The lack of meaning in life and deceiving ourselves.

[paranous]

Those who determine the meaning of life themselves, is this not self-deception? Life has no real meaning. Family, position, sport, and so on, aren't the meanings we place on ourselves all to deceive ourselves?

 

[90starve]

i think that people defo create their own meaning to life - whether that be through a career, or a hobby, or relationships.

but when thinking of how insignificant a part we play in the eventual course of life in the universe, as individuals, there really is no meaning behind the way we choose to live.

at least this is what i believe <3

 

[paranous]

i think that people defo create their own meaning to life - whether that be through a career, or a hobby, or relationships.

but when thinking of how insignificant a part we play in the eventual course of life in the universe, as individuals, there really is no meaning behind the way we choose to live.

at least this is what i believe <3

I think so too. Sometimes it relaxes me, but sometimes it bothers me a lot.

 

[90starve]

I think so too. Sometimes it relaxes me, but sometimes it bothers me a lot.

i suppose ultimately it's all a distraction from the fact that each day, we slowly crawl closer to our inevitable death - a way to pass the time.

 

[josephk]

Those who determine the meaning of life themselves, is this not self-deception? Life has no real meaning. Family, position, sport, and so on, aren't the meanings we place on ourselves all to deceive ourselves?

Yes it's meaningless and people that find their own meaning are just labelling a reason they've found worth living for as "meaning". This question just doesn't seem to bother most people, and if it does it doesn't seem to bother them for long. In fact I've found that it's something people just don't want to talk about. It just gets labelled as "teenage angst" or something. It's nothing of the sort of course. It's a perfectly valid perspective

 

[The anhedonic one]

Yes, everything here is a deception.
Life itself is pointless, and meaningless.
We are just sacks of meat on the treadmill of futility.
There are over 7 billion other meat sacks repeating the same old shit day in, day out.
We strive for meaning in this futile existence but rarely ever find it.
Everything else is a distraction, work, materialism, hedonistic pastimes. Even these distractions soon become boring and we are constantly searching for happiness yet never really find it.
We don't even know where we really come from, or why we are here.
This world is like a giant lunatic asylum.

 

[FuneralGrey]

I mostly agree with you, but I think lots of people go through life without ever really questioning it. Ultimately, I believe life is entirely meaningless, but lots of people find ways to make their own meaning – even something as simple as trying to be a nice/decent person in a world of less-nice people can create meaning for someone. Also, this is why many people turn to various religions, imo.

 

[𖣂𖣂𖣂.]

Those who determine the meaning of life themselves, is this not self-deception? Life has no real meaning. Family, position, sport, and so on, aren't the meanings we place on ourselves all to deceive ourselves?

Yea we are just here to live we as humans want something to look forward too for some reason and what makes us more special than others?

 

[paranous]

Yea we are just here to live we as humans want something to look forward too for some reason and what makes us more special than others?

There is nothing that makes us special. We just feel special.

 

[FuneralCry]

There could never be any true meaning to existing, the idea that existing is supposedly meaningful is just a delusion. The reality is that existence is completely meaningless, existence is just an impermanent distraction from the fact that eventually everything will be lost to death, we are only waiting to cease existing, there could never be a point to any of this, we are only destined for nothing and nowhere.

 

[SpiderLink]

Those who determine the meaning of life themselves, is this not self-deception? Life has no real meaning. Family, position, sport, and so on, aren't the meanings we place on ourselves all to deceive ourselves?

I don't think it's the same for everyone. No one has the same meaning, because that would make the world boring.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I think part of the 'problem' of sentience is that we even ask this question. I doubt many animals contemplate the meaning of their existence- they just live and try and avoid being eaten for as long as possible. The 'problem' with humans is we've gotten too good at the primary goals of most living creatures: survival and reproduction. We've become too clever for our own good and we like to think we're important. So- our lives suddenly need to mean something beyond the simple 'achievement' of survival. We are also aware of suffering beyond our control and we don't enjoy this- so- we feel owed compensation for it. Plus- some of us have grown up with ideas of religion and a creator- in which case- we want to know what the rules are and what the reward will be for following them.

So- I get this 'need' for meaning. It makes more sense if there IS a God or creator. If there IS intention behind this because- then- surely there must be some kind of system. What if there isn't though? What if all this came about by chance? Then- clearly- there won't be a meaning to find. So- with that in mind- we don't know either way- so- surely- it has to be up to the individual?

We all have brains that can believe in Nihilism or Existentialism. They are both philosophies- BELIEFS. So for some people- it makes sense that there's no meaning to life. Others think it's up to us to make our own meanings.

I do sympathise with the Nihilistic viewpoint but at the same time, I dislike it when Nihilists won't accept that it is simply a viewpoint they have- not necessarily the default 'TRUTH'. As in- everything's pointless, you're delluded if you see any value in anything.

