Oh, and the meaning of life is to act as food for insects as they develop into their evolved form to inhabit this area of space that was seeded by the intergalactic overlords the Pandimensional Insectoids. 
It depends on what you mean by “meaningless”.
MaxTheLimit, you make some excellent points - (Pardon my crude quotes - I am still trying ot understand this HTML thing)
[COLOR=‘Red’]“Well, maybe we or some other form of life does move on. What is the point of any species that goes extinct? Why are humans or any life on our planet special? Also, why does it need a point?”
That is just it… There must be a point, reason… because here we are - If we look at the natural laws of nature, we are here because of at some point, Abiogenisis happened, and here we are due to random events - Even if we were seeded (Which I seriously doubt) by … who/whatever - It is still all pointless in the long haul. Sure short term - I can learn about nature, which is amazing. Enjoy life (and conversations on the net with intelligent folks, such as those found here) and so forth - but in the scope and grand scheme of reality, when we are gone… so what. It was only important for this time frame - So at the very least, we can establish that what ever meaning there is, it is a best temporary.
[COLOR=‘Red’]“I think the ‘WHY’ you are looking for, in my opinion and whatnot, can be summed up as. Things are as they are because it is the nature of the universe, and the universe doesn’t care about you, so you take out of life whatever meaning you wish because it’s nor going to change the nature of the universe or your existence. Enjoy life. Don’t worry too much about the vagaries of purpose or meaning, because it doesn’t really matter does it? So just worry about the things that you can do, and the things that do matter to you.”
So, if it is subjective, then why should it matter on any level, what I choose to believe? Why should I care about using the tool of science to understand the world around me, when “I” could be just as contented to believe some goofy Bronze age religion? Or for that matter, befreind an invisible house fairy who is always understanding and … very sexy, only really small…
If we are to follow the nature of the universe, then what of Integrity, and human morals? It/they is/are meaningless because the universe does not care one way or the other what my take is. If I live or die, it means nothing.
(Obviously, there is meaning in a social sense to those around me, but in the “BIG PICTURE” how I live does not matter, because we are all (In a spieces sense) doomed to die anyways. Why no look forward to 2012? (Not that I seriously think that any of the tosh is true)
If the purpose of life and the meaning of it is my choice, then I am going to see if I can come up with something seroiusly creative -
"The purpose of my life is to sing “Welcome to the Jungle” three times a day - Why not - If it is all subjective, then that has just as much meaning as giving to those in need - Being a healer to those who hurt, or for that matter - intentionally damaging the planet - (Sadly, there are nutters who think that way)
Pardon the venting - I am just frustrated, because if a person follows any line of thinking that tries to examine anything to do with purpose, it all comes down to life only having the meaning we choose to give it. That is fine if a person is contented with their take on the world, but somehow, does it not seem to follow that because we are here, there MUST be a purpose, at least on some level that is beyond time and chance?
Asking ‘why’ we are alive is like a child asking “why does the sun shine?”, “why is the sky blue?”, “why are bunnies fluffy?”
It seems to be human nature to seek purpose behind everything, including life, even when there is none.
Purpose is a concept subject to human understanding. Why does a machine do what it does? Because humans designed it to do what it does.
There is no ‘why’ to life. It just is the way it is because that’s how the universe developed.
I really don’t see any reason for life to mean anything. The only ‘why’ in life is “why do I do what I do?” Because I want to be rich? Because I want to be happy? Because I want others to be happy? Etc.
Are you suggesting that these questions don’t have answers?
Even so Burbinator, (I am not saying you are not right) it simply seems lame to go through life just because…
(just sayin’)
Why would it seem “lame”?
It comes to that of utility.
No doubt I would do well to reframe, however… If everything we do is will be of no value in the future (in the sense of far future) then everything we put our efforts into, only has a certain shelf-life. That shelf life is very short in terms of universal time.
If the meaning of life is merely temporary, and purely subjective to our understaning (that being from a sense of not being able to know with certainty of any ultimate prupose - if there is one) then how can we know we being useful? (If there is such a thing as “purpose”?)
(I suppose that is what is driving this line of thought)
Yes, it is that of being useful. Helping the little old lady across the street (Or mugging her, for those so inclined) still are things that are both subjective, and meaningless.
Having a life partner is meaningless - having children, or composing symphonys is all meaningless, if we cannot KNOW what the purpose (or why) of life actually is.
It goes beyond this as well - I would certianly admit that part of what is concerning with this, is that if there is no absolutes (from the perspective of the purpose) then there is not only no sense of purpose, but no sense of boundaries - other than, what nature will allow for.
Seroiusly - Empathy based human society rules are fine, but as was hinted at by Max, the universe does not care - And when it comes to it, what is allowed in nature far exceeds the constraints that we humans put on ourselves.
