EPTMeaning of Life - Page 4
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IcedBacon
Canada906 Posts
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Roggay
Switzerland6320 Posts
More seriously tho, I don't think there is a specific meaning of life. You just do what you think is good. | ||
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EffervescentAureola
United States410 Posts
throughout the history of the world, many billions of people have been born and have died. many billions. 90% of those people who have once existed, no one remembers their name, their face, their life. we only know about those people who have shaped the course of history, the rest is all a faceless mass of humans who have existed but have since perished, forever to be forgotten in graves or in ashes or at the bottom of the ocean why do you think solitary confinement is regarded as one of the cruelest forms of torture? because as humans we are social creatures. we wish to have an impact on others, it might be for selfish reasons like money or fame, or it might be because we want to help others and feel that feeling of accomplishment which no amount of wealth or friends can buy but, in essence, i think what most people are seeking is that feeling that, they can have an impact on the world (in some way), and that they can see people who recognize their achievements and make them feel welcome. otherwise at the end of the day we are all going to find ourselves as cosmic dust, with future generations not ever remembering any of us, unless we can something that we enjoy, all the while living and experiencing life for ourselves, authentically, turning over every unturned rock and dancing in the rain like a free bird who had been once caged. we want to live life to the fullest, enjoy our life, and also find interests, hobbies, subjects that we enjoy, people we enjoy being around, and at the end of the day to discover or invent or reinvent something that we will be known for, because we are just as afraid of regret of having never "lived life" as we are of being a part of that faceless mass of people who have long since decomposed in the soil money and friends don't matter outside of having those experiences and memories and feelings that you have tried your best, regardless of whether you think you "failed" or "succeeded". it's the journey that counts, not the destination. usually when you see a famous person or read about them on wikipedia, you see only the destination part, but the journey was just as important (if not more so) for shaping who they are. i believe it's john f kennedy who said something like, "happiness is not about having money or friends, but about feeling that you have lived up to your potential" in the end it is not death we fear, but the prospect of being forgotten. it is not failure we fear, but the prospect of mediocrity. it is not always the spotlight we seek, but we have misgivings about becoming only a grain of sand on a beach, a drop of water in the ocean. at the end of the day we want not to serve only ourselves and do what makes us happy, but also to feel the warmth of recognition from others who might share our passion and value our contributions | ||
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CajunMan
United States823 Posts
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Hemula
Russian Federation1849 Posts
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Groog
127 Posts
On August 09 2012 04:58 IcedBacon wrote: The meaning of life is to reproduce, that's what every living thing before us has strived to do. Biological Imperative != Meaning of Life As sentient beings we can chose our own meaning. | ||
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Danglars
United States12133 Posts
From the book of Ecclesiastes, the conclusion to King Solomon's search for meaning in life. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. NKJV For how to employ yourself, jobs, and the like, it's pretty normal to think you have the clue at 20 and totally change it at 25. Maybe not even find it until 30. Work hard at whatever you're in at the moment to really know if its for you, and always keep an open mind to other opportunities. | ||
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-NegativeZero-
United States2142 Posts
"What do you get if you multiply six by nine?" | ||
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xrapture
United States1644 Posts
On August 09 2012 06:22 Groog wrote: Biological Imperative != Meaning of Life As sentient beings we can chose our own meaning. Not really. Everything is set in motion. We are all being pushed down a hill and death is at the base. Any "meaning" of life is merely a delusion, which I guess is fine if that's what people need to drag themselves to their jobs in the morning. | ||
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wwJd)El_Mojjo
Sweden173 Posts
Anyways, I don't think meaning ultimately has anything to do with what you DO, but rather with who you are. I don't believe there is any kind of "true meaning" that is dependand on what we decide on our own. I think meaning simply is something you have to find, something preexistant that relates to who and what we are as human beings. Personally I am convinced that humans are created in the image of God. I believe our purpose is actually to glorify Him. In my experience, it is when we do that, only then can we find a lasting joy in life. I was inspired by this thread so I actually wrote a blog on TL.net about that just now. ^^ | ||
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FeUerFlieGe
United States1193 Posts
I think what you need to do is: balance it between doing what you want to do, and doing what you need to do. | ||
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KNICK
