The Sense

[artra]

so, it was topic of quite a few threads, what do you people think, is the (or your) sense of life ?

[Iskandar]

Huh?

[artra]

Huh?

what is ?

[Iskandar]

You're not a native speaker of English, are you.

[artra]

no, where's a mistake ?!

[Iskandar]

no, where's a mistake ?!Well, I'm not sure what you mean by "the sense."

[artra]

sorry, the purpose

[Iskandar]

sorry, the purposeThat's what I thought you meant. Don't worry about it.

[DBoons Ghost]

Create a lifetime of memories and enjoy thinking about them to reflect upon the amazement of being alive.

Or

Create a collection of fantasies and enjoy thinking about them to avoid the misery of being alive.

[artra]

that actually is a very good post

[Der Übermensch]

The meaning of life is to create a meaning for ones life... (ie there is no innate meaning beyond what you make it to be)

[artra]

The meaning of life is to create a meaning for ones life... (ie there is no innate meaning beyond what you make it to be)

at the time, I'm of the same opinion as you

[-1up!-]

The meaning of life is to create a meaning for ones life... (ie there is no innate meaning beyond what you make it to be)

123.

[sexymuffin]

the meaning of life is to know the forms

[Independent_CA]

Beer...and mexican food.

[CameoRole]

the meaning of life is to know the forms

ESCAPE THE CAVE \m/


Does there have to be a meaning? Isn't the point to live?

[-1up!-]

Life in itself has no objective meaning. It's up to the individuals to define a meaning for it, or to live without one if they can bear it.

[siva_chair]

To be part of the flow of reality and to experience this movement of the Great Spirit known as God.

[Drummer300btx]

The meaning of life is to create a meaning for ones life... (ie there is no innate meaning beyond what you make it to be)

wow

[Meatplow]

Create a lifetime of memories and enjoy thinking about them to reflect upon the amazement of being alive.

Or

Create a collection of fantasies and enjoy thinking about them to avoid the misery of being alive.

I've got this idea i'm working through that without memories there is no meaning to life.... what are people's thoughts on this?

As for purpose, i am leaning towards a fairly nihilist perspective in that existance is just chance and utter chaos. Despite this there are moments in my life when so many coincedences come together at once it makes it hard for me to feel there are no laws binding this reality... it's an interesting topic and one i would like to do some proper reading about.

[lfantwister]

I've got this idea i'm working through that without memories there is no meaning to life.... what are people's thoughts on this?

Do you mean memory in general or specific memories?

[ashman]

I counter with another question;

Why do we need a meaning to exist?

[-1up!-]

I counter with another question;

Why do we need a meaning to exist?

Since when do things require a meaning to exist? :confused:

[Aaron]

I'm of the opinion that the purpose in life is in the searching for your purpose.
If you started off life with instructions, how would you develop as a person?
Good things, bad things, mundane and exciting things; they all make up who you are.

[RunAmokRampant]

I counter with another question;

Why do we need a meaning to exist?

What is meaning anyway? How do you define it?

[artra]

I counter with another question;

Why do we need a meaning to exist?

because it's natural for the human being to search for a purpose for being alive

[StreetlightRock]

Sounds like Ex Post Facto to me - defining it after the fact that is.

[CameoRole]

Why is it natural? That's an uncorroborated statement.

[artra]

Why is it natural? That's an uncorroborated statement.

do you feel like wanting to know why you live ?

[CameoRole]

That has nothing to do with it being natural ;)

I feel like knowing a lot of things that I'm sure would be classified as unnatural. The point is, there can be a plethora of reasons as to WHY we wonder about this, but dismissing it as natural is probably not the best idea.

[siva_chair]

I've got this idea i'm working through that without memories there is no meaning to life.... what are people's thoughts on this?

As for purpose, i am leaning towards a fairly nihilist perspective in that existance is just chance and utter chaos. Despite this there are moments in my life when so many coincedences come together at once it makes it hard for me to feel there are no laws binding this reality... it's an interesting topic and one i would like to do some proper reading about.

I disagree. Without memories, there is only the now, which has plenty of meaning (some may say the now is the only thing with meaning). To live in memories (that is, the past) is to ignore the ever flow of reality and life that is the now.

