by believing in that illusion. Sometimes, whats real or unreal, or what truth or lie, becomes immaterial.

No... that's assuming you should be SAD you don't have purpose. Sadness? That's another association with... EGO! No need for purpose means no sadness in reaction to absence of purpose which means...

Do what you like, live on day to day basis without reaction to but interaction with... world?

Nihilist? Shadow, explaining exactly what I believe to you would take a state of understanding in certain realms of existence that I do not believe you possess, BUT in case I am wrong, here is some ardent symbolism that you can mindlessly read into and take to be your own, or discard to be "not you" while simultaneously internalizing it via reaction to.

8 . ( ) _ - _

o

Ahem, yes so... Where was I? No, nihilism... no. True nihilism? No. I believe what ever I want on a day to day basis. I could believe what you believe tomorrow, or argue your point for you now. Here, allow me to do so.

"Hypocrit, you fucking dumbass, you're so painfully unaware of your self, your TRUE INTENT it's obnoxious and hilarious, simultaneously. Not cute anymore, you living up to your name and all.

If this was indeed true your statement of self would never have been made for life itself requires will to enact, you need desire, cultural or true, to assume you know anything in and/or of(pertainence aside) the "true" nature of things. You are, as always, a phallic gesture at best, at worst a joke.

And as much as you'd love to break down the should bes and should nots the world persists AS IS, therefore your nature MUST be composed as a reaction, to some extent.

So your search through dismeaning is... a meaning. You still live by meaning, and just because it's daily doesn't make you anything better than an impulsive ADD, acid washed ASSHOLE!

And if you DO INDEED have ANY sort of centralized belief it is an obscuration of tje zeroless you took to heart, a conceptualization of nonconcept into a dogmatic belief no better then the feeble agnostics you shit on so vehemently with your sour tongue and hungry intestines."

...Ok...Maybe that's not exactly your argument against me...but that's my argument against me... now pick a side.

Seem futile and pointless?

WELCOME TO POLITICS!

Have I made my point? Or rather... absence of? Guess that would imply there was never anything to be made.

[Andy]

No... that's assuming you should be SAD you don't have purpose. Sadness? That's another association with... EGO! No need for purpose means no sadness in reaction to absence of purpose which means...
That's what we call a zombie. Uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhnggggggggg.

The very fact that depression is a reality is because people have an intrinsic need for purpose. When they feel no purpose, they feel sad - not nothing period. If you think otherwise, find me a study in which a majority of people who claim no purpose in life feel blankness instead of sadness.

Nihilist? Shadow, explaining exactly what I believe to you would take a state of understanding in certain realms of existence that I do not believe you possess, BUT in case I am wrong, here is some ardent symbolism that you can mindlessly read into and take to be your own, or discard to be "not you" while simultaneously internalizing it via reaction to.
Some people are so afraid of being proven wrong that they elevate themselves to the level of their own personal infallible god, making claims such as understanding realms of existence that they themselves cannot explain in plain English. :D

Ahem, yes so... Where was I? No, nihilism... no. True nihilism? No. I believe what ever I want on a day to day basis. I could believe what you believe tomorrow, or argue your point for you now. Here, allow me to do so.
Unconstant beliefs are not beliefs at all, merely adaptations to whatever would best serve one's purpose at a particular point in time. A true belief would not change unless a more powerful one came to prove it false. They do not change on a whim, because then if asked to defend that belief, you would be incapable of proving more convincingly than your previous belief.

And if you DO INDEED have ANY sort of centralized belief it is an obscuration of tje zeroless you took to heart, a conceptualization of nonconcept into a dogmatic belief no better then the feeble agnostics you shit on so vehemently with your sour tongue and hungry intestines.
Where's my inconceivably gigantic tome of unique letter combinations and their meanings when I need it?

Oh, and by the way, tune down the language, please. :)

[Hypocrit]

Hahahahaha. What?

Feeling a sense of lack of purpose is still a REACTION to purpose. It's like Satanism being the single most CHRISTIAN religion to come into being in the last 100 years.