If we demand that there 'SHOULD' be a meaning. That signifies intention. So- we in our current form with brains and bodies that can think and perform tasks and both enjoy and create beauty in the world are ALSO here by intention. Why is it not just as 'valid' for someone to use their brain and body and excel at something- which brings them meaning to THEIR life and others as it is for someone to think that everything is utterly pointless? What are Nihilists looking for? A gold star from the universe when they do something right? Sorry to have a dig. I do actually sympathise with how prepostorous life is and I definitely don't see the requirement for all the suffering. I just think it's not all that fair to call people 'crazy' or 'delluded' because they hold a different outlook.

Point is- we don't actually know. Maybe there is a meaning to life and we just haven't worked out what it is yet! In which case- both the Nihilists and Existentialists have got it wrong! Maybe there's no point- in which case- choice has to come in to play. In the absence of an actual reason- you can either feel lost or feel free.

I think it's up to the individual as to what they want to believe and find value in. If it feels like the most 'honest' way to live is to believe in nothing- then- fine. Still- some people may find meaning in what they do. Doesn't seem all that fair to say to say a doctor- well- YOU might think you're doing good by tending the ill and getting them out of pain but actually- it's utterly meaningless.

Put it another way: Does there NEED to be a reason behind all this? I guess it would be nice for there to be some sort of justification/ reward for the pain some people seem to go through. Still- Do you WANT there to be a reason? What reason COULD there be to make all of this worth it? Heaven? Really though- Do you REALLY want anymore rules to follow?!!

So- I'll propose a few 'meanings':

-To be happy. Everyone goes for that one. Well- we all know what happens when you fail at that- you end up here!
-To fulfill your potential. To become the very best version of yourself.
-To help others.

I mean- I don't know? But- how would you want to be told about this meaning of life? In a religious text? In a dream or a vision? What if you didn't want to do whatever it was?!! Would that make you happy? I don't know. I think we think and talk a lot about the lack of meaning in life but I don't think many people consider what it would be like if we knew what the meaning was! It could be propostorous- like- collect as many purple things as you can find.

 

[Linda]

Those who determine the meaning of life themselves, is this not self-deception? Life has no real meaning. Family, position, sport, and so on, aren't the meanings we place on ourselves all to deceive ourselves?

I think there is often some confusion on this topic, because people use the word "meaning" in more than one way. Here's my take on it. It has always (well, since I was about 15) seemed to me that life has no ultimate meaning or ultimate purpose. In that sense, I consider life to be pointless, and I would really rather not be here. But I find that view entirely compatible with doing things that give me a short term purpose. (At present, I'm writing a book, and with about another 2 years work to go before it's finished, that gives me a goal and a short-term sense of purpose. It helps keep me alive, perhaps because when I'm very busy and working hard I don't have much time or energy to think about the more fundamental matters.)

 

[feder]

I've had those exact thoughts recently as well, its a weird feeling looking at people doing things, being serious and acting busy just to understand that they are not aware of their own inevitable death. Nothing matters and all they are doing is just a distraction. Its putting me in a constant crisis state, no one knows what are we doing here and why, everyone who claims they do are just deceiving themselves.

 

[Fktw0rld]

All of it is meaningless. Simply chasing after the wind.

All come from dust, and to dust we all return

~King Solomon

 

[absolomonisgone]

Having lived almost 50 years, I have come to realize that meaning is a creation of the need to care. If you care about stuff- anything, then that creates meaning. For a kid it could be homework, candy, birthday. For a teenager it could be being cool,grades- young adults it could be career, love, kids- midlife it could be image, respect, - old age, it could be company, health
It's all about emotional involvement and what you care about or think is important.
If you really, really, really don't care - you won't even care if there's any meaning.
Infact, the only thing keeping me from CTB is I decided to give myself a treat of the experience of not caring or getting emotionally invested in anything.---, society will never let you have that luxury - but you can try it before CTB.

 

[Ogeid02]

All of it is meaningless. Simply chasing after the wind.

All come from dust, and to dust we all return

~King Solomon

so true

 

[sunsetboat234]

The sh11ty thing is that so many things can go wrong. So many people suffer, but even then everything fades away in the end.
existence can be beautiful, but again things go wrong.

 

[cami]

the meaning of life is a tricky thing. in the end i think it boils down to what tethers you to the world. its different for every person. for example, if you were to ctb today what would you miss the most? it could be something silly, like breathing. or something deep like ancestral beliefs. everyone has a meaning, it's just how to uncover it and the judgement you receive if it isn't a "good reason".

 

[SolomonKado]

Those who determine the meaning of life themselves, is this not self-deception? Life has no real meaning. Family, position, sport, and so on, aren't the meanings we place on ourselves all to deceive ourselves?

I thought if I did this one thing and lived a certain way that I'd be fine and get through life okay, but other people can mess even that up for you. No matter the smallest thing you believe in there is always someone who will come along and take that from you. Leaving you with no meaning and confusion as to "why!" Your new meaning becomes "why even try."

 

[Vi_Onpa_RealKing]

Isn't it self-refuting to think that there is no meaning to life when our innate tendency is to make sense (understanding the meaning) of things? It's like saying, "The meaning of life is that there is no meaning."