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Post by animascura on Sept 8, 2005 0:50:56 GMT -5
So...upon lots of thinking i came up with the conjecture that we needed another topic to get the gears and cranks rolling again in the minds of those that will enlighten us. so, here it is
I recently have been thinking and in my thinking i came across a question.
"What is the meaning of life."
I pondered and figured that this is one of those questions that no one will ever find the right answer for...and that may well still be the case. But, i have come up with a nice idea for what i believe to be the meaning of life. Maybe what i came up with doesnt really fit in here, maybe it fits into a smaller less general question about life, but nonetheless i believe i have an answer. I will not post yet, i want to hear what your thoughts are on the matter. Maybe i will read something that changes my mind, or maybe helps me refine my answer. So...your thoughts? Anything is valid i suppose, and this question is broad enought that it leaves an enormous part to interpretation and your own assumptions about the way many things function and the way many things exist.
What is the meaning of life?
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Athildur
Warrior
Chibi Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! :P
Posts: 99
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Post by Athildur on Sept 8, 2005 15:59:22 GMT -5
You want my opinion? There is no meaning of life. Life was created by a randomness, a freak accident if you will. The event of the first amino-acids coming to life, or so to speak, was not set into the world on purpose, nor by any greater power. Hence I conclude that there is no definate meaning of life. However, being what we are, human, we kind of figured someone had to think we are important (we are quite the bunch of arrogant bastards, aren't we? ). In anycase, this question has certainly kept people thinking for a long time, and will continue to do so for a long, long time. But, I don't want to be a complete party crasher, so I'll give you a short, alternative answer: The meaning of life is to continue it's existence. In short, we live to make sure life keeps being there, be it by procreation or some other means. what you do in life, that's up to you. Wanna have fun? By all means do. Wanna be depressed? By all means, go ahead. One cannot simply formulate an answer to the question of the meaning of life, because such a question is based on the psychological states and perspectives of everyone here on this earth. For all we know, every person had his or her own meaning of life. This would certainly be the most logical solution, because we humans all live our lives so differently, and if there was to be a meaning of life, one would expect at least half of the world population to fulfill to that meaning, wouldn't we? Hence, the idea of procreating and insuring the survival of our own kind, or, indeed, life itself, would seem the most plausible answer. ... ... Oh god, I sound like some freak scientist or something, AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! Ah well, I s'pose I can live with that .
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Post by Pimpmaster McSlap-Bitch on Sept 9, 2005 9:32:05 GMT -5
I agree with Athi. My personal meaning of life is to be the best human specimen I can possibly be in order to attract the best of the opposite sex for the purpose of procreation, and then for the life education of my seed up until I die, death being my final purpose fulfilled (I believe everybody needs turmoil in their life - if I decide to let my boy live comfortably, at least he`ll have my death to consider). Of course, this isn`t something I live live by, but it's always gonna be survival of the fittest isn`t it? That`s evolution, and I`d like to see any of us outgrow it. Live, create, die - it`s what we`re born to do, it`s what we`re designed to do.
Athi doesn`t believe in a higher power, and while I jump around on both sides of the fence about the issue, I believe that science and religion, more specifically higher powers, can sometimes exist side by side. Science hasn`t found the answer, but that doesn`t mean science won`t find the answer. Maybe science can`t prove a god, perhaps god is something that cannot be contained or even thought of using secular thought. Metaphysics. Perhaps. But that`s a different thread.
With all this said, I`ve always been more curious about why life continues its struggles to survive, as if there is some end or goal. Why do you think freak scientist?
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Athildur
Warrior
Chibi Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! :P
Posts: 99
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Post by Athildur on Sept 9, 2005 13:06:27 GMT -5
I believe life, as all people, also have some sort of urge to improve themselves, to evolve. Perhaps it keeps on going in the hope that one day, it will be able to encompass far more. Then again, one could propose that life in itself is not a conscious being, and the fact that we like so much to procreate is simply an egotistical goal: We want our blood, our genes to survive more than anything else. We want to show we are the strongest one, and without a bloodline that reaches much, much farther can one achieve this. I do not oppose the fact that religion and science cannot exist beside each other. In fact, I am very much for religion (even though some try only too hard to convince people I am an abomination...silly people, I'm so adorable, who could ever believe that? ) in the sense that where science is the knwoledge and rational thought of human kind, religion is the wisdom, the insight and the will to keep on living. So, in a way, these two together make the human mind/psyche in general. I do believe there is no such thing as a god. But the true existence of a god or multiple gods is not a necessity for religion. It is simply the belief that there is one that keeps a religion growing. In fact, buddhism does not truely worship any gods, and yet it is a major religion. By the way, something not totally unrelated: I believe that everything we do in daily life, except the pursuit of procreation (and survival of course), was originally a way to distract ourselves from the long time we had to wait for this goal. In time, it evolved and nowadays it has taken up a far greater role than it was actually meant to have. It would seem that twisting things into purposes they weren't meant for is a little quirk we humans have. And then: How cool, I am a typical rebel ^-^. Since I do not have the...orientation required for procreation, I defy the meaning of life. How cool, I am an anomaly ^-^ . Now I have more time for the 'distractions' \^o^/ ....O.O I was right...someone agreed with me! *dances around* I should become the next Socrates or Plato or whomever...I'm gonna go change my name into something greek and old .
