In search of Meaning

[Pimpmaster McSlap-Bitch]

I wrote this in my little philosophy book about a year ago, but after rereading it, I think I should post it here and get Deep Thoughts turning its cogs again.

"I remember talking to somebody online about a particular, seemingly nonsensical Japanese Animation (FLCL). They didn`t enjoy it because they didn`t understand it. So I asked everyone to point out the symbolism and soon found out it was based on the point of view as opposed to being innate (as so many things seem to be - the first half of my notebook is filled with findings pertaining to reletivism). The symbolism wasn`t definate. The person who didn`t understand the anime chose the metaphors that he found most suitable from the list, an obviously limited amount of ways to view the anime. I began to wonder.

Why do people search for meaning in everything? What is with this preoccupation? Although humans are dubbed as beings of reason, I`m skeptical as to if this specific type of curiosity is an inborn biological characteristic (I would probably say it is now). I imagine with our ever questioning post-socratic minds we ask "Why, what`s the point?" and expect an answer that is agreeable and fits into how our mind operates; everything (existant) exists - everything has a function - everything has a purpose - everything has a meaning (Using the word now, I wonder if I should consult a dictionary for a clear definition). If somethings function or meaning isn`t clear, we dig to find it. Why? Insatiable curiosity I guess. If we find some purpose it is usually trivial and not useful to us in anyway but to broarden out general understanding of things (I don`t understand what I was trying to get at, maybe you do). What`s funny is that if we find no meaning, we only look harder, deeper beneath the surface, as if it is completely impossible for meaninglessness to exist! We`re reading novels and watching movies, reading nonfiction and watching documentaries, searching for an underlying message that may or may not even really be there. Who knows? If you study the medium or object for long enough, there can be seen infinately boundless meaning; at a glance none at all. And vice versa.
Maybe this need to know is a control issue (nowadays I wouldn`t say maybe). Our worlds need to be perfectly ordered for us, for us to better understand them. Meaninglessness is uncomfortable for most, for if FLCL is meaningless, who is to say I am not?"

[Ancient Goddess]

Well, this is interesting to read...Fascinating observations, indeed.

Personally, I believe that we (humans) tend to search for meaning in everything out of curiousity. We tend to want to understand everything about a subject, dissect it and whatnot to find out the way it works or the intended purpose for its existance. I think the state of mind would be something similar to "if it exists, it has to have a purpose, right?"

Although, I believe within this process, we rarely get a straight answer to a purpose. Think about how many people have tried to answer the question, what is life's meaning, and the plethora of answers there are for different people. Is there a meaning to our existance? Perhaps, perhaps not...but I believe people think that if we exist, we have to have a true purpose in living.

I think this response to analyze is pretty much automatic, however. If someone presents an idea, it's automatic that people will try to figure out its reason for being presented, it's purpose. It's just the way the world works.

[Pimpmaster McSlap-Bitch]

I disagree on a couple of points, but it kinda feels like nit-picking. I think it`s likely that whenever we ask the question "what is the purpose" it`s highly likely that we`ll find the answer, because most of our questions are easily answerable (So easily answerable in fact, that we may not have realised we`ve posed ourselves or have been posed with a question). For example, those keyboard that are split down the middle. Somebody who has just seen one may ask why, but it`s not too hard to figure out, and so a purpose for it is found. How about an electric knife? Babies can`t think on their own very well (and haven`t had much experience - in life and in thinking for themselves for that matter) which is why their curiousity is so obvious. I think we`ve retained our childish curiousity, which was once more useful to us in our childhood and in our distant pre-cromagnon man past, but now we just ask harder questions (since we have the capacity to do so). And in the midst of this all we completely overlook the fact that some of our questions may not have the type of answer (purpose, as opposed to purposelessness) we`re looking for.

I don`t believe questioning is automatic, nor curiosity (I would say here 'unless the person presented with the information is interested or intrigued by it', but even that isn`t necessarily true). I also disagree with the phrase "It`s just the way the world works", because there are people who don`t try to decrypt everything that is presented to them. What a crazy existance this would be! I`m dubious if people tend to want to know everything about a subject either.

