I do not think that life has any defined "meaning." We can make of our lives what we will, and give them whatever meanings we choose--we are not bound by some intangiable, predefined "meaning."
__________________ "Men curse the Communist Party, but eventually it may release them. If hell were endless, then God would be worse than our Secret Police."--Pastor Valentin
Gender: Female Location: every which way but loose
That leads nicely into free will, and the belief in fate.
I, personally, do not believe that my life, or anyone elses, is already planned out. I am an Atheist, and a Humanist, I believe that my life will become what I make of it. Obviously other people and everyday occurences are great factors, but in the end it will boil down to me. My decisions and how I want my life to end up.
Gender: Male Location: Welfare Kingdom of California
For me the meaning of life is to learn, educate, and teach each other. Death is a factor, but that doesn't mean a person should just give up, and accept the end. Life goes on, our meaning is to ensure that the chain of humanity continues. Love is also a great factor in life. We should not only love our family but also express that love to others. People depend on others for help. That's were we should come in, and help them. To be human doesn't mean eat, sleep, sex, build a family. It also means to help others.
At the same time our meaning is to preserve our world. So that future generations get to experience what we have experience. What kind of experiences? How about love? or care for others.
Actually, no, I disagree. Storm is right- this question is muddled. Some peope are reading it as purpose of life, and some people are reading it as the mystery behind life.
Philosophical vagueness or otherwise- people are just going to be answering different questions here because 'Meaning of Life' is too vague.
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Well, for the meaning of life, I would say it's a reflection issue. An awareness of self is reflected back at the awareness until they come to 'full' awareness of self. Once that happens there's no need to be looking at the reflection anymore. The world reflects who and what we are back at us. As for "what are the supreme goals"...freedom of the expression of self. So that you may get a clear reflection and know the self. I believe the physical world is the reflection, the true self exists beyond it.
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"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
-Kahlil Gibran
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Chillin out with my little Irish leprechaun, my faithful butler Jeeves and a ukulele playin Hawaiian midget. All is solid in Pel's world.
"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
-Kahlil Gibran
I believe What is the Meaning of Life is a question best summed up in 5 words: What is it to you? Does there have to be one all emcompassing answer to the old age question?
Gender: Female Location: every which way but loose
OK, you've got a point, but I don't think I specifically requested one 'all encompassing' answer. I simply wanted to know people's opinions, their conception of life in general; why they believe we are here. If you can't answer that with anything other than 'Mind your own business' then you really shouldn't have bothered posting. But cheers.......
I didn't mean it like that, Syren. I was merely stating my philosophy on the issue. Basically, a person's point of view on the Meaning of Life changes throughout their life time. Presently, the meaning of life for me is or was my dog, Dakota. Her death hit me hard and I feel lost without her. She was my meaning to life.
Biologically speaking we’re just here to create low-entrophy in the atmosphere and procreate (although the latter is a circular argument. I exist to further the existence of my species).
There is no philosophical meaning with life. Life is what you make of it, and you, yourself, decide which meaning it has.
__________________ "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
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Gender: Female Location: every which way but loose
Agreed. I often use that particular reason; procreation. But I believe it extends into another purpose. Not only to procreate, but to make the lives of our children a little better than ours. Every generation should live a 'better' life. I don't think that's been the way of things, not continuously, but IMO it should be.
Reborn; I'm sorry, I took your post the wrong way, and I'm sorry to hear about your dog. But surely she could not have been your sole reason for existence? I understand that she perhaps lit up your life, but not made it completely worthwhile. That's just, well, really sad
"Every generation should live a 'better' life. I don't think that's been the way of things, not continuously, but IMO it should be."
I have been saying this for a while.
If I ever had a kid (which I don't plan to) I would make sure that I gave it all the knowledge and life lessons I had learned. Not to force them to live that way, but so they don't have to go through some of the BS I have had to go through to learn those things. Hopefully with the achieved result that when they reach certain similar or identical dilemmas they'll have another perspective and way of dealing with it, at their disposal. The meaning of life would be, if universal, to live how you feel you should regardless of what that means and pass on knowledge. Always.
That to me is the most important. How can we ever hope to better our world when we don't start with the ones who are gonna be here after us? I don't worship kids, I think they suck. But if you're gonna fill the world with them then make sure they don't grow up to be complete cabbages.
i think life is kind of like a test, you live it how you see fit but for the eternity, you live life how u wish, but it's all to see how you will spend eternity
what do you mean when you say life? life as general existence? Life in the form of the collective conscious, there are many levels, perspective's, and forms of life.this is talking human or not. I would say concluding one simple reason(meaning) for life is a naive way of thinking. What ever happen to living life to it's fullest, giving back, striving to be the very BEST that you can be, and never stop learning.
I mean what if we are here for no particular reason, except to experience life. Maybe whatever put us here God,nature, a man in a clown suit, just put us here because they could, because they had the ability. Or maybe it is the will of nature, or maybe some man in with a red nose and clown shoes wanted to be entertained. Who knows,who cares, were here, if you keep asking this question you will be dead when you find the answer, but then again maybe your purpose is to question, to always strive and never be satisfied, anyhting is possible
__________________ "If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything" -Twain
(sig by Scythe)
Gender: Female Location: every which way but loose
AC - "That to me is the most important. How can we ever hope to better our world when we don't start with the ones who are gonna be here after us? I don't worship kids, I think they suck. But if you're gonna fill the world with them then make sure they don't grow up to be complete cabbages."
Brilliant, absolutely classic. The entire content in that statement made me grin from ear to ear. You are right, of course. If we are to 'better our world' the logical place to begin would be with the brats. "Complete cabbages"!! Oh dear
Lady E - That's right when you look at it from a religious perspective, with regard to where you'll end up once you die. Live life in order to get where you want to be when it ends.
Rages Remorse - I've already said that I'm not looking for one all encompassing answer, I don't even think I asked an all encompassing question. I'm hazarding a guess, but I doubt you've read the whole thread. I simply wanted to know a few different perpectives, so I suggest you answer the elements of the question that catch your attention. Everyone will see the question differently, and will answer it differently. Therefore allowing me the varied perspectives I was looking for when I made this thread.