Germany248 Posts
All of our existences are meaningless and ultimately useless, no matter what we achieve. Any goal I set for myself has no lasting impact on the outcome of my life. One day, I will die. What comes after is none of my concern. Sure, some people will be remembered (and will work to be remembered) for a longer span than others, but eventually time will erase these memories and there will be nothing left, except some impersonal entries in a history book (or PDA or hologram database, who knows). That doesn't mean I don't enjoy being alive, though. On the contrary, I have found that if I am free of false goals and aspirations which will never amount to anything, I can appreciate life as a span of years in which I am free to have fun and do whatever I want, before going back to my natural state of non-being. That's all life is to me, sort of a metaphysical playground or theme park. My existence is an accident and nothing of value will be lost when I die. It took me a while to come to terms with this, but I'm glad I did. I would recommend checking out the works of the late Romanian philosopher Emil Cioran, who had many interesting things to say on this subject. Example quotes: "The fact that life has no meaning is a reason to live --moreover, the only one." "Is it possible that existence is our exile and nothingness our home?” “To live entirely without a goal! I have glimpsed this state, and have often attained it, without managing to remain there: I am too weak for such happiness.” | ||
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jdseemoreglass
United States3773 Posts
I see people are posting based on the thread title and not the actual OP  | ||
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Zahir
United States947 Posts
It is all up to you how to achieve that balance of security and passion that works for you. Some make tons of money in their youth and then throw it all away because they haven't found happiness. Others find spiritually fulfilling paths but struggle financially their whole lives. Some find a happy mix of good career and fun hobbies, others neither. Just keep your mind open and pick what feels right based on your needs, dreams, hopes and fears. | ||
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Svetgm
Canada76 Posts
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Steel
Japan2283 Posts
On August 09 2012 04:58 IcedBacon wrote: The meaning of life is to reproduce, that's what every living thing before us has strived to do. Yeah, but past organisms were struggling to survive in the face of their hostile environment. Now, we control our environment and by overpopulating it we are destroying it and might very well destroy ourselves. That stuff really doesn't apply anymore, and some people ought to reproduce (dedicate their life to the children of the future), while others should make life itself better. I look at parents of the working class and they have their hands full with work and the children so they are just useless when it comes to building a better world...In Quebec proof of the government being corrupt is released every other week and people just sit in front of their tv, revolted, go to bed and work the next day, rage during their break and lunch, then go home and repeat, and the same government is elected. Most of the people that have kids are beyond pathetic (I don't blame them, they have their hands full) but my point is that a better world will not be built by parents, but by dedicated individuals without families. | ||
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shabby
Norway6402 Posts
Keep at it, you might find out along the way, or you might not. The most important thing is to realize that it is never too late. If you find out what you want to do when you are 20, 30, 40 or 50, do it, you only live once. | ||
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Leth0
856 Posts
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DarkPlasmaBall
United States45762 Posts
I was not one of those people though. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to teach math. I was great at math, loved learning it and all of the puzzles and mysteries and logic it entailed, and I happened to like educating in general. As I pursued this dream of mine, my college courses reinforced this decision- and so more experience justified this as well. It wouldn't have been the end of the world if I changed my mind. However, I'm now more certain than ever that I want to stay with math education, and I have a bachelor's, master's, and am going for my PhD in math/ math education. There's absolutely nothing wrong with not knowing everything you want from your life at any one point in time. From a biological standpoint, your job is to pass on your genes... but not everyone wants to get married and have kids. I do, but I don't scold people who don't. Hell, half of my friends would suck as parents anyway (and so not having kids would probably be a better decision for them lol). The meaning of life is for you to find happiness and success before you die, but those two things are person-specific. My happiness and success are different than yours, or your parents' (remember that!), or anyone else's. And you don't need to find them right away. Just be open to new things and learn from your experiences (and mistakes), and you'll be happy and successful  | ||
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sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
On August 09 2012 03:17 Keitzer wrote: The questions stated (to which the answer is 42), is as follows: "What is the meaning to life, the universe, and everything?" You did not read that book very carefully (negativezero knows) | ||
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