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Post by nori on Sept 9, 2005 14:43:00 GMT -5
well the only thing i really have to say on the subject is that i believe that the meaning of life is to just have be as happy as you can as much as you can and to treasure each day mofo
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Post by animascura on Sept 9, 2005 15:56:01 GMT -5
<3 I started people thinking again!! **+2 points = me** Anyways, my thoughts are...a little less well thought i i suppose. They border on some of your thoughts and even include some of your opinions. I have even read some things that have made me reconsider my answer, but i'll try to put up what i think. Unlike the norm, this are just my original thoughts, and not any comments or retalliations to anything you guys have said ^ ^. So, here goes. I believe that in some subconcious primordial way, procreation and survival of the fittest is our purpose. But of course, us being egotistical humans, we had to think of ways to be better than the animals that simply grew up, mated and died. So, we began to speculate what the meaning of our existence was that emcompassed more than evolution. I do believe however that we have created meaning out of our lives. Otherwise we would be like the salmon, and after mating, we would all simply die, the meaning of our life complete. I was pondering over a poem i have read many many times before, and only now did it truly make sense (see poem below). I believe that the meaning of life is to have a purpose. Instead of asking oneself, "what is the meaning of life," - such a general question - one should ask, what is my purpose in life. You guys have said before that the meaning of life is different for everyone. I concur with you in a way; i still believe that the meaning of life is something that encompasses us all, but yet, having a purpose will be specific to each individual. One person's purpose may be to grow up and be successfull and rich, someone else's purpose may be to dominate the world. Maybe someone will skew darwinism and attempt to become the biggest whore/ evolutionary star around. A purpose may simply be to share your life with the person that you love, no matter what you do or dont do with it. Having a purpose is the only thing that keeps us alive. When somone finds themselves without a purpose, their life enters turmoil, and they frantically search for meaning. Sometimes that search in itself can become one's "purpose," the thing that keeps them alive. But there comes times when a purpose truly is lacking. Why do old people die months or weeks after their loved one has passed away? Their life has no more purpose, because that love was their purpose. I am still a romantic and think of it as dying from a broken heart, which it is, but also, it's diyng from a lack of meaning. Why do some people commit suicide? Sometimes it is a confused child's attempt to get attention. When we see "signs" of suicide and catch somone who is about to commit it, i believe that it is their need for affection and attention that drives them to that. Then of course there are people who go by unnoticed and simply wither away. They did not kill themselves in a silly tantrum begging for someone to look their way. They simply found themselves at a loss of meaning, lacking a purpose...and life had no more need for them. Purpose is something that you create. It is not what you were "meant to do" it is simply a goal you work towards because your opinion of your life tells you that it was your calling. Sometime when you are 50 you may realize that all that you had done was for nothing, and it wasnt what you were designed and destined to do in this life. Nonetheless, for those first 50 years you had a purpose, and because of that, a life. A lifetime of happiness, no man could stand it; it would be hell on earth. Nice quote i think ^^ When you no longer have a goal. When no one has a need for you. When you are no longer useful to anyone or anything. That is when your life has ended. Wether you body breathes or resides in the ground, it is time to move on. All i ever wanted was to feel needed. Sometimes nobody does. That is my purpose in life, the thing that gives my life meaning. Servitude of others. Wether they appreciate it or not, as long as they need me. All i ever wanted was to feel needed. So my ramblings make no sense whatsoever, but i rambled, and now my thoughts are a little clearer within my own head, and i'm more confused at the same time. 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.
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Post by Androoh on Sept 9, 2005 16:25:28 GMT -5
With regards to the meaning of life, etc...
My quick thought on the topic:
Human beings have been gifted with too much analytical intelligence for their own good, thus we speculate over the 'meaning' behind stimuli/instincts too much.
