Unofficial Discussion #2

[Provenance]

This discussion will deal with the world of philosophy.
I will give my answer and start giving input after a few replies have been given.

Rules

• Keep the use of bad language to a minimum.
• Explain yourself. Being vague will get you nowhere.
• Philosophy, for the most, has no wrong answers.
• No one will make fun of you for answering a certain way.

Question
What is the meaning of life?
​

Please note that I am not asking you what the point of life is.​

The difference between meaning and point/purpose:

Spoiler

“One Last Thought”
This moment is what a writer would dream of,
The orange glow of the sun,
The cool Arizona breeze sweeping over their soul,
And the sweet melody of a soft arrangement.

My revolver flicks from my side,
Arms raised, eyes unblinking,
A shot rings through my soul,
Rebounding off what is left.

I rethink that moment,
Claret life pouring from my body,
Pulsating agony as my foe sees that I am done,
Faith is all that remains.

I am defined,
Not by my hopes or dreams,
Nor my actions or life,
But in my death.

My being in a box,
Waiting unflinchingly,
For what lies beyond?

I shall see.
~The End~
​

The difference between purpose and meaning is not that big of a difference, but it's a very important thing to be able to understand.

The purpose of life, is what your life means to the future. (Kind of...)
Let's say you want to be a doctor... that is the purpose. Everything that you aspire to do. Goals, in a way.

The meaning of life, is what you did means. You can't really define it perfectly, but it's what you've done or will do.
Your specific "meaning of life" won't be fully assessable until you have died or are almost dead.

 

[Adam_mybb_import1422]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

There isn't one. We are here to please ourselves, do whatever makes us most happy.

 

[ttomthebomb]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

We are put into existence to do what, to ourselves, feels right.

 

[Provenance]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

@Both of You - That would fall under the category of point, not meaning.

The point of communism is economic equality.
The meaning of communism is something much greater.

Yes, the point of life is to live and enjoy yourselves.
Raise your kids to be healthy and morally right, etc ,etc.
That's not the question though.
I'm asking what the meaning of life is.

Like you said in the other thread, Tom.
You said that the meaning of life is based on actions and that it means self affirmation.

 

[ttomthebomb]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

Okay, how about trying to attain the absolute highest form of knowledge.

 

[Provenance]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

Okay, how about trying to attain the absolute highest form of knowledge.

Is that realistic?
Not all people pursue knowledge.

 

[ttomthebomb]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

Okay, how about trying to attain the absolute highest form of knowledge.

Is that realistic?
Not all people pursue knowledge.

Isn't this my belief in the meaning of life?
If so then I stand by it.

 

[Provenance]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

Okay, how about trying to attain the absolute highest form of knowledge.

Is that realistic?
Not all people pursue knowledge.

Isn't this my belief in the meaning of life?
If so then I stand by it.

The meaning of your life is too specific for philosophy.
We want to think in a broader spectrum.

 

[ttomthebomb]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

Okay, how about trying to attain the absolute highest form of knowledge.

Is that realistic?
Not all people pursue knowledge.

Isn't this my belief in the meaning of life?
If so then I stand by it.

The meaning of your life is too specific for philosophy.
We want to think in a broader spectrum.

Broader as in, on the human race scale or what?

 

[Provenance]

RE: Unnoficial Discussion #2

Okay, how about trying to attain the absolute highest form of knowledge.

Is that realistic?
Not all people pursue knowledge.

Isn't this my belief in the meaning of life?
If so then I stand by it.

The meaning of your life is too specific for philosophy.
We want to think in a broader spectrum.

Broader as in, on the human race scale or what?

Yes, but you don't have to take every human's opinion into account.
We're trying to come up with a general, yet broad, solution.

 

[Epicc]

The meaning of life will always be influenced by your religion.

I know a person who even claims he is the only person in the world where everyone else is just made up from his imagination.

I personally just believe that we live for no purpose at all, just as ants have no greater goal, we don't either.

 

[Provenance]

The meaning of life will always be influenced by your religion.

I know a person who even claims he is the only person in the world where everyone else is just made up from his imagination.

I personally just believe that we live for no purpose at all, just as ants have no greater goal, we don't either.

A purpose would imply a point, not a meaning.
I'm pretty sure I explained that already.
Also, read the thread before you post.
We are not talking about individuals. If it involves religion or anything that only a select group experience, it in not a valid solution.

Do you think people would have recognized Marxism if he came back at the end and added, "Oh yeah, you have to be black for this to work."

 

[ttomthebomb]

The meaning of life will always be influenced by your religion.

I know a person who even claims he is the only person in the world where everyone else is just made up from his imagination.

