The Meaning of Life

[annonymous000]

Hi there everybody...
I'm new here... :)
This appears to be a friendly place
The meaning of life.
Yes... A big question indeed.
It is really amazing how everything seems to fit in place in this wide universe, and everyday we come to discover new overwhelming relations of causality and order between different elements in the process of nature (at least look at the way the soalr system works!); we see all that around, and yet when we come to the key question, the fundamental question to all existence altogether, we fall in loss!
Let me ask you this question, before we come up with yet another speculation on what we think or wish the meaning of life to be .
Why do you suppose you learn as a human, to find this question to be so persistant and compelling to the human soul? I mean, why is it that we are made, or that we exist in such a way that we find it essential for our very existence itself to have a reasonable meaning, even if that meaning was one that we made up for ourselves (and we never settle there!)?
How come life, the universe, your very own heartbeat, are so well organized, justifiable and consistently reasonable in relation to each other, and you can see cause, meaning, destination, and value for everything that exists around you, and yet, you cannot even imagine what it is that all this is about, where it came from, what for, and where it is all going!
Now on to another more important question.
Why are you really here guys? I mean in this forum and the likes.
If I am here to search for the meaning of life, then I - by necessity - admit that it does indeed have a meaning, an absolute meaning that is inherent in the process itself, and that has to do with its purpose of being and the reason it exists. But is this really the case with most of those who are in search for that meaning? Nope. They keep coming up with their own versions and speculations of what they think, or what they suppose that meaning to be!
"Games, Sex, rock'n Roll"!!!! Oh, come on!
Are you really satsified with the proposition that man came to this world, the way it is and the way he is, to reproduce (for example)? Why then where we not just little bugs reproducing? Or even trees or rocks just lying there in silence? Reproduction is part of the system, not a justification for the reason it is the way it is. Your have a reproductive system because you need this reproductive system along with every other system for the fulfillment of the reason why you are here! You do not have a reproductive system because you were made to reproduce! One can easily say then that we are here in this world to write, because we have hands that can write! Another would say we are here to laugh, because we have what it takes to do that! Oh and maybe we are here to practice theft and deception upon other human souls because we can do that too! If it suits you, and you have fun doing it, then it is readily your own meaning of life; your own truth!
Does this make any sense?
How come you say with certainty that you came to this world to do so and so, only because you like doing it or because it satisfies you? Well, this doesn't work for you my friend, because quite simply, you are still searching, aren't you? You keep trying one thing after another and yet, it is all the same! what today is your meaning of life, tomorrow will be history, and something else will take its glamour! If you decide today upon X, then Y is tomorrow a better candidate! And yes we have so many Xs and Ys to keep trying...!!
It never fits! None of those Xs and Ys fits!
Why then?
Could it be, that the very concept of your choosing a meaning of your own for your own life and existence, and the existence of the universe, is a false concept in itself?
Consider this.
Are you the one who brought you to this world? Did you have any choice to come to it? Did anyone ask you before you were born if you liked to be born?
I urge you to imagine yourself in a state of nothingness! Imagine what it would be like if you were never born! You cannot!
You came to this world not by your choosing, in a state and form that was not after your choice, and in a condition of life that was not up to you to decide. You neve chose your mon or dad, did you? All those "truths" are facts that you came to the world only to find out about. So how come you claim that the meaning of all this is up to you to decide? You may indeed have a choice of what to do... but why?
Why do I know choice and obligation? Why do I, the human being, care so much to find out what those hands, those ears, those eyes, those splendid organs and wonderful givens of life are all about? Is it all up to me to decide? Can there be so many "truths" about the very same thing? Do we have the rational right to claim that the reason why life exists is a relative reason; one that is up to every one of us to decide by his own mind, after his own choosing?
This is the first fundamental basis here gentlemen if you really wish for this search to come to an answer that is The Answer, and for the truth to be what it is; quite simply; the TRUTH

I'm glad to be here to discuss this issue with you guys...
However I would like you all to be my guests to this essay of mine.
Please read it up first and tell me what you think .. :)

[Triskele]

the meaning of life is: 42

[drealthing]

Your whole life is recorded on three dimensional video, (every action and every thought) for you and everyone else in the spirit world to watch for whole of eternity and beyond.

So you better hope you have had some good times.

[mir]

. . . dang it, Triskele, i saw the title of this thread and was going to post the exact same thing! :lol:

oh well, look like I'll actually have to be serious instead. :p First off, those are good questions, Anonymous, and welcome to the forum.

