(Untitled)

[im_no_robot]

I've decided that I need more intellectual stimulation in my life. So, this journal will temporarily become a forum where I will ask questions, and I'd like you all to feel free to respond in whatever way you'd like to them. Alright, here's the first one, and it's an easy one.

What is the meaning of life?

Comments

[hermetic]

Shit, man, don't start off small.

That said, I find that we create our own meanings. Ultimately, it's very likely that the universe is a cold and uncaring place and we certainly occupy a vanishingly small portion of it. Any joy, pain, creativity, or love we can wring out of it is precious--for, as we perceive the matter, it is the very stuff of life.

So, simply this: make whatever sense of life you can, as that is the only way for it to be lived.

Cheers.

[im_no_robot]

Good answer. I believe we make our own meanings for life. So, if that's the case, what is the purpose of life (consciousness, specifically) in the universe? I mean, if there is no *meaning* to life, then we could go about life as mindless zombies and the same result would be achieved. So, why are we conscious?

[hermetic]

In my more bloody-minded moments, my response to that is either: I don't know, or, I don't know, but what does it matter? In my more spiritually-inclined moments, I think something along the lines of, Consciousness is the universe's/God's attempt to explain itself to itself, and as such, is an ongoing project. As with most ongoing projects, it's best not to pick up the experiment and shake it very hard (although periodic tapping is, perhaps, an unavoidable temptation).

See, the thing is, I don't think that God/the Universe/life is a very nice 'person.' Acting out of love, perhaps, but with a view so long that our impressions of it can only be very short-sighted.

[chaneybear]

42!

[im_no_robot]

Wonderful. Now, what's the question?

[doctorcarbon]

Existentialism. But not bad existentialist books.

[doctorcarbon]

*cough* Mr Beckett, I'm looking at you.

[im_no_robot]

I'm not sure I understand. Is the point of life to create the theory of existentialism?

[doctorcarbon]

Nope. The meaning of life is explained by existentialist philosophy. But Mr Beckett still can't write. :)

[dontbelieveme]

maybe

the meaning of life

is to find it.
(Meaning)

Or maybe I'm really just not getting enough sleep.

[im_no_robot]

So, when you've found the meaning of life, your life can no longer have any meaning. That would mean that the trick is to always be looking for the meaning and not let yourself actually find it. Right?

[dontbelieveme]

No silly boy. That's fulfillment.