[sexymuffin]

I've got this idea i'm working through that without memories there is no meaning to life.... what are people's thoughts on this?

As for purpose, i am leaning towards a fairly nihilist perspective in that existance is just chance and utter chaos. Despite this there are moments in my life when so many coincedences come together at once it makes it hard for me to feel there are no laws binding this reality... it's an interesting topic and one i would like to do some proper reading about.

nihilism is for idiots and is completely impractical but have fun

[lunchforthesky]

The purpose of life is to create more life.

There is no meaning to life.

[MattyBlade]

The purpose of life is to die in battle so that we may defend valhalla with odin and the valkyries!

[dei]

There is no meaning to life.

True.

[siva_chair]

If there is no meaning to life then why haven't you killed yourself yet?

[Futue te Ipsum]

Depends on how you look at it. From an evolutionary perspective my purpose in life is to procreate and then look after my offspring.

[Der Übermensch]

If there is no meaning to life then why haven't you killed yourself yet?

Because I am an Absurd Hero?

[siva_chair]

Because I am an Absurd Hero?

Would that be meaning or purpose in of itself?

If you truely believe there is no meaning in life and are unable to find any, you should kill yourself, as you are just a burden and a waste of resources to those that do find meaning in their lives. :thumb:

Harsh, isn't it?

[dei]

If there is no meaning to life then why haven't you killed yourself yet?

I've thought about it. But I care about people and I'm curious to see where I end up years from now.

[Futue te Ipsum]

Would that be meaning or purpose in of itself?

If you truely believe there is no meaning in life and are unable to find any, you should kill yourself, as you are just a burden and a waste of resources to those that do find meaning in their lives. :thumb:

Harsh, isn't it?Well, maybe they also believe there is no purpose or meaning in death, the lives of others have no purpose or meaning so it doesn't matter if you waste their resources, etc.

Personally I believe that they're merely incapable of articulating their feelings : <

[Der Übermensch]

Would that be meaning or purpose in of itself?

If you truely believe there is no meaning in life and are unable to find any, you should kill yourself, as you are just a burden and a waste of resources to those that do find meaning in their lives. :thumb:

Harsh, isn't it?

The whole point of the absurdist hero is that he accepts the fact life has no meaning but he decides to live anyways.

Camus said that the only question in life was Suicide, because there was no meaning to life. People either realized that and killed themselves, or tried to delude themselves with false meaning. A small number though accept that fact, and decide to live anyways, but with an ironic acceptence that there is no meaning to life. They are called the absurd heros.

[lunchforthesky]

Would that be meaning or purpose in of itself?

If you truely believe there is no meaning in life and are unable to find any, you should kill yourself, as you are just a burden and a waste of resources to those that do find meaning in their lives. :thumb:

Harsh, isn't it?

Not really as one can enjoy ones life and recognise the lack of meaning. Plus man is a selfish beast its inherent.

[Lupus]

No siva there's no meaning to any of our lives.


I couldn't care less though.

[Mr. Ron]

I don't think there is a specific meaning to life, that would sort of presume there is some sort of set goal for humans to achieve.

But thats not to say that we can't make our lives meaningful.

[Reaganista]

Depends on how you look at it. From an evolutionary perspective my purpose in life is to procreate and then look after my offspring.
ya but who cares about an evolutionary perspective

[CameoRole]

The whole point of the absurdist hero is that he accepts the fact life has no meaning but he decides to live anyways.

Camus said that the only question in life was Suicide, because there was no meaning to life. People either realized that and killed themselves, or tried to delude themselves with false meaning. A small number though accept that fact, and decide to live anyways, but with an ironic acceptence that there is no meaning to life. They are called the absurd heros.

Camus, at the end of the Myth of Sisyphus, stated that the purpose of life was to live and nothing else. Seeking art, sex, and I forget the last one, were empty existences or something. But I dunno, I always found it empowering to be moved to live by life itself.

[CarnageFairy]

There is no purpose of life. We're sacks of meat on a wet rock floating in the middle of ****ing nowhere.

But why let that bring you down? Just live, do what makes you happy, and be content that just by existing you have added your own imprint to the history of the universe, however miniscule.

