45 replies to this topic

[SereneScene]

That is what I come up with when I think about the purpose of life, whats the point of eating? Working hard? To survive, you dont need to reproduce in order to survive, in caveman days the point of life was to get food and survive, is it the same today? Well what do we go to school for? What do we work for? So that we can earn money to buy food, a house to sleep in, pay our bills, but we also want to buy nice things, for what? To make us happy, so what IS the point of life? To survive or to just overall be happy?

In the end I think we are no different then other animals in the world, we do everything we need to do to survive and make ourselves happy and then most of us reproduce and eventually die. Thats it. I dont feel that we are meant or "destined" for anything else, we are simply just "another" organism. It sucks because my mind keeps wanting another purpose, something "deeper" but my logic tells me that's all we are.

I have come to terms with this reality.

[SereneScene]

Oh and for the record I dont blame some people that kill themselves. Life is cruel.

[Rlyeh]

I partly agree but reproduction is a factor.
What's the point of an organism surviving if it's not going to pass on it's genes?

[SereneScene]

Rlyeh, on 29 April 2012 - 07:10 PM, said:

I partly agree but reproduction is a factor.
What's the point of an organism surviving if it's not going to pass on it's genes?

And whats the point of passing on your genes? For what purpose? The only thing you need to worry about is yourself.

[antonT]

]

Exactly! Furthermore it appears that our sole purpose in life is to sustain ourselves in order to reproduce.  Life is fragile - it probably came about by pure chance and it knows this. It saturates planet Earth with billions of organisms so that in the event of some sort of catastrophe - an asteroid strike or something similar - at least something will survive.

Once one's reproductive life is over  Life loses interest in us and we eventually die. But the desire to survive and reproduce is in the genes of our progeny and the whole proceedure starts again and again.

There is no purpose in Life other than to sustain ourselves in order to reproduce and survive.

[and then]

WOW....and I thought I was depressing....
Guys, life is just what you make of it.  It'll be over with soon enough.  Being able to think of what you can do to make others happy can give you a lot of happiness as well. You really should try it.  It's amazing the feeling you can have just from making someone else laugh or even just smile when they're having a crappy day.  I think maybe THAT's what life is about.  Lots of moments we all share, brief and fleeting but they are the good stuff.

[dougeaton]

Kev007, on 29 April 2012 - 07:03 PM, said:

That is what I come up with when I think about the purpose of life, whats the point of eating? Working hard? To survive, you dont need to reproduce in order to survive, in caveman days the point of life was to get food and survive, is it the same today? Well what do we go to school for? What do we work for? So that we can earn money to buy food, a house to sleep in, pay our bills, but we also want to buy nice things, for what? To make us happy, so what IS the point of life? To survive or to just overall be happy?

In the end I think we are no different then other animals in the world, we do everything we need to do to survive and make ourselves happy and then most of us reproduce and eventually die. Thats it. I dont feel that we are meant or "destined" for anything else, we are simply just "another" organism. It sucks because my mind keeps wanting another purpose, something "deeper" but my logic tells me that's all we are.

I have come to terms with this reality.

More college freshmen stuff....give me a break!   There is no way that you can really believe that and live anykind of human life at all.  We are different that another animals, even though I don't believe we have a soul....our brains are much different, I don't see apes making music, thinking about meaning as you are and creating art........only humans do that.  

doug

Kev007, on 29 April 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:

Oh and for the record I dont blame some people that kill themselves. Life is cruel.

Thats big of you.

doug

Edited by dougeaton, 29 April 2012 - 08:14 PM.

[dougeaton]

antonT, on 29 April 2012 - 07:49 PM, said:

]

Exactly! Furthermore it appears that our sole purpose in life is to sustain ourselves in order to reproduce.  Life is fragile - it probably came about by pure chance and it knows this. It saturates planet Earth with billions of organisms so that in the event of some sort of catastrophe - an asteroid strike or something similar - at least something will survive.