We are always searching for meaning in life because everybody has a drive to be individual and to feel that their life matters. this drive is what fuels all events in the world and every day, if you think about it. If we don't have a purpose in life, than we are all the same, made only to live and die and turn oxygen into CO2; and nobody wants to think about that. we may not have any purpose in life - but then what would be the use of living? if you get right down to it and ask yourself that question, you have to make a decision about whether you can live from day to day as one meaningless speck in a giant and uncaring universe; if life is good enough to keep living on its own merits - the experiences and happiness it brings. that's a hard thing to accept. so people are always searching for a larger purpose, also because it seems strange that the entire world, universe, and life would have come into being just for the purpose of passing time.

also it's interesting to think about other aspects of this problem . . . you've obviously thought a lot about the philosophical, but consider the psychological: it's perfectly possible that everything we see, feel, hear, touch, whatever, could be an illusion. it's called "qualia" - the individual ways we percieve the world. if you think about it, right now, i could be typing to an absolute construct of my imagination. I could not even have hands to type with, or a body; i could just be imagining them all, just like i do when i sleep, animating a body that does not move in the "real" world! everything is subjective. It's an interesting point to consider.

[sumalan monica]

Carpe Diem

[Tournesol]

I love this thread. I strongly believe that one needs to know why one lives, in order to appreciate the actions of living.

I found my purpose of life in the Quran/Koran, where Allah[God] says: "I have not created humankind except to serve Me"
And in Islam, there are many prescribed ways to serve Allah, and the result of thus of course is in the afterlife: heaven or hell [depending on one's choices in this life]
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are very close with regard to this topic, as all three faiths stem from Abraham [Ibrahim].

And so, I guess one's life takes on more meaning when one knows that there is reward or punishment to be had at the end of it all. This guides choices and actions in an unbelievable way.
Those are just my thoughts on it...

[Orionsbelt]

Triskele & mir... I'm pretty sure that you can know the question or the answer (42) but you can't know both.... Unless you are a dolphin or a mouse. I'm not sure they ever found out either.


Victor Frankle wrote a book called "Man's search for Meaning" based on his life in a concentration camp. The subject being that even under the cruelest conditions, when many would consider otherwise, people find reasons to live on. My favorite quote from a Buddhist monk is "what is the meaning of a flower?" Your essay delves into some of the reasons people have contemplated and some great facts about the puzzle. When you think about it, 42 is just as acceptable as any other answer. The whole qualia sounds sort of "Matrix" like to me but not out of line with eastern thoughts on the matter. So which is it the blue pill or the red? How fun!

[kilted exile]

Your whole life is recorded on three dimensional video, (every action and every thought) for you and everyone else in the spirit world to watch for whole of eternity and beyond.

So you better hope you have had some good times.

I didnt sign up for this. Who do I sue for using my image without permission?

[Orionsbelt]

I didnt sign up for this. Who do I sue for using my image without permission?

Sacha Baron Cohen

[JGL57]

What is "The Meaning of Life"?

It's a movie by Monty Python.

Next question, please.

[Alexei]

Why are you really here guys? I mean in this forum and the likes.
Some says there was a God who made us, others – we are a product of evolution, could you believe in this? After all this is the important thing – to believe in something. The truth is after believes. I can’t imagine that one day we will know for sure the answer of this question and that means we have had, have and we will have only the speculations on it. Then if we want the answer we just have to decide which one we like most, to pick it up of the great pile of hypothesis we have in our minds and clothe it with religion or philosophical system.

[Missing_Sock]

well, at the moment I'm having similar 'problems' with life as you. My conclusion, so far: you have to life, and not seeing yourself living. And that is what I do.

[Lily Adams]

the meaning of life is: 42


Awww, you're too quick. I was going to say that.

I honestly don't know, but this is an interesting thread to read. I really don't think there is a "meaning". We're an accident.

[hyperborean]

life is meaningless. we are the ones that give it meaning.

[Alexei]

life is meaningless. we are the ones that give it meaning.

I like this thought. The idea, that humans themselves give meaning to the life and the world surrounding them has ever appealed to me.

[Alexei]

It reminds me of a quote from one anime (strange think to quote, but anyway...:lol: ):
"In this world there are many strange things. However, no metter how strange or bizarre a sight is, if there is no one there, if there is no one to see it, if people are not involved, it is just a simple phenomenon. Just something that happens. That is because this world people are the strangest beings."

[Redzeppelin]

life is meaningless. we are the ones that give it meaning.

Perhaps. But where does the desire to give it meaning come from? If we give life meaning, then what is it inside of us that allows us to even want meaning, purpose, or whatever you wish to call it? Chemical reactions? Childhood upbringing? Socio-economic factors? Psychological dispositions/attitudes/problems? God? Indigestion?

Furthermore, where does the concept of "meaning" come from anyway? Are you appealing to some objective idea of "meaning"?

[hyperborean]

I know our little argument went further than it should have, but you don't have to search for every comment I made on this forum and try to contradict it.