It's REACTIONARY.

Exactly, no belief. I have no beliefs. Am I unhappy? How would you begin to prove my unhappiness? You see depression, along with bipolarity, in manufactured by a system of thinking that allows children, hurt egos, to cling to existence through the creation of absolutes.

Republican or Democrat. Heaven or hell. Christian or heathen. It's simple, nice, easy. These are all blatant manifestations of absolutism BUT you can find your own manifestations making much quieter whimpers in your subconscious if you focus hard enough.

That girl... does she like you? She turned the other way, must be disdain. Love or disdain... love or disdain. Oh no... Am I happy right now? let's evaluate... well I am either happy or unhappy, and if neither then I fall comatose... bored.

Now, fear not for absolutes are only human, but being trapped by absolutes is quite hampering indeed if you wish to function at full capacity. Absolutism is what creates a fear of future, a fear of death, a need for existence as opposed to the "obvious depression" created by "nonexistence". Hesitation, being chained between absolutes. Course a culture with little or no absolutism wouldn't be half as chained to random monetary constructs as us, nor time which is, as they say, money.

Which is probably why in your head the buzz words buzzing around are "but how do I become then? What will I become?" If time didn't happen, if we lived in a contained stasis field, what would become of becommence? Would you really think to kill youreself because you lost something you never had nor needed?

Intrinsic needs for purpose are... hilarious. Magnificent and deadly these manmade creations choke out hte possibility for the other... once again through absolutism. You know stuff, right? You know a truth, right? You're stating "facts", right?

Hell, even the 19th century westernized collegial fuckheads of Europe knew better. "You cannot know things in and of themselves." Immanuel Kant

Meaning you don't know the ball bounces, you don't know there is a God, you know your arms reaction with ball, balls reaction with wall, minds reaction iwht prayer, prayers reaction with a singular concept.

You don't even know yourself. Who are you outside characteristics only viable in human interaction?

...And corpses? "Is there any life on earth? Or are we all just food for the moon?"

...You're all corpses. Why? You're guessable and painfully unaware of the humorous and comedic aspect that life, as well as your deepest "truths" take on. (What greater purpose could one have than death?)

[jordanisonfire]

Nihilist? Shadow, explaining exactly what I believe to you would take a state of understanding in certain realms of existence that I do not believe you possess, BUT in case I am wrong, here is some ardent symbolism that you can mindlessly read into and take to be your own, or discard to be "not you" while simultaneously internalizing it via reaction to.

8 . ( ) _ - _

o


Agh, I am reeling in pain at these words. Seriously, I think I'll go hang myself. I'll put The End by The Doors on, that's apparently a good song to commit suicide to. Don't know how those who have commited suicide tell people that's it good for it, but ah well, I'll find out, haha.

[Rafael Domination]

Nice, Hypo's back! :D Care to be a villain on the YWO animation? You're on J's side.

Anyways...

Here's one absolute: It's possible to live happily without freaking out about your 'purpose'. I, for one, take pleasure in enjoying life, not scowling in some corner brooding about the darker side of the world. It's stupidity to complicate things more than they should be, and purpose is one of them. The 'meaning of life' is a concept too vast for mere cephalic mush to comprehend. Screw Mersault and his way of thinking. Corpses like that belong in the grave, not society. My take on my life? Live it for God. It's worked out fantastically so far, and I'm not in any mood to change it.

[Andy]

Exactly, no belief. I have no beliefs. Am I unhappy? How would you begin to prove my unhappiness? You see depression, along with bipolarity, in manufactured by a system of thinking that allows children, hurt egos, to cling to existence through the creation of absolutes.
That's a belief. And since it's not my belief, especially that last part, it must be yours.

If you will make statements like "Feeling a sense of lack of purpose is still a REACTION to purpose," then surely a statement like "Believing in a lack of beliefs is still a belief" would also be within your ballpark.

And to use your language, further, I'd say, judging by the length and depth of your speech, that you are indeed "clinging" to it. Maybe the belief in nothing is also an "absolute" in your book. And if I am trapped by absolutes I subscribe to, then it seems reasonable that statements like "You cannot know things in and of themselves" is trapping you, in turn.