I personally just believe that we live for no purpose at all, just as ants have no greater goal, we don't either.

A purpose would imply a point, not a meaning.
I'm pretty sure I explained that already.
Also, read the thread before you post.
We are not talking about individuals. If it involves religion or anything that only a select group experience, it in not a valid solution.

Do you think people would have recognized Marxism if he came back at the end and added, "Oh yeah, you have to be black for this to work."

As a species there cannot be a general meaning of life, for we all have an active conscious that allows us to conceive our own meanings.
I for one believe that the meaning of life is to attain the highest form of knowledge.
Your question is broad due to the fact that the human race is not a machine and can produce multiple meanings.

 

[Provenance]

As a species there cannot be a general meaning of life, for we all have an active conscious that allows us to conceive our own meanings.
I for one believe that the meaning of life is to attain the highest form of knowledge.
Your question is broad due to the fact that the human race is not a machine and can produce multiple meanings.

Do you not understand the point of the question?
If there was only one meaning and it applied to everyone, then this question wouldn't be a question of philosophy.

PS: For being labeled a Thinker, you're not so good at thinking.

 

[ttomthebomb]

As a species there cannot be a general meaning of life, for we all have an active conscious that allows us to conceive our own meanings.
I for one believe that the meaning of life is to attain the highest form of knowledge.
Your question is broad due to the fact that the human race is not a machine and can produce multiple meanings.

Do you not understand the point of the question?
If there was only one meaning and it applied to everyone, then this question wouldn't be a question of philosophy.

PS: For being labeled a Thinker, you're not so good at thinking.

Yes, but you don't have to take every human's opinion into account.
We're trying to come up with a general, yet broad, solution.

I've yet to see you share your opinion.

PS: You broke one of your rules.

 

[Provenance]

Yes, but you don't have to take every human's opinion into account.
We're trying to come up with a general, yet broad, solution.

I've yet to see you share your opinion.

PS: You broke one of your rules.

I never said that I had an opinion at this time. I could think it over and get back to you.

PS: If you're talking about making fun of you, you mistake my way of speaking with the way trolls/flamers use sarcasm/rhetorical questions and/or criticism.

 

[ttomthebomb]

Yes, but you don't have to take every human's opinion into account.
We're trying to come up with a general, yet broad, solution.

I've yet to see you share your opinion.

PS: You broke one of your rules.

I never said that I had an opinion at this time. I could think it over and get back to you.

PS: If you're talking about making fun of you, you mistake my way of speaking with the way trolls/flamers use sarcasm/rhetorical questions and/or criticism.

I will reply when I see yours, seeing as how I am not getting this right.

 

[Provenance]

I will reply when I see yours, seeing as how I am not getting this right.

I didn't say that your solution was wrong.
I'm saying that your deduction isn't satisfying my curiosity.

Saying that there is no meaning of life, because there are multiple possible solutions, makes no sense. How can there be a limit on answers if there isn't a definite solution?

 

[Provenance]

I've thought it over and the only universal meaning I can come up with... is a very simple one.

The meaning of life is your life itself.
This may be seen as my final plunge into insanity, but when explained, it makes a little sense.
I wrote a poem for a Journeys West project that explains my view.
It would mean that the meaning of life is not realized until death, though.

“One Last Thought”
This moment is what a writer would dream of,
The orange glow of the sun,
The cool Arizona breeze sweeping over their soul,
And the sweet melody of a soft arrangement.

My revolver flicks from my side,
Arms raised, eyes unblinking,
A shot rings through my soul,
Rebounding off what is left.

I rethink that moment,
Claret life pouring from my body,
Pulsating agony as my foe sees that I am done,
Faith is all that remains.

I am defined,
Not by my hopes or dreams,
Nor my actions or life,
But in my death.

My being in a box,
Waiting unflinchingly,
For what lies beyond?

I shall see.
~The End~
​

In truth, it is when we die that our lives are really put into perspective, and I feel a lot of people don't understand that.

The end was just an added effect.
I did not want to end with his death, so I added the possibility of a God or alternate state. Showing that a religion can be a deciding factor in the meaning of a persons life, but it is not the sole factor.

 

[Oui.]

The point of life to a certain specie is the survival of it.
The point of life to all species is the survival of them all. We all play our part in a bigger cycle.

So the meaning of life must be to do your very best and contribute to make a better world. For instance by knowledge as someone mentioned, we want to improve and save lives. Or by politics improve and save lives. Revolution, economy, teaching etc.

It's not about thinking about yourself, gaining knowledge for own purposes but for humanity, the world, everything. Hence Individualism feels unnatural. However this would be done out of love and caring for others. So some say the meaning of life is love.