Once one's reproductive life is over  Life loses interest in us and we eventually die. But the desire to survive and reproduce is in the genes of our progeny and the whole proceedure starts again and again.

There is no purpose in Life other than to sustain ourselves in order to reproduce and survive.

You say one thing, then sneak in something like this "  it probably came about by pure chance and it knows this. It saturates planet Earth with billions of organisms so that in the event of some sort of catastrophe - an asteroid strike or something similar - at least something will survive".  That means some sort of plan is set in place....wlhich is it?

and then, on 29 April 2012 - 08:05 PM, said:

WOW....and I thought I was depressing....
Guys, life is just what you make of it.  It'll be over with soon enough.  Being able to think of what you can do to make others happy can give you a lot of happiness as well. You really should try it.  It's amazing the feeling you can have just from making someone else laugh or even just smile when they're having a crappy day.  I think maybe THAT's what life is about.  Lots of moments we all share, brief and fleeting but they are the good stuff.

Your sane, because you don't try to convince others how smart you are LOL

[Mikko-kun]

There may be purposes you have not yet figured out. Maybe no one or very few people have figured out the purposes that make you feel like you can die smiling and with a light heart for them, but you'll still avoid death and keep devoting part of your life to them. In life it's okay to be selfish and think with your feelings too, even if what you think is a matter of lives and deaths.

I've come to realise that there's much potential in us. We use it in narrow areas, devoting our lives to a single area of interest and wonder why we feel like something's missing.

Even if there's no quarantee that any life form in earth sees the next day, does that have to stop you? I think we have enough time in our lives to stop and think these things, watching the roof from our bed or watching the stars outside, or whatever. I dont mind living a boring life if there's moments that make my eyes glow madly, heart burn, thought race, mental images revel and the appreciation of little sensual delights. There's different things for each of our tastes, I know people twice my age (I'm almost 30) who discover new things where they can feel these things. If you dont ever feel alive, what's the point in any of it?

I dont worry about others nor myself. Worrying is overrated, so is helping. Unconditional support, hand given once... not so.

Human beings develop all the time, just like anything else in this universe. We as individuals develop all the time, on many levels. Or at least have the potential if we do something to develop. You should challenge yourself more in emotional and other areas than logic if you feel that way about life, and find grander meanings in those other than just logical areas, about life. Grand for you doesn't have to mean complicated or big, as long as it's grand for You. I'm sure everyone wonders at times why people are so stupid to keep the status quo in this kind of world, I've done that at least. But it takes more than a million-man collective to change things in this world. Still, every change comes from within.

I dont think we're here for any pre-determined purpose, but to see what the next moment brings. Only those who can truly see the future can give you a map about it and put a purpose, large "X" on that map. When I remember my past, the most enjoyable times where those when I put my inner self on the line for other people and for myself too, and didn't hide from the feeling of uncertainty. If you have that feeling it just means you're capable of developing.

Doug, about your sign. Being able to live without something, being able to live without the "I must have this" is one thing I believe we should strive for. It's really not so easy for everyone. But living that way doesn't have to mean you couldn't enjoy the moment. Two people can do the same thing all their life in order to meet the same dream come true, but the difference between them is that one who can let go of things will be happier. If you think life's not worth living, you've probably not over 30, like you implied. And even if you still think that way, you just need to put your butt on the line more and build things even if they fall time after time.

[SereneScene]

dougeaton, on 29 April 2012 - 08:14 PM, said:

More college freshmen stuff....give me a break!   There is no way that you can really believe that and live anykind of human life at all.  We are different that another animals, even though I don't believe we have a soul....our brains are much different, I don't see apes making music, thinking about meaning as you are and creating art........only humans do that.  

doug



Thats big of you.

doug

And my point still stands. All we are meant is to survive and be happy, what else could we possibly be meant for? Please do explain. Humans want to be more then they are just cause we are smarter then all the other animals but in the end we arent that far apart.