Intrinsic needs for purpose are... hilarious. Magnificent and deadly these manmade creations choke out hte possibility for the other... once again through absolutism. You know stuff, right? You know a truth, right? You're stating "facts", right?)Once again, show me proof. Where's my study showing people who feel no purpose become more empty of emotions in general than depressed? Show me that there's no such thing as an intrinsic need for purpose.

And now you seem to be saying that since people claim conflicting truths, they're all "magnificent and deadly", right? So let's all give up now, right? Give up the search for truths. Let's stop trying to determine which ones are true or false, give them all up, and just live in a society where nobody believes anything and nothing can be said about anything, and where eating food to stay alive is either morally good or bad, but one cannot be sure.

Hypocrit, I challenge you to never eat food again.

Yes, that's right. Since choosing to eat or not eat are both equal in terms of meaning and purpose, why not? Believing you need to eat is an absolute, which is a hindrance to your full capacity. Maybe food isn't really there, and life is meaningless, so what's the point? So just leave the food alone. Alone. Lol.

Who are you outside characteristics only viable in human interaction?

...And corpses? "Is there any life on earth? Or are we all just food for the moon?"Good questions. I'll add them to my list of entertaining questions and maybe use them for story ideas. In the meantime, Life goes on, 99.99% of yesterday's truths included, which makes today very easy to get used to.

...You're all corpses. Why? You're guessable and painfully unaware of the humorous and comedic aspect that life, as well as your deepest "truths" take on. (What greater purpose could one have than death?)And what greater reasons could one find to never eat again? Life's a joke? Death's a great purpose? Come on, don't eat anymore.

The fact that you probably will continue to eat food means that even you do not take your beliefs seriously. Either end your dependence on food, or it's time to find some new beliefs. I could offer a few suggestions...

[jordanisonfire]

Meh, life is pain and pleasure, take it as it comes.

...its funny how the cliche lines are almost always true.

[Hypocrit]

Exactly Cal, thus my argument AGAINST myself that I had previously posted. Go back and read it maybe? Or maybe you already have.

It's called the Buddhist paradox, conceptualizing nonconcept.

So we can agree, no truth? And actually about the no food thing, there's a man in India whose been meditating for three years, same position, lotus I believe, no food. Yeah. Crazy. Mind over matter.

What greater REASON to do what again? NO... what a great reason to go out into the street right now, naked despite the weather, and scream "I love you" at passing cars and give chocolate to children's awkward mothers, afraid of the immediate.

Death is no REASON to die, cause htat would be drawing an end purpose. Nonconcept is noREASON not to believe. Live, be happy, but if something makes you unhappy and you dislike it... find out why and don't blame the thing, nor assume you understand it because you have a pre-ordained box for it to fit. Things, on a quantum level, are all similar and yet infinitely different.

You're all corpses, but the masoleums in which you lay speak pigments all their own.

Now I cannot stop typing. Heh.

See when proposed with a society free of law and construct most people, those who have read Voltaire or had his tongue slipped into their ear on those uncofmortable nigths when one feels alone and afraid of that hungry glearing moon, ask for a safe passage, and they find comfort in the "facts" that show where "anarchy" leads. Is that anarchy? In a thought process without absolutes would the lack of order lead you to jump to extremes? Wouldn't that be reactionary?

And isn't anarchy then the comedown from order and thus a product of order? That is assuming there was order, and there has been for sometime. Assumptions based on current psychology say nothing about our "base" nature.

You can catch thsi inherent absolutism in ever word you choke out. Watch it. Be honest now, do you see it? I see it in my own, till about now where I cognitively refuse to subjectify your written thought with your identity. Hindering shit with past leaves stains on the toilet seat, and noone likes that.

[Andy]

I can't help but laugh. This is sadly amusing. You refuse to listen to logic and reason.

Despite the fact that you must have used them yourself in order to come to believe in Nihilism. And if you didn't, then you chose to accept it based on no pretexts whatsoever, which could have resulted in you believing in anything at all.

And despite the fact that it is itself a contradiction. Even though you claim no truths, even you admit it is a paradox. But do not seem to care. But of course. No purpose, so why care? Your initial logic has landed you in a belief hole in which you have closed the very way of thinking which led you to Nihilism in the first place.

Whose beliefs are limiting whose full potentials now?

You think what you do because you believe there are no such things as absolutes. But I'd like to argue that you are guilty of subscribing to absolutism even more than I am - FAR MORE than I am - the very thing you are against.

Why is that? Because ALL beliefs other than yours imply other beliefs. Capitalism, communism, Christianity, peace, love, evolution, whatever. Nobody can truly learn in their lifetime everything that their present belief(s) would also imply to be true. Therefore their positions are constantly changing, even if slightly, as they learn these other things. Sometimes, what they learn may even render other beliefs impossible. Proof by contradiction. You see? Their beliefs are not so absolute at all.

Yours, however, is. You refuse to listen to anyone other than yourself. If you believed in something else, you would forfeit your present belief. Yours is true absolutism, because your current belief requires it.

To prove it, I'll ask this: What would it take for you to stop believing in Nihilism? If you are truly what you say you are, then the answer would be: "Nothing, because nothing is true." See? It's the epitome of absolutism.

[Hypocrit]

I believe in... nihilism?

[Rafael Domination]

Yes, you do have a point. While my three little minds couldn't get most of the philosophy you were trying to explain earlier, I do not think you believe in Nihilism either. Your words are poetic, Hypo. Maybe you should put it in plain language for us who don't quite operate on your level of thinking. :D

Still, I prefer not to take such a bleak look on life.

[jordanisonfire]

I can understand it. And I'm not going to say you're nihilist, because you asserted earlier you were not. As for myself, I, as Raf does, do not wish to take such a bleak outlook on life. I'm sure you'd say, "Oh, you're just dellusioning yourself because you don't want to accept the truth." While I may, in some ways, be doing just that, I feel we should just suck it up and get on with our lives. We're here, that's it.

[Robyn]

In all honesty, I think there is no meaning in life. We're born, we live and then we die. Simple!

[Joker]

Maybe we are simplifiying this too much. Maybe there is no meaning that you can just point to and say "THIS is the meaning of life!". Maybe life is made up of thousands of little meanings that fit together into a great patterns of purpose.

Here's an example: Lets say your making a sandwich.

Question: Why are you making a sandwich?
Answer: Because you are hungry, or just want to eat something.

This can simple purpose, leads into more questions and answers, actions and the purposes behind them. Why are you hungry? Because your body is in need of nutrients. Why do you need nutrients? So that your body can work. So, maybe there is no centralized meaning of life, just a mass of tiny purposes.

[casoloma123]

The entire reason we exsist is to keep the insect population in check.

[kingfisher]

People have pondered the meaning of life for thousands of years. It is most wise to see what others people and organizations have said about this topic during the past few thousands of years before re-inventing the wheel ourselves. Right?

Number one- We do not simply live and die. From the Ancient Egyptians, to the Greeks, to the Native Americans, all cultures have had understanding that "this life" on earth is not the last! That there is an after life! It is illogical to dispute the understanding and evidence thousands of generations have gone through with experiences pertaining to the afterlife and the supernatural. However, as humans seeing is believing, and we do not believe until we see/feel such supernatural things. However, you can read numerous accounts supporting the existence of an afterlife, so dont make up your mind so soon that there isn't one ;) - If one person smells smoke, and another, and a third, and then ten thousand more, there is definitely something burning somewhere...

I will use the Catholic Church's view to explain the core purpose of your life. The church has dealt with the issues of life and death for two thousand years, and according to Jesus, who an awful lot of people believe is the Son of the Living God (there are numerous supernatural documented accounts related to Jesus- i.e Padre Pio in 1920 who bore the stigmata and other miracles proving the living existence of God...)
The purpose of this life is to "LOVE GOD and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR"

Short and simple- you love God and every human being on earth and you will go to Heaven when your body dies.
Now what is the reasoning behind this? Life on earth can be viewed as a test (Trial is a much better word) to see who is fit to go to heaven.
Therefore, Life on this earth is a Trial, and the meaning of this life is to live and live the way you are supposed to. Now with democracy, and liberty and freedom for all, why should we obey these rules? This is awful isn't it. It is hard to follow some rules like the speed limit for example. But rules are not there for no reason, in the case of God and Life. If you don't follow them there will be consequneces, (I spelled that wrong:huh:) If you kill you are punished, you steal you are punished, you covet your buddy's wife- you get your nose broken, ect...
A lot of people are pissed at the catholic church because it won't give no room with SEX. Well bonking a different person every month has consequences physical and mental. Physically you can get HIV, and die soon... And mentally you become unstable with relationships resulting in likely devorces and then unstable families with kids who suffer! :( Well a lot of people don't really care, but that is it - no love! If you loved your future kids, and the other people you would be bonking after you get HIV - (they are gonna die too now) you wouldn't even bother bonking anyone (unless you were maried- Thats why Marige is Important! I spelled that wrong too :confused:)
And to end this long response (sorry) The Reason People Will Not Accept The Law Of God Is Because They Think With Emotions And Passions Instead Of Reason
That is to say we thing short term instead of long term. I.E. Oil. We are buring oil and coal and gass and wood and look at the sky in NY it is so smoggy. Well they scientists (who are thinking with reason in this instance) say WE MUST STOP BURING FOSSIL FUELS becasue of Global Warming! Well what have we done about it? Not much huh.. Well thats because the MAJORITY of the USA think with Emotions and Passions. They will not act until they get a nose bleed from the filthy air and they are smoldering from abnormally hot summers and no H20!!! And then they will be too late.
Well That's All Folks, If this made sense to you good for you! Half the people who read this won't really get it. Share it with your friends like you.

[eriko]

Because what we precieve individually is reality! For example: giving someone a thumbs up in America is the reality of a good-job gesture. But in India, this gesture is the equivelant of giving someone the finger.

Actually, a thumbs up is a thumbs up in India just like in America. At least I haven't heard about anything as such.

There is no purpose behind our birth. People spend there life looking for it and they never find it because there isn't any. All you do is live and experience life as it comes. Though religiously speaking, the purpose of a Hindu is to achieve moksha, as in nirvana in Buddhism.

[Rose]

Actually, a thumbs up is a thumbs up in India just like in America. At least I haven't heard about anything as such.

There is no purpose behind our birth. People spend there life looking for it and they never find it because there isn't any. All you do is live and experience life as it comes. Though religiously speaking, the purpose of a Hindu is to achieve moksha, as in nirvana in Buddhism.

On the contrary(I think I spelled it wrong/maybe :huh:) I do think that we are here for a reason,everything happens around us happens for a reason,if we don't know it,or see it,doesn't mean that it doesn't exist;Let's take the "pain" as an example,it's something that you can't touch or see or hear,but yet it does exist (and yes I know that you can feel the pain but still)...My point is it's part of God's wisdom to create us humans for a reason of course...
To be continued I guess

[Jack]

There isn't one.

[Rose]

There isn't one.

How do you know? What are the things that lead you to this conclusion Drax?

[Rowenny]

I didn't read all this discussion, but I must say that I really like to talk about stuff like that. And I remembered one very good song by Nine inch nails:

What if everything around you
Isn't quite as it seems?
What if all the world you think you know
Is an elaborate dream?
And if you look at your reflection
Is it all you wanted to be?
What if you could look right through the cracks?
Would you find yourself
Find yourself afraid to see?

What if all the world's inside of your head
Just creations of your own?
Your devils and your gods
All the living and the dead
And you really are alone
You can live in this illusion
You can choose to believe
You keep looking but you can't find the woods
While you're hiding in the trees


I have always thought that my meaning of life is God. ^_^ He gives me meaning. He makes meaningful everything I do if I do it with Him, the way He wants it. ^_^ But that is just me.