And in our quest to draw meaning from said stimuli, we forget that like the other creatures out there, we're a species of -animal-.
Being top of the food chain gives us too much time to sit on our arses and mull over everything, whilst those animals below us on the chain struggle to survive never giving thought to the reason behind their actions, their procreation.
If we weren't such a predominant force on the planet, I think people would see things on a much more basic level. Thus, from thinking on a more basic level I believe the meaning of life is nothing more than to merely procreate and continue the species.
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Athildur
Warrior
Chibi Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! :P
Posts: 99
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Post by Athildur on Sept 9, 2005 22:07:58 GMT -5
Anima: I do agree that without goal, there is no need for life/living...well, there are a few exceptionally stubborn cases . And Androoh: Yes, we humans have developped far greater intelligence than is good for us, I indeed agree. And well, what you said is what I said, only I said it longer and more complicated XD.
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Post by Pimpmaster McSlap-Bitch on Sept 9, 2005 23:39:40 GMT -5
Firstly, consider, wtf is too much intelligence for our own good? Post an example Secondly, if everybody has their own unique purpose in life, then there is no single purpose and the whole meaning of life thing kinda falls apart because theres no correlation. In this case it is what is my purpose as Drago said, which is a far more easier question to ask and answer oneself because the answer is whatever you want it to be, because you are you and you can decide, rather than having it depend on somebody or everybody else. Then again, I acknowledge that I have a tendency to pay little mind to subjectivity; my fault. I used to think my purpose in life was to make other peoples lives better. But immediately after reading that sentence you should notice something wrong with it. The 'used to' part. At one point, it was my purpose in life, but now it`s not. So whatever I believe my personal purpose in life to be now, how correct can I really be? And the icing on the cake: This isn`t even considering the unforeseen future yet. Sorry about posting retaliation comments, but I`m a counterpuncher With all that said, I suppose I don`t see a single purpose in life. I`d imagine I think this because I`ve learned that life is in constant flux and going with the flow as opposed to against the grain is smart (I`m sure it`s easier too). Many purposes, each being fulfilled when they`re acknowledged? It`s too late for me to think about. I guess no because who`s to say whether they`re not being acknowledged at this time or they`re just plain nonexistent. I suppose I`m also saying if there is a purpose, it applies to all of us (or perhaps a large group of us... perhaps). Is that what I`m saying? Fuck knows.... Look at how the Elephants consider the bones of their dead. I was gonna say this in reply to something, but I forgot what it was, and I`m not rereading everything... yus... consider the elephant... they`re smart muthafuckers too ;D I was gonna say something about searching for meaning when there is none evident, but alas, it`s forgotten But I`ll play off this and question whether a person who hasn`t found purpose has purpose and if that person dies before finding it, if he or she had a purposeless life. And looking at that last paragraph makes me think the lines between 'meaning' and 'purpose' should be more clearly defined. But I have annoying tendencies. My brain sucks so bad with all this forgetfulness it`s embarrassing. On a sidenote, I quit smoking weed for the last time cause... well, shit, look.
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Post by nori on Sept 10, 2005 17:18:34 GMT -5
hold all the deep shit i have bought a new meaning for of life.... it tells me to lay the "SOCOM card +4 weight" psp i love thee dearly
NORI IS A WRETCHED SPAMMER.
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Post by Pimpmaster McSlap-Bitch on Sept 10, 2005 21:53:21 GMT -5
*Slaps*
KAGE IS A WRETCHED SPAMMER AND THIS POST IS COMPLETELY USELESS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREAD.
And I hate Kage.
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Post by nori on Sept 11, 2005 16:52:25 GMT -5
*slaps* YU DONT HAVE PSP YU NO COMMENT
NORI IS STILL A WRETCHED SPAMMER.
What does a PSP have anything to do witht he topic at hand?
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Athildur
Warrior
Chibi Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! :P
Posts: 99
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Post by Athildur on Sept 13, 2005 19:37:57 GMT -5
...*slap* ATHILDUR IS ALSO A WRETCHED SPAMMER.
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Post by nori on Sept 14, 2005 20:07:40 GMT -5
*slaps back* u dun understand NOBODY UNDERSTANDS except my dearest psp
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Post by Pimpmaster McSlap-Bitch on Sept 14, 2005 21:46:45 GMT -5
*Drops your PSP* *Dunks PSP in toilet* *Cracks PSP screen with screwdriver* *Craps on PSP* *Sets PSP on fire* *Skeets on the charred remains*
-_-
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