[Meatplow]

Do you mean memory in general or specific memories?

In general.

I disagree. Without memories, there is only the now, which has plenty of meaning (some may say the now is the only thing with meaning). To live in memories (that is, the past) is to ignore the ever flow of reality and life that is the now.

Well i didn't mean it in the context of dwelling on the past but in the memories basic function. Memories appear to support our perception of reality, for example if the present moment is but a split fragment of a second how would we piece it together if we had no ability to hold memories of the last few seconds or five minutes beforehand? It would be a single moment with nothing to reference it against to piece together a concious experience.

nihilism is for idiots and is completely impractical but have fun

I don't ascribe to the entire philosophy as i haven't researched it in depth and much of what i read about it seems like waffling on, just that one idea seems to ring stronger then any others i have heard.

[-1up!-]

Would that be meaning or purpose in of itself?

If you truely believe there is no meaning in life and are unable to find any, you should kill yourself, as you are just a burden and a waste of resources to those that do find meaning in their lives. :thumb:

Harsh, isn't it?

That's completely retarded but still predictable coming from a believer. Accepting that life has no meaning in itself in no means that
1. You aren't able to give any subjective meaning to your existence
2. You are unable to feel pleasure or positive experiences from your life
3. You should suddenly become a totally altruist individual, negate every of your own desires, and suddenly realize you're a burden of resources on those that find meaning in their life, as if their existence had more value because of that magical meaning?

Whether you find meaning or not to your life, humans are not altruist, rational entities per se, they are first and foremost always creatures of desire, and they seek to fulfill and satisfy the many desires they experience. Killing yourself because you suddenly have the genius utilitarian idea that you're in fact a waste is something which cannot satisfy any desire, hence it is a radical and marginal action. Your argument doesn't hold water.

[RIP Ian Curtis]

I think nihilism is very, very important for a short time. Tear down your bullsh'it and then come up with something else. Sustained nihilism is retarded.

[redleaf]

the title of this thread makes me lolROLFZLOLZ everytime

[RIP Ian Curtis]

Yeah man, I was hoping some bong-blasted hippie fag who grew up under powerlines was writing about ESP and I was sharpening my flame.

[siva_chair]

I've thought about it. But I care about people and I'm curious to see where I end up years from now.

Then you have created a purpose and a meaning. So there is a meaning to life, even if it is to create your own purpose.

Well, maybe they also believe there is no purpose or meaning in death, the lives of others have no purpose or meaning so it doesn't matter if you waste their resources, etc.

Personally I believe that they're merely incapable of articulating their feelings : <

They shouldn't feel bad if I kill them, then, for wasting my resources, right?

If someone feels there is no meaning to life then they shouldn't care about anything. Politics, social issues, family, friends, ect. Right?


The whole point of the absurdist hero is that he accepts the fact life has no meaning but he decides to live anyways.

I am well aware of that and the Myth of Sisyphus, ect.

Camus said that the only question in life was Suicide, because there was no meaning to life. People either realized that and killed themselves, or tried to delude themselves with false meaning. A small number though accept that fact, and decide to live anyways, but with an ironic acceptence that there is no meaning to life. They are called the absurd heros.

I am familiar with the concept, but I am asking, should those people be upset if others who have "deluded" themselves with false meaning decide to kill them for wasting their resources and whatnot?

Plus, my big problem with Nihilism is that it automatically assumes that there is no real meaning to life. I would argue that there is a purpose in man's ability to find meaning in an uncertain world. I tend to reject Camus' belief that man-made meanings should never replace an acceptance of absurdity.

Not really as one can enjoy ones life and recognise the lack of meaning. Plus man is a selfish beast its inherent.

Enjoying life implies a meaning. You wish to continue to enjoy life and in that is a means to continue to live.

I wouldn't say man is inherently selfish. He is selfish because he has been conditioned as such.


Well i didn't mean it in the context of dwelling on the past but in the memories basic function. Memories appear to support our perception of reality, for example if the present moment is but a split fragment of a second how would we piece it together if we had no ability to hold memories of the last few seconds or five minutes beforehand? It would be a single moment with nothing to reference it against to piece together a concious experience.