That statement I made is one proposed by the greatest existentialists of all time. I never said I agreed with it.

[littlewing53]

Well, some go this way, some go that way. But as for me, myself, personally, I prefer the shortcut.

cheshire cat, alice in wonderland

[Redzeppelin]

I know our little argument went further than it should have, but you don't have to search for every comment I made on this forum and try to contradict it.

That statement I made is one proposed by the greatest existentialists of all time. I never said I agreed with it.

Will you relax? I don't fully disagree with your statement - I said "perhaps" which means "maybe so." My questions seek to explore the implications of your statement - not contradict it. Nobody is seeking you out - if you're here long enough, you'll see some of the same names show up in certain forum topic areas. I certainly have gotten used to you and JGL commenting on my posts. Welcome to the world of debate.

[hyperborean]

Okay then. Let's critically analyze the existential view of life, as quoted in my post.

For me the meaning of life is whatever I make of "life". By knowing one is alive and accepting one's place in the universe, the question is already answered. I give life meaning by performing acts that maintain my subjectivity. Expressing subjectivity and not letting others objectify you, gives a "meaningless life" meaning. It's basically the Sartrean good faith vs bad faith conflict.

This view is very existential and I like it.

[Redzeppelin]

Okay then. Let's critically analyze the existential view of life, as quoted in my post.

For me the meaning of life is whatever I make of "life". By knowing one is alive and accepting one's place in the universe, the question is already answered. I give life meaning by performing acts that maintain my subjectivity. Expressing subjectivity and not letting others objectify you, gives a "meaningless life" meaning. It's basically the Sartrean good faith vs bad faith conflict.

This view is very existential and I like it.

I do too - existentialism has much to recommend it because of its emphasis on personal responsibility. What I'm interested in is what is it inside of us that makes us strive for the thing we call "meaning"? Where does that come from? Why do we want it?

[Scheherazade]

I was talking to a 7 year-old today:

'What do you think the meaning of life is, then?'

'To be alive.'

'Why do we need to be alive?'

'Otherwise the earth would be empty!'

[Pensive]

Carpe Diem

I second this. :thumbs_up

[DeathAngel]

very extenstialist view, i like, i like very much,
now let me thunk here,
i'm not a big fan of subjectivity, yet it sounds right,
I prefer pursuing ones dreams, and making thyself inexplicably (dunno if i spelled that right sorry) happy;
but then that would mean that the world would be in a certain kind of chaos,

but what's the point of sitting in this closed in cubicle typing for hours on end, then coming home & going to sleep, and following this pattern until you get too old and die, lol, doesn't sound too pleasant

lol, 'the earth would be empty'
i like that,
but then i'd ask, "So what would the aliens do?"

[Bakiryu]

The meaning of life is to help others and make the world a better place. Finding your path and/to espiritual enlightment is meaningful.

The meaning of life is to give unselfishly and help those with need.

[hbacharya]

Hi there everybody...
I'm new here... :)
This appears to be a friendly place
The meaning of life.
Yes... A big question indeed.
It is really amazing how everything seems to fit in place in this wide universe, and everyday we come to discover new overwhelming relations of causality and order between different elements in the process of nature (at least look at the way the soalr system works!); we see all that around, and yet when cause we have what it takes to do that! Oh and maybe we are here to practice theft and deception upon other human souls because we can do that too! If it suits you, and you have fun doing it, then it is readily your own meaning of life; your own truth!
Does this make any sense?
How come you say with certainty that you came to this world to do so and so, only because you like doing it or because it satisfies you? Well, this doesn't work for you my friend, because quite simply, you are still searching, aren't you? You keep trying one thing after another and yet, it is all the same! what today is your meaning of life, tomorrow will be history, and something else will take its glamour! If you decide today upon X, then Y is tomorrow a better candidate! And yes we have so many Xs and Ys to keep trying...!!
It never fits! None of those Xs and Ys fits!
Why then?
Could it be, that the very concept of your choosing a meaning of your own for your own life and existence, and the existence of the universe, is a false concept in itself?
Consider this.
Are you the one who brought you to this world? Did you have any choice to come to it? Did anyone ask you before you were born if you liked to be born?
I urge you to imagine yourself in a state of nothingness! Imagine what it would be like if you were never born! You cannot!
You came to this world not by your choosing, in a state and form that was not after your choice, and in a condition of life that was not up to you to decide. You neve chose your mon or dad, did you? All those "truths" are facts that you came to the world only to find out about. So how come you claim that the meaning of all this is up to you to decide? You may indeed have a choice of what to do... but why?
Why do I know choice and obligation? Why do I, the human being, care so much to find out what those hands, those ears, those eyes, those splendid organs and wonderful givens of life are all about? Is it all up to me to decide? Can there be so many "truths" about the very same thing? Do we have the rational right to claim that the reason why life exists is a relative reason; one that is up to every one of us to decide by his own mind, after his own choosing?
This is the first fundamental basis here gentlemen if you really wish for this search to come to an answer that is The Answer, and for the truth to be what it is; quite simply; the TRUTH