I think the truth hurts, and everytime I think about it, humans seem to favor ignorance over knowing and it`s counterpart, bliss over despair. Maybe that`s for another thread, but it ties in well enough here. What if life was proven with indisputable proof to be meaningless for the world to see? I wonder how many people would continue believing life has a purpose. I imagine most. We know we`re gonna die. The people we help in their lives will die too. And none of us will be here after that. But our brains can`t cope well with the reality of lifes futality. The meaninglessness hits too close to home.

Purpose could be called reletive, and one could say, "the purpose of life is to create your own purpose" or something simelar, but I`d disagree. Things either have a purpose, or they do not. If they do, I believe the purpose is very specific (as purposes usually are). For example, a microwave has one purpose (cooking food), but could be used in many ways for many uses (blowing up grenades or cats, or throwing at people). If life has a purpose, only its creator knows (lets not get smart here and say women give life - in truth, life is giving life in that instance ). I suppose all we can do is act how we imagine we`re supposed to according to what seems to be our reason for creation. Find me a man of god who believe life has no purpose and I`ll show you a man who has no faith in the first place. But that`s a WHOLE OTHER THREAD ;D

I feel like I`m rambling a little here, but I hope my pot pourri of ideas congeals into something a little more effective than the jumbled sum of its parts.

[sampson]

Im too lazy to read all of the above. I think humans need to question things to find out the meaning for survival purpose, obvious i know, but i question everything and get no answers which leaves me screwed. If i had a faith and didnt question things would i be better off because i could put my energy into it.

But then again how would i be better off? Happier maybe but maybe hapiness isnt the meaning to life concidering some people sacrifice there own hapiness for other people. Anyway i could go on but im ill and tired but all im saying is that it would save me a allot of bother if i just believed in something because otherwise im left doing things half arsed.

[animascura]

Lazyness kills.
Why didnt the chicken cross the road? It got lazy halfway through and became roadkill.

Anyways, i agree with kage, not all people have a curious disposition and there are those that do, in fact, try to seek answers to everything. I also agree with AnG on the point that curiosity is just human nature, because, it is. It is simply expressed differently in different people. I believe that all humans, naturally, are curious of the unknown. the only thing inhibiting the questioning of the unknown is fear. Babies have little to fear because it has not been instilled in them at birth. Fear is not like making webs is to spiders. A baby will always be blatantly curious, if he sees fire, he will investigate. Notice that if the baby ever gets hurt by the fire, his future investigations will be a lot more cautious or they will cease altogether. In the same way, i believe that those who are not inquisitive are afraid. Thisis a subconcious fear of...change, perhaps. what they find out could change things, the way they thought about life, the way they live it, and subconciously they would rather live in bliss and leave things as they are. "What you don't know can't hurt you."

As to purposes, yes everything in life must have a purpose. My Ex would always tell me, "everything happens for a reason." And at the same time she would rather let that reason come to light rather than trying to analyze things and find that reason. I, on the other hand, simply must analyze everything. In a way, i believe that this curious nature is about power. Power is a naturall instinct to humans that comes from a biological need for survival. If we encounter the unknow, we must learn everything about it, and then, once we know everything and have mastered it, we can conquer it. In the olden days, science could not explain everything, so primitive cultures explained things with mythology. Why does the sun go up around and come down? Ancient greeks believed that Apollo towed the sun in his golden chariot everyday. Modern scientists believe that the sun is a giant ball of gas around which we revolve. So mankind has always had answers for everything, even if the answer was "must be a monster, can't be anything else."

Is life about happiness? Some believe that is their purpose, to live life and find happiness. Others believe that their purpose is to help others find happiness. I don't believe that happiness is a purpose, but rather, a nice consequence. I dont know what my purpose in life is, but i know that being happy will make it a nicer ride. So i strive to be a little on the non-depressed side as often as i can. if that means ignoring something's true meaning and denying reality, i can see many people doing this in order to maintain "happiness". What you dont know can't hurt you, what doesnt hurt you, kills you. What doesnt kill you, only makes you stronger.

I think i've rambled enough for today, so i depart with a nice little poem from the book of counted sorrows. Enjoy
Life without meaning
cannot be borne.
We find a mission
to which we're sworn
--or answer the call
of Death's dark horn.
Without a gleaning
of purpose in life,
we have no vision,
we live in strife,
--or let blood fall
on a suicide knife.

[godsrighthand]

Man is an opportunistic animal by nature. The more we understand something the greater the chance we can benefit from it. It is a common trait we share with many other species on this earth. We are just the best species at it because of our intellect.