[dougeaton]

Kev007, on 29 April 2012 - 08:26 PM, said:

And my point still stands. All we are meant is to survive and be happy, what else could we possibly be meant for? Please do explain. Humans want to be more then they are just cause we are smarter then all the other animals but in the end we arent that far apart.

No your point is based on your belief about life, which is personal to you and subjective.  Others think life is about loving, groiwng and helping others and that they become happier the more they serve others, in other words, paradox plays a part.  We are that far apart from animals.  If you can't see that, well that is sad, very sad.  I am not saying we are not animals, but we are different, very different.

doug

Edited by dougeaton, 29 April 2012 - 08:58 PM.

[CommunitarianKevin]

Rlyeh, on 29 April 2012 - 07:10 PM, said:

I partly agree but reproduction is a factor.
What's the point of an organism surviving if it's not going to pass on it's genes?

In studying biology this is the conclusion I have come to also. I base this on living things as a whole. Many creatures live very short lives with reproduction as their one goal. Others die in the process of reproducing. I think the passing on of genes in the point of life.

[dougeaton]

HuttonEtAl, on 29 April 2012 - 09:43 PM, said:

In studying biology this is the conclusion I have come to also. I base this on living things as a whole. Many creatures live very short lives with reproduction as their one goal. Others die in the process of reproducing. I think the passing on of genes in the point of life.

There is not point to life, if evolution is just a blind process that goes forward without thought or awareness.  We just are, also to evolve does not mean that things get better, it just is.  For you to say there is a point to life would imply some sort of plan in the processes, which there  probably isn't....unless there is some underlying intelligence as many believe.  It makes no difference to anyone or anything if you reproduce or not, no point.  If we should die out tomorrow, no one would care, right?  You and your friend speak as if there is some reason behind everything, yet try to sound like your atheist.........which is it.  If your atheist, then have the courage to face reality, you and I don't matter.

Of course I could be wrong that is why I am an agnostic.

doug

[CommunitarianKevin]

dougeaton, on 29 April 2012 - 10:09 PM, said:

There is not point to life, if evolution is just a blind process that goes forward without thought or awareness.  We just are, also to evolve does not mean that things get better, it just is.  For you to say there is a point to life would imply some sort of plan in the processes, which there  probably isn't....unless there is some underlying intelligence as many believe.  It makes no difference to anyone or anything if you reproduce or not, no point.  If we should die out tomorrow, no one would care, right?  You and your friend speak as if there is some reason behind everything, yet try to sound like your atheist.........which is it.  If your atheist, then have the courage to face reality, you and I don't matter.

Of course I could be wrong that is why I am an agnostic.

doug

Doug,

Wow a lot of assumptions going on here…
First off, I perfectly understand evolution. I know it is a blind process. I never said things get better. Why do you even bring this point up? I was talking about reproduction, not random changes of alleles in a population. Of course it makes a difference if you reproduce or not. If nothing reproduced, life would not exist unless it spontaneously arises and on a very regular basis.
My friend and I speak as if there is a reason behind everything? I have mentioned ONE thing and you construe that to be everything?
How am I trying to sound like an atheist? Is it because I accept the scientific fact of evolution or because I am familiar with reproductive practices of different organisms? You need to stop being so bitter and assuming things. Before you go around calling people cowards and atheists try taking 10 seconds and clicking on their profile. If you click on my profile you will see that what I believe is right in front of your face. If you have 5 minutes try clicking on the link to my first blog post and you can learn all about me and what I study. It might benefit you to do the slightest bit of research being going around making assumptions…but I guess research isn’t really something needed by an agnostic is it? You just simply say “I don’t know…” Brilliant!

[blind pew]

Kev007, on 29 April 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:

Oh and for the record I dont blame some people that kill themselves. Life is cruel.

I agree with Kev007, we live , we die and that's it. woo hoo

Edited by blind pew, 29 April 2012 - 11:04 PM.