[Jack]

How do you know? What are the things that lead you to this conclusion Drax?

I'm an Atheist :P

[trinity]

I think the meaning of life is to simply live a test. We live our lives, do our best to enjoy it, but always do good deeds. If you're not a horrible sinful person, you pass the test and go to heaven. Life is just a test to see whether a person deserves heaven and immortality or not.

[bravenheart]

I once was looking through a book of sayings. One of them said: "I saw a gravestone once, and it said 'Here lies _____. He did his damn best'." You know, I think that's what it's about. We are born, and we work through mistakes and experiences of all kinds. We touch lives in ways we don't realize, and we do our best, each in our own way. No one has to be perfect. In any way. Mistakes are okay. It's how we learn. From our own mistakes, and the mistakes of others. We do our damn best.

[Jack]

I once was looking through a book of sayings. One of them said: "I saw a gravestone once, and it said 'Here lies _____. He did his damn best'." You know, I think that's what it's about. We are born, and we work through mistakes and experiences of all kinds. We touch lives in ways we don't realize, and we do our best, each in our own way. No one has to be perfect. In any way. Mistakes are okay. It's how we learn. From our own mistakes, and the mistakes of others. We do our damn best.

I completely agree.

[Rage]

Meaning? Anything besides death is a fantasy really. We're here because we we're biologically created by our parents to quite simply die. Thats the harsh reality.

What ever you do with your time before you die is entirely you're decision. Just because we have the ability to fantasize doesn't mean there's any significance to us being alive. My idealogy on what you're supposed to do with living time you have is too enjoy it, and try not to cause anything else pain intentionally. That's about it.

[bravenheart]

Even a non-religious viewpoint has reason to live well. According to science(not my personal view), creatures live to ensure the birth and survival of the next generation. Or something along those lines. So, the way I see it, we made the best of our lives so that the lives of the next generation will be even better. Humans are a social kind, and the younger generations need all we can give the world in order for them to enjoy it as we did.

Besides, what virtue is there is hiding in the corner your whole life? Zero.

[Jack]

Even a non-religious viewpoint has reason to live well. According to science(not my personal view),

You don't believe in science?

[Rose]

You don't believe in science?

Then what exactly do you believe in?:mellow:tell us and we will debate and use facts and point of views of this person or thing you believe in (you know what I mean).

[bravenheart]

I believe in science. I simply meant that what I was about to say was a purely scientific viewpoint, and I see more to it than that. I was just pointing out that there is a meaning if life for even those who don't believe in God or an afterlife or some such.

[Bowie20049]

I'm just going to say the obvious, most generic thing here. I don't believe the bible is a good source. I believe it's a good book and faith is good, but not something to fundamentally believe in when science proves things with simple to complex equations. While the bible only demands faith to believe in it.

[Jack]

I'm just going to say the obvious, most generic thing here. I don't believe the bible is a good source. I believe it's a good book and faith is good, but not something to fundamentally believe in when science proves things with simple to complex equations. While the bible only demands faith to believe in it.

Wow, that was both obvious and generic. /spam

[Clarissa]

Some suggest that we are here merely to ensure that future generations are produced and thereby fulfilling our most basic need for survival. While on some level this may be true, my incurable inner romantic would like to believe that there is another reason for our life here on Earth, whether divine or otherwise, which would justify the intricate workings of a human bondy, mind and soul. Why would we have such a large emotional capacity if our purpose in life was merely to reproduce? Surely the very fact that we can consider such questions as 'The Meaning of Life' shows on some level that we are here for something else. So, yes, our most basic function on Earth is to reproduce and to survive through our children, but there is something else and until the true meaning of life becomes clear, my suggestion is that we follow the advice of the bible (though I am not religious, I believe that there are important lessons to be learnt from it) and look after the Earth as though we were tennents. We have a responsibility to our fellow humans, to the animals and to the Earth itself, and while it may not be our true purpose, it's a start.

Sorry if the bible actually doesn't say that we should look after the Earth, I haven't actually properly read it...