Life is meaningful because “meaning” is something we humans need. Other animals probably need it, too, but let’s concentrate on Homo sapiens. “Meaning” is a human invention. There is no “ultimate meaning”. The “meaning of life” is what we make of it.
So, heck, let’s make it a good one, eh?
I have to grin with this - In a good way of course -
If meaning is a human invention, and the “need” for purpose is something that has allowed our spieces to get where we are today, Then obviously, having a subjective sense of purpose would be helpful, simply because it allows an individual to contribute to the collective of humanity - When it works, it works well - but when some wingnut comes up with something counter to the whole… then that is when it gets ugly.
And yes, a good one is best - quality of life and all that.
Also, extremes in poles are also not so good.
Purpose?
We are here, and that is what we know - To go beyond, though fun sometimes to consider, is outside of what we have on our plate - So, that said…
I have decided that my purpose in life for the next few minutes, is to go and kill some gouls in Fall out 3.
Who knows what it may be tomorrow (Other than to go to work to earn money - bleh)
Cheers
I was trying to say that it’s a case of how it came to be that way, and not a case of any intent or purpose behind it.
It’s true. Asking the question ‘What is our purpose?’ is a flawed question, because it implies life needs a purpose. Why do we need a purpose? It’s kind of like asking ‘Who created existence?’ Well…why does it need to be a who? why not a what? Asking questions that possibly exclude the correct answers is flawed.
Max, that is true - But then, how far can we take exclusion? Perhaps there was someone/thing who intended a purpose - Even though, that someone is not detectable by any known methods - Still, we must deal with what we know.
I suppose you are quite correct - It is sometimes difficult to think that this level of complexity can exist with there being a purpose. (Not saying a who, just a purpose - not that I buy into irreducible complexity or any of that other tosh)
Upon relection, it is the same as asking why does this or that thing, always seem to happen to me - It is an endless loop question with no concise answer.
Perhaps the question is better asked - If there is a purpose, what might it be?
(And yes, we are still left with the same unknowable answer - or as you say, we may well be chasing a flaw in the first place)
I find it frustrating just the same for some reason. (Shrugs)
The human race is the first life-form on this planet that holds within itself the potential to become something greather than every other lifeform that has ever evolved in our whole solar system.
If we could (not saying that we can) lay aside our conflicts and work together to get as many of us into space as possible, we might just be able to survive the next global mass extinction as a species, and maybe even move on to other stellar systems one day.
We might even survive the collaps of our own solar system and evolve into the only lifeform in our whole galaxy capable of evading extinction. Some day in the far, far future, we might even be able to reach other galaxies.
This is the first time in the known history of our solar system that a form of life has that potential. The purpose of life is survival. Evading the next mass extinction would be a key factor in this.
Of course, if current theories about the nature of our universe are true, it will collaps some day and destroy everything in it. But by that time we might even have developed a technology to reach other universes. Or parallel dimensions (if they exist).
One motivation for living your life is curiosity. Who knows what may happen tomorrow? You will only experience it if you wait and see. Another motivation can be trying to have as much fun as possible. Enough motivation for taking a job - more money, more fun. There are many reasons to live your life - even without an afterlife waiting for you.
the human race is never gonna leave the solar system ill bet euros on it. were gonna die in a stupid fuck up of our own creation within the next couple of millenniums all that will be left is roaches walking around on our bleached bones and stupid statues and stainless steel buttplugs.
Yeah I know, I feel the same, man. But the possibility was there. All the more a shame that we are - as a species - too fucking stupid to get over ourselves and do something with what we have.
I suppose there are reasons for this or that thing as far as our life goes; and i have to agree if nothing else, out of balanced probablity and odds with what has been mentioned already.
Regardless of hoping for a higher sense of purpose that seems to dog a lot of folks, (Me included it would seem - Oh my) I have to agree with Danson. We have little choice but to look to the future in trying to evade the coming colapse (that is if we do not kick ourselves in teh crotch fisrt) - That is what is on our plate as far as what we can do as spieces - other than that - ?
Day in day out… Sigh
PS. Hurcule, how many Euros?
Well by the logic that there is no point in doing anything, why do you eat? You are just putting off death for a while. I would wager that you eat because you are hungry and eating until you are not hungry makes your life at that moment better. Was there a grander purpose to that, other than living a little while longer? Not really I wouldn’t think. Actions, and by extension, life as a whole doesn’t need purpose. Just because we would like there to be one, or that we seek it doesn’t mean that there needs to be one.
True that /\
I also eat, so I can spend more time gaming - (Shrugs)
I’m not sure why the fact that there’s no purpose in life is so morose to you. For me, the chaotic nature of life, or indeed the universe, is the most beautiful thing I can imagine. Being made for a purpose would just mean the whole of reality is simply a means to an end. The fact that that everything just is, is the most profound and moving realisation I have ever had.
You weren’t meant to be. Life wasn’t meant to be. But it happened, and so did you, and there is no privilege higher.