I'm glad to be here to discuss this issue with you guys...
However I would like you all to be my guests to this essay of mine.
Please read it up first and tell me what you think .. :)


Meaning? What meaning? Seeking for a meaning which is nonexistent is what tarries unncessarily. I do not think life has a menaing at all. We all make pretensions, and we are simply amazed in a maze of things in this vast pandamonium. We carve out for us a direction, a purpose, a meaning. It is interesting, but the meaning and the purpose we link us with is something that is groundless. God, religion, destiny all are things men did to wrap up themselves to secure.

I do not choose to be argumentative. In fact to advocate for or against the existence of God is all immaterial. Maybe God exists or may not exist. There is re-birth or we end up with this life are domains of knowledge totally out of our comprension, and if anybody argues there is God i do not choose to oppose it, and if somebody is an atheist I do not like to speak against it.

The meaning of life if any is totally a personal one and no thinkers pursuasive
or imposing. In so far as the menaing of life goes everyone is correct, and his mode of thinking and patterns of living is perfect and impiccable. This is what I beleive in.

That one thing is very clear to me is none of the philosophers or thinkers has sounded convincing, and everyone remained in a delirioum, or in a state of confusion when they are in a pursuit of the meaning of life.

The fact that this universe is mysterious is unquestionable. and that the degree of amazement a child lives with is no less with the adult, and everyone is equally amazed at the mystery.

What I want to write conclusively is we can not and should not publicly claim we are right in giving life a meaning or a purpose. It is totally a peronal matter. All arguments are rubbish. Theism or atheism both are groundless theories. All theories, propositions in so far as the meaning of life, god are groundless. If somebody is a beleiver he is right and if somebody is a non beleiver he is also right, and our arguments for or against somebody's mode of thinking is totally meaningless.

Plato, Marx, freud, Hegel, Desacarte, Russel have manufactured their opinions out of the blues and they have no foundations, and if they had any they built their ideas on their predecessors. Their predecessors on their former predecessors, and on and on.

All that I want to say is we are as unknown as animals in so far as the menaing of life is concerned. Maybe we are surprised at the creation of the unioverse and animals are not surprised. this is also our opinion, and how can we surmise animals are not surprised?

If we deepen ourselves in our thinking processes we will reverse our thinking patterns, and unlearn what has been stuffed in our brains.

Meaning, if we seek is likened to a mirage we run after interminably but reach nowhere. We will swirl in a whirl of mystery unendingly. But I neve mean we should not pursue it. This is my free opinion and i do no claim there is a tinge of truth. I simply wonder. At one time I beleive in God and at another i become skeptical of it. This is I suppose with everyone else.

I regreat if i sound rather arrogant and conceited.

[Hyacinth42]

Darn, someone beat me to 42...

While I am not so arrogant as to believe that I have figured out the meaning of life, I can argue and say why other's ideas are wr... are not what I believe to be the meaning of life.


We all make pretensions, and we are simply amazed in a maze of things in this vast pandamonium. We carve out for us a direction, a purpose, a meaning. It is interesting, but the meaning and the purpose we link us with is something that is groundless. God, religion, destiny all are things men did to wrap up themselves to secure.

Wow, I was going to say something along those lines. Although I do believe there is meaning to life :P I just think that what we do think is the meaning of life is based on assumptions and pretensions (If that made any sense at all)...

But, why must we search for the meaning of life?


There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened.

- Douglas Adams

While I do not truely belive this, it is a nice reason for not pursuing the meaning of life...

[TurkeyBLT]

The sad thing is, I must say, whoever created life didn't think things through. Would they have craved excitement in this world?

Or has the world by itself has advanced leading to 2007, with unwanted obstacles between them, which are us?

The world was fine without humans, infact we are destroying it.
But would the world be as wonderful as now, if it werent the help of humans?

Everyone seeks meaning of life, just because we were "forced" to be created. However, those who found the meaning of life actually enjoys life, and lives day by day with meaning.

I guess being born was an advantage/disadvantage for all of us. Until we find the truth, we would keep living.

Maybe the meaning of life is finding the meaning of itself.

[Starving Buddha]

To overcome the self, and bask in the pure light of the eternal Divine Source...

[blazeofglory]

Meaning? No meaning at all, for giving it a meaning is rationalization. I do not like to go for rationalizing truth, veneering it with my ideas which are rubbish. Ideas are a subject of conditioning.