Discussion What is the meaning and purpose of life ?

[release_me]

Can anyone here tell me the meaning and purpose of life and existence?

 

[SMmetalhead36]

This is the million dollar question. Seems like the only purpose of existence is suffering based on everything happening.

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

There is no meaning or purpose to life.

The only thing that matters to me is avoiding extreme pain or extreme suffering

Everything else in life and this world is meaningless

 

[oddetoad]

There's literally no meaning

The only meaning I can think of is that we are guaranteed to suffer if you can call that meaning

It would be way more meaningful to never have experienced this awful life.

 

[until death]

Everyone has to decide for themselves

 

[doneforlife]

The only thing that separates us from the non living is consciousness, sentience and to be able to perceive pain. So the purpose is to protect ourselves from pain. I don't know what the use of consciousness is. Some say that is to be used to be one with God.

Very soon AI will be able to think and also manufacture copies of it's own. So decision making and reproducing might not be defining life any more in future.

 

[Terry A. Davis]

To pass on your genes.

 

[oddetoad]

To pass on your genes.

Then I suggest we fight this meaning tooth and nail until the very end

 

[Forever Sleep]

Depends if you think there was intention behind all this or, whether it all happened by chance.

If it happened by chance, then- there doesn't need to be a meaning. Stuff floating about in space maybe reacted with other stuff. Different laws of physics, chemisty, biology- science stuff got involved. Planets were created with stuff on some of them that could develop into living organisms which evolved all the way up to us. This, I feel is the most likely.

If life has some deeper meaning and purpose. If religion is real, then- what the hell were the dinosaurs all about? What was their purpose? Were they particularly religious? Did they contemplate the meaning of their existence? What reason did they come to? They didn't seem to leave any evidence to demonstrate they thought about it much. All we have are their bones. Science tells us they lived here for 165 million years! Compared to our 7 million.

But- if you think there's a God or higher being behind it all- then- maybe there is some intention. Maybe we have been gifted consciousness so we can think about these bigger questions. Maybe that's the riddle we are supposed to be working out- so- the meaning is to find the meaning.

Personally, I don't think anyone has found anything to suggest there is a set meaning though. Religions change, people don't seem to be rewarded or punished according to what they do necessarily. We have no concrete proof that we know of that proves the existence of a God or an afterlife. It all seems to come to personal conviction.

We do have biology of course- instinctual drives to survive and reproduce but- many of us will be defying them! Checking out early and not having children. So- if there is a purpose and that's it- why give us higher brain power to be able to make those decisions?!! I would say again- we likely weren't 'given' them- we just happened to evolve to have them.

Humans are a longterm disaster when it comes to anything natural when you think about it. We defy natural selection by keeping our weakest members alive and arguably giving them more support than everyone else. (Not saying that's wrong but it likely wouldn't happen so much and so effectively in the natural world.) We even promote difficult pregnancies with IVF. We extend life and have lots of children- no matter what effect that will have on resources. We're killing off the very planet we need to survive on! For an intelligent species- we're utterly retarded when it comes to longterm survival! So- if survival is the meaning- it's not looking too rosey! Plus- ultimately, in billions of years, the sun will explode and destroy what's left anyway- so- how can survival even be important very long term?

Some people feel like their life has meaning, some don't. I don't think there's a wrong or right answer. It's a feeling- a reaction to life. It's like telling someone in utter hysterics that that joke wasn't funny. To them, it was.

 

[FuneralCry]

I don't believe there is such a thing, existence could never be meaningful and I see existence of life as such a horrific tragedy. We only exist as other people were selfish enough to create unnecessary suffering and problems by deciding to procreate, all that existing beings are essentially doing is waiting until they inevitably cease existing. I see existence as nothing more than a futile and meaningless process of just waiting around to die where all we know will eventually be forgotten about.

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

The only thing that separates us from the non living is consciousness, sentience and to be able to perceive pain. So the purpose is to protect ourselves from pain. I don't know what the use of consciousness is. Some say that is to be used to be one with God.

Very soon AI will be able to think and also manufacture copies of it's own. So decision making and reproducing might not be defining life any more in future.

Agree with most of that. I don't believe in any god though. But agree that ai will soon surpass the human brain. Many other animals are also conscious and sentient. Consciousness : It's a horrible curse to be able to suffer extreme pain.

 

[Intoxicated]

Can anyone here tell me the meaning and purpose of life and existence?

Entertainment.

 

[edu0z]

The purpose of life in general? Survive, Reproduce, Ensure the survival of your offspring until they can take care of themselves, die. It is the life cycle of the species

 

[Little_Suzy]

It's a cult of breeders!

 

[newave3]

The purpose of life is to find a way end it as peacefully as possible and as soon as possible.

 

[oddetoad]

Entertainment.

You think its entertaining sitting on a forum and reading people offing themselves and reading their last comments here literally dying as they type their last words?

 

[piddincir]

My reason for existing was love , I didn't see the point to life before I fell in love , and the truest of the love.

Since I've lost my wife life has lost all its meaning and always will .

No existence is the best I can hope for now and the only thing that makes me happy to think of

 

[Intoxicated]

You think its entertaining sitting on a forum and reading people offing themselves and reading their last comments here literally dying as they type their last words?

Maybe. It's like reading a drama book with real characters, isn't it?

 

[Unattainable666]

Can anyone here tell me the meaning and purpose of life and existence?

I thought I knew what it was when I was young, but now that I'm older what I believed is nothing more than a farce. If you ever find out what it is please do share

 

[jbear824]

Life and existence have no inherent or intrinsic meaning, or purpose. Life is nothing more than luck and random convergence. There is no great plan. There is no destiny. There is no mystery. Some amino acids dropped into some primordial soup and here we are now, a long time after.

All meaning and purpose comes from what you assign to it.

 

[R_N]

Chasing dopamine.

 

[MatrixPrisoner]

 

[Salkak]

Can anyone here tell me the meaning and purpose of life and existence?

Now that I am trying to actually get better, I feel like the purpose of life for me is to live and try to make a positive change in society. I have managed to change my negative self talk so my thoughts are a little clearer. This is what I could come to conclusion that I have literally disappointed people in my life so bad by trying to kill myself thrice so nobody has any kind of expectations from me. In a way it's freeing. I'll explore my potential and die later. Like I don't have to agree with the society's timeline of achievements on the basis of age. I tried living my life for 11 to 12 years doing what my family and society wanted and look where it landed me. So now I have decided I'll do what I want, it's not like anybody has expectations. I got to see who my real friends are. Maybe my path in life is different. I know it sounds a bit dumb but who cares

 

[cosmic_traveler]

Can anyone here tell me the meaning and purpose of life and existence?

The purpose of life is to be born into this world, the meaning of life is whatever you make it.

Buddha teaches that "all life is suffering", it's up to you if it's worth suffering for.

 

[cryone]

nobody knows. it's the fundamental question of philosophy.

 

[Readytogohome]

I believe the meaning is to develop a relationship with God, and to help others if we can, as best we can. Those of us who feel miserable or physically/mentally ill can't do this for very long, so we should have the freedom and the peaceful, painless means to leave whenever we choose to.