Whats the meaning of life?

evilmonkeyspanker · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:10 am Post subject: Whats the meaning of life?

I am sitting here kind of depressed tonight, and I trying to figure out the point of life what does it all mean? It never seems that we accomplish anything and if we do what would that matter. Everything we do will eventually lead to nothingness and be forgotten.

You work to to earn money to support your self, and perhaps if you are lucky your family. You eat because your hungry. You sleep because you are tired, go for a walk or get on these forums because you are bored or you feel like it. The problem is we are some kind of rat race, struggling to achieve our goals and make something of our lives, but this only make sense if those achievements will be permenent. But they won't be. No matter what we do sooner or later we die and we are forgotton. Of course some of us aren't even remembered while we are alive. If you think about the whole thing there is no point at all. We are in this forum discussing peak oil / the governments desire to turn us all into slaves / and the lack of concern the sheeple demonstrate. We plan and we strive to survive post peak, but seriously what is the point? Are we not better off not knowing and or already dead?

So what? I am sure you are thinking it's enough that it matters whether I surive post peak, and that I remembered to feed my cat, or that I get my paycheck at my shitty job I wish I didn't have, and I don't need anymore than that to keep me going. Sure I get that, but it only works if you really can avoid to set your sights higher, and asking what the point of the whole thing is. For once you do that, you open yourself to the possibility that our lives are meaningless.

Now for the idea of God, the idea of God seems to be the idea of something that can explain everything else, without having to be explained itself. But it's very hard to understand how there could be such a thing. If we ask questions, "Why is the world like this?" and we are offered a religious answer, but then I must ask "and why is that true" and why should this one answer bring all of my past why questions to a close. It seems that god is what I am told is always the ultimate justification, god is the ultimate explanation, may be an incomprehensible answer to that question that we can't get rid of. Yet, there seems to be no more justification or explanation for god than there is for the Flying spagetti monster. It seems that no matter what questions you or I ask it appears that life is not real, life is not earnest, and the grave is the ultimate goal. It seems to me that life is not only meaningless but it is absurd.

rogerhb · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:41 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

Answer in three parts.

1. "The meaning of life" is a film by Monty Python.

2. As an athiest, I have no need of a god to find value in what we call life, there is enough magic here and now. Being inquisitive, I'm always curious to find out what happens next.

3. The quest for immortality, this is not achieved by living organisms but by the sequence of DNA they carry. To me this means securing a future for my children, that is all part of the quest.
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rkerver · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:52 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

Seriously, dude, go watch the Meaning of Life again, laugh your head off and forget everything for a while.

Battle_Scarred_Galactico · Intermediate Crude Joined: Apr 07, 2005 Posts: 970

Life is what you make it. It is soley up to each individual to give meaning (or not) to their own life.
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evilmonkeyspanker · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:54 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

I feel that you signature is probably more accurate. I am an agnostic. I do not know the answer, nor do I feel anyone can. I understand you feel that your children are your own justification for your existence, but in the end can that truly be enough. Sometimes the sum of 1 and 1 can and does equal zero. In the end your dna will be overwritten and your existence forgotten. How do you feel when you know that your children will grow up in this world, a world without hope or light. Do you not feel that in creating those little lives that perhaps you did not do them an injustice.

KanZenRyu · Coal Joined: Sep 05, 2005 Posts: 4 Location: New Zealand

The only meaning of life is the meaning you give it.

rogerhb · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:03 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

Doly · Expert Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 4034

"Even pointlessness is pointless."
- A friend that suffers from bouts of depression.

OK, let's assume the world has no meaning and there isn't any point in doing anything. You still may enjoy the ride or not. You still may think that you have good chances of making others enjoy the ride. For me, and for many people, that's the point. Happiness, mine and of others.

And if you think you'll never be happy or make anyone happy, please have as little contact with other human beings as possible. Nobody wants a depressing drain in their lives.

rogerhb · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:18 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

If you live in the Western World and think that everything is pointless, go on a backpacking trip round India, that should cure you.
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evilmonkeyspanker · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:21 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

evilmonkeyspanker · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:23 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

Jake · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:35 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

To me, there might be a point to life, that doesn't have to mean the point is us.

I mean humans, we are not the point.

Existence would be pointless if there was nothing here to acknowledge it, no sentient beings.

The fact that you might ask, 'why are we here?' is a point in itself. The search for the answer even if not found can be an end in itself. It gives us a sense of wonder I think.

I often get to feel the way you do, just not at the moment.

Chin up old chap Smile

kevincarter · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:08 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

The meaning of life... does it has to have a meaning? Carl Sagan said: “a fly con not understand how a TV works, his brain is too small. Man can not understand how the universe works, his brain is too small”. (and no, I do not understand how a TV works…) Rolling Eyes

There is no answer, the whole universe is the answer. The meaning of life is life itself.

You’ve got nothing to worry about, just breathe and if you can, meditate.
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lowem · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:21 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

The answer is 42.
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elroy · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:49 am Post subject: Re: Whats the meaning of life?

What's the meaning of life.. it may not matter in the end.. it does matter before that end. You know like they say, it's not a destination, it's a journey.