What is your life's purpose?
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i dont think we have a point purpose or reason, infact given the total lack of evidence thereof i dont understand why the leap is made that their either needs to be or actually is one, a lie born of the lack of perspective we need maybe.Xsjadoblayde said:
were here because of cause and effect , simple chemical reactions mundane not arcane causes.
See? SEE!? I'm a complete and utter failure! I try to push this "cynical party pooper" persona and people like it! Woe is me!Yopaz said:
No, but really, thanks and stuff ^^
(On a more serious note, the purpose I see in my life is to learn as much as I can. And crack as many silly jokes as I can, hence my first post on the issue)
Haha, brilliant.SomeLameStuff said:
I remember when I was like 5-years-old, as a kind of party trick, my dad taught me to recite that line whenever he asked me "what is best in life?"
In my little kid voice I would say, "to cwush your nenamies, to see dem dwiven afore you, and to hee da lamentation of dere women," to the uproarious laughter of his friends.
There is no inherent purpose to life, however we humans are unique in that we are capable to give purpose to our own lives.
Edit:
Also this:
(Mirror for German viewers [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4rwttfIEkg])
Lecture starts at 2:13
(Yea, I know I post his videos alot, but they're awesome and it's relevant.)
(Yea, I know I post his videos alot, but they're awesome and it's relevant.)
Edit:
Also this:
(Mirror for German viewers [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4rwttfIEkg])
I don't think my personal 'purpose' should be considered separable/independent from every other human being's. In fact, it's not even really coherent or desirable to do so imo.
But as far as what I'm currently devoting myself too, I'd have to say it's to start, maintain, and contribute to an honest dialogue about just this question (i.e. "What direction should humanity move in together/what should human destiny be and how can we realize it?").
So far I only have certain convictions about the form the right answer has to take, and most of them are negative; that is, our primary overarching goal/direction/priority should not be toward scientific/technological progress, toward the spread of 'conventional'/institutionalized religion, toward any political ideal, not mere 'survival', not 'every individual makes his own independent meaning/destiny', nor any kind of joining or imposition into a mindless collective, not anything that gives up on life in some way or chooses the lack of any goal (like Nihilism), nothing that endangers genuine interpersonal relationships (in general, nothing that promotes human solitude/loneliness), but also nothing that settles for relationships that don't amount to more of the sum of persons taking part in them (i.e. common-sense 'love'), nor even necessarily toward 'universal happiness' or 'freedom' or 'knowledge/truth' as such...
I've probably left a few things out, maybe the rest of you can help me add to the list.
But as far as what I'm currently devoting myself too, I'd have to say it's to start, maintain, and contribute to an honest dialogue about just this question (i.e. "What direction should humanity move in together/what should human destiny be and how can we realize it?").
So far I only have certain convictions about the form the right answer has to take, and most of them are negative; that is, our primary overarching goal/direction/priority should not be toward scientific/technological progress, toward the spread of 'conventional'/institutionalized religion, toward any political ideal, not mere 'survival', not 'every individual makes his own independent meaning/destiny', nor any kind of joining or imposition into a mindless collective, not anything that gives up on life in some way or chooses the lack of any goal (like Nihilism), nothing that endangers genuine interpersonal relationships (in general, nothing that promotes human solitude/loneliness), but also nothing that settles for relationships that don't amount to more of the sum of persons taking part in them (i.e. common-sense 'love'), nor even necessarily toward 'universal happiness' or 'freedom' or 'knowledge/truth' as such...
I've probably left a few things out, maybe the rest of you can help me add to the list.
Fuckin ay!! Is that you're own creation? Am loving it...now i challenge you to build the life size prototype!Alcom1 said:To revel, inspire, and give joy through grand creations! A non-convoluted and happy self-given purpose.
A LEGO creation by me.
I'm quite surprised with the amount of posts i agree with here. Have always swayed towards the existential philosophies of life. As a student of Uni science right now, only fact is important to me...however i have studied philosophy and psychology beforehand, it astounds me that the more we know, the more questions are created. We do seem to be a complete biological accident, yet an accident that has allowed such self perception. To the point where disagreement can lead to violent wars over simple opinion. We all have an in built fear of death and that has given birth to religion to make most of us feel better about our relatively short lives.
I personally believe the best thing you can do is inspire and make ppl laugh. A comedian or musician, artist, poet and more...all of those could claim to make their life mean something before they die. Some are just happy having children of their own, like some legacy that can redeem their mistakes...or just little bundles of themselves that can live on.
On another note...has anyone ever read 'the selfish gene' by richard dawkins?
The usual. Hundreds of grandchildren, utter domination of known space and the pleasure of hearing that all of my enemies have died in terrible, highly improbable accidents that cannot be connected to me.
My purpose in life is to find a purpose, then have the journey to reach said purpose be told in a "based on a true story"-type movie where, if you watched it, you would be wondering if this movie was only made to be Oscar bait against another movie that would be the first of its kind to feature nothing but low-class humor within the context of a fictional, yet dramatic character study...
Moral of the story: 30 years from now (maybe more, I have poor time management skills), don't tell that one director's ex-husband about your journey to find your purpose because he would want to turn it into a movie without telling you that he's only doing this just to one-up his ex-husband of a director in terms of winning at least one Oscar within their lifetime... (At least that one time you both had brunch together would be the highlight of that journey to the Oscars...)
Moral of the story: 30 years from now (maybe more, I have poor time management skills), don't tell that one director's ex-husband about your journey to find your purpose because he would want to turn it into a movie without telling you that he's only doing this just to one-up his ex-husband of a director in terms of winning at least one Oscar within their lifetime... (At least that one time you both had brunch together would be the highlight of that journey to the Oscars...)
To make this my 500th post on the escapist. Yay, I can die happy now.
In all honesty though, the meaning of my life seen to be to help others. I think we all want to help one and other and aid each other when it is needed. I think that is why we have communities and societies. I myself never showed any significant talent or skill so since I always felt like I was bellow everyone I actually started to like being the right hand man. So basically what I am saying is that the meaning of life is peerpressure and Stockholm syndrome, eat your heart out 42
In all honesty though, the meaning of my life seen to be to help others. I think we all want to help one and other and aid each other when it is needed. I think that is why we have communities and societies. I myself never showed any significant talent or skill so since I always felt like I was bellow everyone I actually started to like being the right hand man. So basically what I am saying is that the meaning of life is peerpressure and Stockholm syndrome, eat your heart out 42
Bitter, are we not? tehee!FPLOON said:
Happiness is something everyone strives for...but if you wanted to make everyone happy...what would you do with a pedophile? or a serial torturer? or a wife beater? What makes them happy, makes so many others unhappy, and disgusted. We can't all have the same wants. Some human minds are twisted, yet, what rights do they deserve?
You make your life's purpose. You choose your track, your interests, and what ultimately you want to do. Its all about perspective, and what you feel is most comfortable. Mine changes every few years because as a human I change; where I stand changes and thus my perspective also changes. I am not afraid to change. I believe thats the ultimate purpose is to embrace change, with knowledge of what the consequences of a change will bring.
purely biological it is to make sure our specie does not end, but on a more spiritual level i think my purpose is after what i have heard from a lot of people to go into politics (but that is a last resort for me). personally i am still searching for my place in this world (taking a bachelor in philosophy,but that might make things a little harder)
I don't know you, and I don't know your dad, but that's just spectacular. +1 for your dad.James Joseph Emerald said:
edit: May as well answer the original question too, I suppose: To enjoy it! Experience pleasures both of the senses and the intellect, and help the people I care about do the same (which is also pleasurable to me).
Purpose? Ironically meaningless idea.
My purpose, I suppose, is to live the happiest life possible. Being a quantitative hedonist, that means attaining the most pleasures possible for the least pain. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm very good at being a quantitative hedonist.
My purpose, I suppose, is to live the happiest life possible. Being a quantitative hedonist, that means attaining the most pleasures possible for the least pain. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm very good at being a quantitative hedonist.
Sometimes I think life would be easier if we were given a purpose... But then what about the entity that gave us our purpose? Who gave it purpose? Eventually we'd work our way up the chain and there would be something somewhere without any purpose.
So I skip that and say that we have none.
So I just keep myself fed watered and amused.
So I skip that and say that we have none.
So I just keep myself fed watered and amused.
My purpose: To teach of the glory of Prussia in hopes that one day she will no longer be cast in the dark
Our Purpose: To endlessly search for meaning in life.
Our Purpose: To endlessly search for meaning in life.
"Man! The only way my purpose can be turned into a movie is if it was meant for Oscar bait, yo!" says young me...Xsjadoblayde said:
"Dammit, Jean! How dare you turn this movie into Oscar bait!" says future me...
"Say what you will... I'm going to become a published writer! BELIEVE IT!!" says present me...
Damn... My purpose is filled with such bitter... No wonder I never think about stuff like this...