Page 1 of 3 [ 41 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

fotografic
Butterfly
Butterfly

User avatar

Joined: 5 Nov 2012
Gender: Male
Posts: 14

18 Feb 2013, 3:21 pm

And if so or if not, how did you come to this conclusion?

And if our existence has a purpose, what is that purpose?

Thank you



ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 88
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

18 Feb 2013, 3:27 pm

Of course. You'll think of some meaning for your existence. We all do.

ruveyn



fotografic
Butterfly
Butterfly

User avatar

Joined: 5 Nov 2012
Gender: Male
Posts: 14

18 Feb 2013, 3:33 pm

Whether I think there is a meaning to our existence or not is not the point. I'm interested in hearing others points-of-view.



Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,709
Location: Stendec

18 Feb 2013, 3:37 pm

fotografic wrote:
Is there a meaning to our existence?

Each of us must supply his or her own meaning for his or her own existence.

fotografic wrote:
And if so or if not, how did you come to our conclusion?

Because:

1. Relying on religion to provide meaning means that we are either worthless or exalted, with no meanings in between.

2. Relying on people to provide meaning means that we are a confused mish-mash of failed expectations and exaggerated values.

3. Relying on material things to provide meaning means that our value goes up and down with the value of our possessions.

fotografic wrote:
And if our existence has a purpose, what is that purpose?

Our existence has no purpose other than what we make of it for our selves.

fotografic wrote:
Thank you

You're welcome.


_________________
 
No love for Hamas, Hezbollah, Iranian Leadership, Islamic Jihad, other Islamic terrorist groups, OR their supporters and sympathizers.


Pileo
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 19 Dec 2011
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Posts: 523

18 Feb 2013, 3:55 pm

Nah, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Why do we need a meaning or a purpose? Why can't we just be and live our lives as we see fit? What exists is already beautiful by the mere fact it exists. There doesn't need to be a spiritual context to everything.



ICY
Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 17 May 2011
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 192
Location: Hertfordshire England

18 Feb 2013, 5:56 pm

To undertake actions such as reproduction so that out genetic material may be perpetuated as long as possible.

I know that answer may not be enough for some people, but it has more evidence than any other I've found.



TallyMan
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 Mar 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 40,061

18 Feb 2013, 6:06 pm

ICY wrote:
To undertake actions such as reproduction so that out genetic material may be perpetuated as long as possible.

I know that answer may not be enough for some people, but it has more evidence than any other I've found.


That is it exactly. We are like a domino somewhere amongst one of those massive rows of dominoes that have been set up to tumble and each knocks the next one over. Our purpose is simply to knock over the next domino. Purpose isn't even the correct word; we are just a link in an naturally occurring biological chain reaction.

However, the human mind seeks a purpose, something more. A wise person seeks/creates their own purpose in life. The remainder either drift aimlessly from birth to death or allow others to give their life "purpose", typically based on a religious template... "believe this, do this, don't do that and you get a reward in somewhere called heaven."


_________________
I've left WP indefinitely.


seaturtleisland
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 22 Feb 2012
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,243

18 Feb 2013, 6:20 pm

I don't see the point of finding meaning to my existence. Even if it's meaningless that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it.

As far as purpose goes, I need a task. The purpose of my life is a task. If I have nothing to do I might as well die. Setting a task is what I do to say "the reason I'm alive right now is to do this". "The reason I'm not lying in a ditch doing nothing but dying is because I have something I need to do first".

There's no meaning. There's a chosen purpose but there's no meaning.



lotuspuppy
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Posts: 995
Location: On a journey to the center of the mind

18 Feb 2013, 11:00 pm

A wise man on the street told me the other night: "Ain't no use tryin' to impress other people. They never like how you turn out."

So now I am moving on to a different reason for existence. It's actually a gratifying experience.



VIDEODROME
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,691

18 Feb 2013, 11:49 pm

I wonder someday if AI could be developed and if our computers or robots would ask this question. I doubt we could give them a satisfying answer.

If anything is made to server a purpose, it's for something it's creator probably found distasteful.



billiscool
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 5 Feb 2006
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,989

19 Feb 2013, 12:01 am

fotografic wrote:
And if so or if not, how did you come to this conclusion?

And if our existence has a purpose, what is that purpose?

Thank you


we were created by god. and god has given us a choice.



TornadoEvil
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Oct 2012
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 707

19 Feb 2013, 12:27 am

The answer is yes.

Still haven't really got what the question means.



Misslizard
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Posts: 20,481
Location: Aux Arcs

19 Feb 2013, 12:52 am

Yes,to become compost.


_________________
I am the dust that dances in the light. - Rumi


AspieOtaku
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 17 Feb 2012
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Posts: 13,051
Location: San Jose

19 Feb 2013, 1:54 am

To work have babies and die!


_________________
Your Aspie score is 193 of 200
Your neurotypical score is 40 of 200
You are very likely an aspie
No matter where I go I will always be a Gaijin even at home. Like Anime? https://kissanime.to/AnimeList


MCalavera
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 15 Dec 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,442

19 Feb 2013, 4:38 am

billiscool wrote:
fotografic wrote:
And if so or if not, how did you come to this conclusion?

And if our existence has a purpose, what is that purpose?

Thank you


we were created by god. and god has given us a choice.


No evidence for that.



GoonSquad
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 11 May 2007
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,748
Location: International House of Paincakes...

19 Feb 2013, 7:45 am

Quote:
As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being. It may even be assumed that just as the unconscious affects us, so the increase in our consciousness affects the unconscious.


C.G. Jung


_________________
No man is free who is not master of himself.~Epictetus