Meaning of life is a puzzle therefore the meaning of life is to solve the puzzle, and it is only solved when one dies.
simple.
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Meaning of life is a puzzle therefore the meaning of life is to solve the puzzle, and it is only solved when one dies.
simple.
so the meaning of life is to die? hokay agent smith.
Ah, the age-old question!
The meaning of life is the epitomisation of the human beings' "besoin d'avoir besoin", or the need for necessity. The way I see it, consciousness is an accident, the interesting if freakish result of a chain of events. I'm with Camus when he says that the human being seeks meaning where there is none.
There's definitely not a "purpose", and I don't think there's a definite "meaning", either. Nor must there be one. For me, life is like a one-day ticket to an amusement park. I'm not sure how it was that it came to my hands, but now that I have it, and since I'm aware that it expires soon, why not make the best of it.
"Meaning" is whatever I ascribe value to, in life.
The tricky part is that my ego identity seems really involved in the process.
My authentic self seems to think it doesn't matter.
I prefer the experience of my authentic self.
My ego identity hates that.
In the book of Genesis Adam names all the animals. This is the mechanism of ascribing meaning (symbolically). Things are what we say they are.
My ego really gets turned on when I say, "Things are what we say they are."
My right brain just says, "What is, is. It matters not whether I ascribe meaning to it."
This permanence is still temporary. Yes, they will be remembered for their contribution, for their work but only as long as we exist - as long as the world exist. Thus, it isn't truly permanent now- is it?Quote:
Originally Posted by skasian
I agree that their is no meaning in life. I mean when you think about it you can see that this is how existentialism originated from. And they did have a point when you think about it. What is our purpose here other than to reproduce and insure the existence of our species? Why would we be given this high intelligence if their is no point in life? I mean do other animals question this idea of why they are there. If we look at the culture today children are being taught to study in order to become wealthy and then they may think about themselves. Those that do follow these ideals tend to live a regretful life when they are on their deathbeds. If their is a purpose in life I would think it would be that we are born and placed in this wonderful planet to live our life like all the other animals. Thinking about the present instead of the future and its possible riches.
Does someone understand what I mean that they may help me clarify?
:willy_nilly: wow I cant wait to get back to read this post and others later on today
99.9% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct. We are the first species intelligent enough to know that the earth (nature) kills most of its inhabitants. Our "meaning" is to avoid extinction. "Meaning" is a word exclusively understood by human beings. It is a specific byproduct of the way our brains are constructed and how they have evolved. Bears do not ponder such things. It only has meaning to us. Religion tries to mask this, for good reason, since the reality of the situation is quite bleak.
Well I kind of agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by sHaRp12
We run around living our lives chasing things like brands and stuff that really mean nothing but yet some people live their lives concerned with so many insignificant things, thinking they know the world and life, when truly no one knows!
When you think about the fact that we are alive, wow. Life itself is so amazing, i live it love it, we can ponder the why for ever. The only logical thing to do is make the most of it. Forget about all the crap we are taught, because everything we taught is about nothing as there is no real understanding or answers. All assumptions!
This life has so much to offer, the only logical thing to do is embrace it and do whatever the hell you want with it, because one day your world will come to an end.
"The question of "why life" shouldn't be given thought, but only the question "how to live" because living itself is the only understanding and proof"
Meaning
Meaning is not something we can get to with our minds; it is not an answer found in the mind. It is not an ideal or an image we're fulfilling. It is not a result of anything. It is just falling into one's nature. To be able to simply fall into one's nature, is, however, not easy. It is the most difficult thing there is. It takes perseverance, patience, sincerity, and compassion for oneself. And it may take a long time. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 48)
Ultimately, the desire for meaning and significance is a search for identity. Our activities are meant to give us a sense of who we are. "What gives me significance?" When we explore this we find that it has something to do with a sense of self. "Who am I?" (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 40)
Personality and meaning
The ego personality deals with the loss of a sense of meaning by creating a sense of meaning. As we have seen, the usual personality or ego way of trying to create meaning is by having goals and aims that you will attain one of these days. The meaning of your life becomes the attainment of those goals. For most people life has meaning only in terms of these long-term goals and hopes. Ego's way of dealing with the loss or absence of realization is too relegate it to the future. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 103)
Self-realization and meaning
When you know yourself, when you realize your true identity, the meaning of life does not come to you in the form of a conceptual answer to a question. It is not an answer in your mind. It is you. The Presence, fullness, and intrinsic preciousness is directly experienced; it is not in reference to anything else. It is complete autonomy; only the experience itself can give a taste of this satisfaction. This experience of self-realization is the answer, in the sense that it ends the drive. It is true absence of seeking. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 45)
In the dimensions of Essence there are experiences of self-realization in which meaning is based on the presence of the realized state in the present moment, rather than being based on the future. This eliminates the dependency on the future. Goals and aims become less and less important. In other words, the aim becomes the present moment, and the present moment is its own significance, is its own preciousness. The present moment is not different from the self-realization, which is not different from the self that is realized, which is not different from the reality that is precious. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 104)
:iagree:
I, as I have stated in other threads, believe that the point in life is simply: there is no point in life, so have as much fun as you can before you die
For all of those who think that whatever meaning life has is that which one gives it:
Let's say that everyone in the United States decided to make their meanings about themselves, and leave other countries alone. No missionaries. The government pulls back the military & doesn't help 3rd world countries. Everyone has fun.
If I get this right, this is okay?
Do we mean the meaning of human life? Because obviously if we look at all other living things apart from our own egocentric selves, the only real point is to survive long enough to reproduce.
I suppose on an individual level the point is to seek happiness and live freely.
I like Susan Wolf and Moritz Schlick's approach to meaning in life.
Particularly I think Schlick has it right when he says that Work should be grounded in play. Otherwise, we really wouldn't have much motivation to do anything at all.
Also, Wolf's premise that we should be actively engaged in activities(projects) of worth in that they are intrinsically valuable activities that we could derive some meaning from in our lives
Then again I'm not familiar with many philosophers and there works. :P
This response to sHaRp12's comment "On this earth to do only what pleases us." is illogical because if people were to do what pleases them, and it came to a result which was "unpleasant" that would logically mean that humans were not doing what pleases them, because they would be doing that which is unpleasant, and so the understanding of what humans would do to please themselves would have to be rethought to take an ultimate shape of which was pleasing. What I mean to say is, as soon as there is an objection that, this act of "pleasantness" equals unpleasantness, then it negates the original act of pleasantness and makes it something which is unpleasant, so technically it could not be the act which was pleasant to begin with, and the act of which was pleasant would have to be something else entirely which would have a result which could be called pleasant.Quote:
Originally Posted by avari