Why does that moment need to be captured and archived into memory to be significant. Just observe it, and let it go. That is a true freedom.

I am not saying memories are bad or aren't important, btw.

That's completely retarded but still predictable coming from a believer.

Gee golly you must have it all figured out mister!

Accepting that life has no meaning in itself in no means that
1. You aren't able to give any subjective meaning to your existence

That would be a meaning in of itself.

2. You are unable to feel pleasure or positive experiences from your life

They don't mean a thing. Persuit of those in a world where nothing matters is futile and hypocritical to a mind that believes in no meaning.

3. You should suddenly become a totally altruist individual, negate every of your own desires, and suddenly realize you're a burden of resources on those that find meaning in their life, as if their existence had more value because of that magical meaning?

No, I am just saying they shouldn't cry about the fact that people who do see them as a burden are killing them off. After all, it doesn't matter, right? It isn't wrong for them to do that really.

Whether you find meaning or not to your life, humans are not altruist, rational entities per se, they are first and foremost always creatures of desire, and they seek to fulfill and satisfy the many desires they experience.

Only because they have been conditioned as such.

Killing yourself because you suddenly have the genius utilitarian idea that you're in fact a waste is something which cannot satisfy any desire, hence it is a radical and marginal action. Your argument doesn't hold water.

So it is wrong for me to kill of Nihilists? Is that what you are saying?

[Der Übermensch]

I am familiar with the concept, but I am asking, should those people be upset if others who have "deluded" themselves with false meaning decide to kill them for wasting their resources and whatnot?


But I hope you would see the irony if the delusional people did, as it would be against the principals (ussually) associated with their delusions...
But in the big scheme of things, nothing is stopping them...

[siva_chair]

But I hope you would see the irony if the delusional people did, as it would be against the principals (ussually) associated with their delusions...
But in the big scheme of things, nothing is stopping them...

Well if my delusion stated that it was ok for me to destroy people who didn't find a meaning....

[Der Übermensch]

Well as I said, "But in the big scheme of things, nothing is stopping them..."
Just most delusions I currently know of would frown on it.

[Reaganista]

If someone feels there is no meaning to life then they shouldn't care about anything. Politics, social issues, family, friends, ect. Right?
no this doesnt follow at all

[Der Übermensch]

god... I hate agreeing with Tway :-p
But that is a complete non sequiter... Accepting there to be no innate meaning to life doesn't mean you won't necessarily continue to care about things. It just means that you accept all meaning is merely a human construct.

[Meatplow]

Why does that moment need to be captured and archived into memory to be significant. Just observe it, and let it go. That is a true freedom.

Interesting angle.

[siva_chair]

god... I hate agreeing with Tway :-p
But that is a complete non sequiter... Accepting there to be no innate meaning to life doesn't mean you won't necessarily continue to care about things. It just means that you accept all meaning is merely a human construct.

Caring about things with the knowlege of them having no meaning seems very futile to me. It's like saying "Hey I believe nothing has actual meaning, but I'm going to go on suffering and caring and whatnot about them anyhow as if it mattered."

Seems like it kind of defeats the coming to the conclusion of nothing having any meaning.

[Der Übermensch]

Well I guess you would take option one in Camus conclusion.

[Mr. Ron]

Caring about things with the knowlege of them having no meaning seems very futile to me. It's like saying "Hey I believe nothing has actual meaning, but I'm going to go on suffering and caring and whatnot about them anyhow as if it mattered."

Seems like it kind of defeats the coming to the conclusion of nothing having any meaning.
Why not?

[RIP Ian Curtis]

You find your own things to care about. The way I see it is that life has no universal meaning. Man is not unified in some kind of meaningful task. Bascially you're on your own, work your own shi't out, come up with your own purpose.

[Reaganista]

Caring about things with the knowlege of them having no meaning seems very futile to me. It's like saying "Hey I believe nothing has actual meaning, but I'm going to go on suffering and caring and whatnot about them anyhow as if it mattered."
actual it's more of a rejection of the idea that anything that isnt eternal is irrelevant

[Babble]

find your values and value them

[BridgeToSolace]

The meaning of life is to be happy. Or content I guess, since happy has a certain context.

:chug: