The Meaning of Life - Is it happiness? (No, seriously) - General

In my personal opinion: There is no meaning in life. What happened in the universe was under certain conditions - no objects had meaning or objectives. They just existed and went with the flow of physics and chemistry. Biological creatures with the ability to think (us), of course, may think of a purpose, like making the world better or leaving something to remember you by. We have no meaning, we only have a purpose - to conquer, exist and survive.

I think life is best when its a shared experience. Either with friends, loved ones, or your lover. And love is one of the most powerful driving forces and experiences in life. Maybe I'm a hopeless romantic, but in my experience, the existence and knowledge of having an intimate friendship, or love, with another human, is something I cherish the most on this world. It seems to amplify experiences and make me wish that time went slower, rather than at the workplace I wish time were to go fast enough so as to break the clock from spinning too fast. Or you could look at it like science: Survive, reproduce.

Have fun.

After scrolling through four pages, I noticed that the word "meaning" had different meanings in different posts. I think most people agree, that from an outside (or scientific) perspective, life has no meaning. To get less general, the purpose of life is to procreate. However meaning can also be used in an inward sense. You are here, for no reason, just exist. As a human being, what do you do with it, how will you handle the existence? Personally, I like something that was posted here previously: [QUOTE=Gears of duty;41894816]The meaning of life, I'd say, is to give life meaning.[/QUOTE]

The meaning of life is what you make it out to be. Perhaps it is to help the poor, to build, to simply work, eat and sleep. Or to have a family? That question cannot be answered, because we make our own life.

Keeping your own species alive. Happiness.

[QUOTE=Veniathan;42963240]The meaning of life is what you make it out to be. Perhaps it is to help the poor, to build, to simply work, eat and sleep. Or to have a family? That question cannot be answered, because we make our own life.[/QUOTE] I believe the question is what is the meaning of life [I]as a collective[/I]

I always thought the true meaning of life, not of human life but of all life everywhere, is survival

To try and find a meaning to life is like embracing an eternal quiz the meaning? to pointless live until we die.

The meaning of life becomes sort of null in the sense that according to some theories and science, the Universe will go totally dark over the period of a [i]very[/i] long time (I'm talking about AFTER when the last star's remains have gone out) and may shrink down to a state like just before the "Big Bang", which is some state of singularity, and expand from there all over again.

There is no objective meaning of life. All of it, every meaning for every thing that has meaning, is completely subjective.

The meaning of life is to Live. Plain and simple. I am convinced of a 'higher power' (Do not confuse with 'God') that exists in all of us and everything around us. It is an all encompassing force which drives the universe into complexity. From vast deposits of Hydrogen gas into Type 1 star formations, from Atoms into Molecules, Organs into Systems, and beings into civilizations. The universe has a persistent ability to complexify itself. We, as complex organic systems, are a result of this. Wether you believe in a Higher Power of an almighty God, or plain ol' Evolution. We're merely a result of a consistent process maintained by the Universe around us. Life is not always unhappy nor is it always Happy. Some of us are born into privilege, while others are born into poverty. That's just the way the dice roll. But every one of us, no matter the scenario, has the uncanny ability to feel, experience, and live. THAT is the meaning of Life. Merely to exist.

If complexity requires a creator which is obviously more complex than the creation, then who created the creator?

I completely agree... for the secrecy behind existence is too complex that is the very best meaning to life.[QUOTE=Zenreon117;41888763]The meaning of life is to seek out the meaning to life. A forward progression ultimately trying to end up where it began. [editline]18th August 2013[/editline] I must disagree with the hedonistic tone of this thread, to me happiness is not the end goal but rather moral rectitude is. Happiness is just a pleasant side effect of that. There is no happier man than he who can cast the first stone.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Keys;43305530]The meaning of life is to Live. Plain and simple. I am convinced of a 'higher power' (Do not confuse with 'God') that exists in all of us and everything around us. It is an all encompassing force which drives the universe into complexity. From vast deposits of Hydrogen gas into Type 1 star formations, from Atoms into Molecules, Organs into Systems, and beings into civilizations. The universe has a persistent ability to complexify itself. We, as complex organic systems, are a result of this. Wether you believe in a Higher Power of an almighty God, or plain ol' Evolution. We're merely a result of a consistent process maintained by the Universe around us. Life is not always unhappy nor is it always Happy. Some of us are born into privilege, while others are born into poverty. That's just the way the dice roll. But every one of us, no matter the scenario, has the uncanny ability to feel, experience, and live. THAT is the meaning of Life. Merely to exist.[/QUOTE] But can we live forever?

[QUOTE='[BBNH] Jesus;43305786']If complexity requires a creator which is obviously more complex than the creation, then who created the creator?[/QUOTE] Time was created at the beginning of the universe, so if he created time, he must be above it.

[QUOTE=Memnoth;43410480]Time was created at the beginning of the universe, so if he created time, he must be above it.[/QUOTE] doesn't solve first cause yet

[QUOTE=Memnoth;43410480]Time was created at the beginning of the universe, so if he created time, he must be above it.[/QUOTE] This statement is predicated on the false assumption (read: zero evidence) that a prime mover exists.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;43410862]doesn't solve first cause yet[/QUOTE] How can there be cause and effect if there is no time? [QUOTE='[BBNH] Jesus;43410880']This statement is predicated on the false assumption (read: zero evidence) that a prime mover exists.[/QUOTE] No? There is no causality outside of time.

[QUOTE=Memnoth;43411275]No? There is no causality outside of time.[/QUOTE] Perhaps, but it is a logical fallacy to jump to the conclusion of a prime mover instead of the statement "we don't know."

[QUOTE='[BBNH] Jesus;43411372']Perhaps, but it is a logical fallacy to jump to the conclusion of a prime mover instead of the statement "we don't know."[/QUOTE] Theistic experiences is not based on logic.

[QUOTE=Memnoth;43411803]Theistic experiences is not based on logic.[/QUOTE] Right, so why is it so hard to break people out of this irrational, illogical, dangerous, incorrect conclusion?

[QUOTE='[BBNH] Jesus;43412110']Right, so why is it so hard to break people out of this irrational, illogical, dangerous, incorrect conclusion?[/QUOTE] Because a theistic experience is more powerful than logic for some people.

[QUOTE=Memnoth;43412219]Because a theistic experience is more powerful than logic for some people.[/QUOTE] That's like saying that a child's belief in Santa is more powerful than accepting the truth that he doesn't exist. I understand why a child's mind would work that way, but why would an adult mind work that way? Even AFTER being shown logic and reason, they reject the rationale and cling to their fairy tale business. I just don't get this.

[QUOTE='[BBNH] Jesus;43412489']That's like saying that a child's belief in Santa is more powerful than accepting the truth that he doesn't exist.[/QUOTE] I'm talking about religious experiences, theological epiphany's that change your perspective on the world.

[QUOTE=Memnoth;43412529]I'm talking about religious experiences, epiphany's that change your perspective on the world.[/QUOTE] Calling an epiphany a "religious experience" is a misnomer.

[QUOTE=Memnoth;43411275]How can there be cause and effect if there is no time? No? There is no causality outside of time.[/QUOTE] because it's still not answering the question

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;43412724]because it's still not answering the question[/QUOTE] [QUOTE='[BBNH] Jesus;43305786']If complexity requires a creator which is obviously more complex than the creation, then who created the creator?[/QUOTE] Since the creator lives outside time, the first cause was an infinite amount of time happening all at once, where endless creators create each other. Creator = Creation.

[QUOTE=Memnoth;43412951]Since the creator lives outside time, the first cause was an infinite amount of time happening all at once, where endless creators create each other. Creator = Creation.[/QUOTE] This is a fine example of what we call Word Salad. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_salad[/url]

[QUOTE='[BBNH] Jesus;43413016']This is a fine example of what we call Word Salad. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_salad[/url][/QUOTE] Hahaha. I'm sleep deprived and have 4 different psychoactive substances in my body. [editline]4th January 2014[/editline] Meaning, purpose, intention. These words in the subjective perspective of the world, defines our very existence. Adjust to objective perspective however, and they have no meaning at all. The universe can not create intent, since it requires a conscious being to define purpose.