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General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: kevinj on 13/11/2011 22:50:04

Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: kevinj on 13/11/2011 22:50:04: There are different theories like atheistic existentialism which says you create your meaning

Existential nihilism says life is meaningless. How does one arrive at the conclusion that life is meaningless? Can't you just create your own meaning? For example how you value things isn't it up to you?

Then there is absurdism which is that humans don't know enough to know the meaning of life because we don’t have enough information. Let’s say that we do get enough info and it turns out there is no afterlife does that mean I can create any meaning I want according to absurdism

Did I get the definition of all 3 correct?
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Nizzle on 15/11/2011 06:53:50: You can already create any meaning you want without the extra information required by absurdism, but I'm probably saying that because I'm an atheistic existentialist ;)

And you forgot the biological meaning of life, which is "to reproduce".

For me personally, meaning of life is having as much fun as possible within my personal comfort zone. (ie: while i would really enjoy a joyride in a very fast expensive car, I could never steal one to do so)
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Titanscape on 15/11/2011 13:48:34: Yeah, reproduce, breathe, grow, excrete, consume.

Meaning is different to purpose, finding meaning is hard.

Are you a word in a sentence?
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Gordian Knot on 20/11/2011 22:57:34: What is The Meaning of Life? Wasn't that a Monty Python film? ;)
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Titanscape on 21/11/2011 13:37:49: I think so, saw it as a boy. Sending up popular philosophy of the seventies in England.
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Silver on 24/11/2011 15:33:34: The meaning of life is that we exist to pass our genes on to the next generation.

Our immortal genes are all. The rest: Technology, love, hate, great achievements, etc is just window dressing.
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 24/11/2011 23:34:30: I've always disliked the question. Firstly it's a loaded question, it assumes there is a meaning, secondly, it's too vague. What does one mean by meaning, do they mean purpose? What does one mean by life? Human life? All life?

It has no answer because the question is wrong.

Apart from 42 of course.
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: sommer on 26/11/2011 06:25:38: Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes (i.e., living organisms) from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (death), or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate.Biology is the science concerned with the study of life.

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Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Geezer on 26/11/2011 06:39:50: Quote from: sommer on 26/11/2011 06:25:38
Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes (i.e., living organisms) from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (death), or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate.Biology is the science concerned with the study of life.

and that's a verbatim copy from Wikipedia, so you, or whatever you are, are banished to the underworld.
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Stephany on 14/12/2011 21:17:43: There is something more than consume, reproduce, breathe etc. May be speaking of animals it is so. Human have to reach something more... still searching.
Title: What is the meaning of life?
Post by: Stephany on 14/12/2011 21:23:13: I've found some web site what is the meaning of life (http://www.what-is-the-meaning-of-life.info/) but not sure what is it about. Religion? Science? Fraud?