The Purpose of Life

[Microcosm]

What is the Purpose of Life?

First, I suggest you take a look at this video that I found. It gives a pretty convincing argument on what our purpose is based on the thought of Aristotle:
Philosophy: Aristotle on the Purpose of Life (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQk6t-9mQjE)

Aristotle concluded that the purpose of our life is to think rationally and to use language and interact with each other. It's a pretty valid argument in my opinion.

Maybe it'd be a good idea to apply this logic to the average person in our modern world. What kinds of things should we direct our attention to and think logically about? What is considered to be important and worthy of our thought? Politics? Religion? Is the purpose of our lives to learn to travel the universe and make communion with alien species? Is it to worship God or gods? Discuss what you believe to be the purpose of life, why you believe it, and more in this thread.

[tasminsmith]

I don't believe that we have a certain "purpose" except to simply live and be successful but I strongly disagree with the thoughts that animals are lower down than humans animals use language dolphins have a specific call for each dolphin what we do our selves it's a "name". most animals can reason my dog will consider whether a good run is worth going out in the rain although he may just think which is worst it's still reasoning even in it's most basic form and animals can form freindships and love so were on the same level as an animal if you think about k.p.c.o.f.g.s then although we're "homo-sapiens" dogs, whales and humans are all in the same basic group so we are on the same level. and I believe the purpose is to have fun so yea

[Kacey]

Our purpose in life is to question what our purpose is, rather than make our own... Or so it seems

[Microcosm]

I don't believe that we have a certain "purpose" except to simply live and be successful but I strongly disagree with the thoughts that animals are lower down than humans animals use language dolphins have a specific call for each dolphin what we do our selves it's a "name". most animals can reason my dog will consider whether a good run is worth going out in the rain although he may just think which is worst it's still reasoning even in it's most basic form and animals can form freindships and love so were on the same level as an animal if you think about k.p.c.o.f.g.s then although we're "homo-sapiens" dogs, whales and humans are all in the same basic group so we are on the same level. and I believe the purpose is to have fun so yea

Animals, though they should be treated with respect no doubt, may not be on the same level as humans. What I mean by that is that animals do have reason enough to make certain decisions like whether a dog wants to go on a walk or not, BUT they do not have the reasonable capability to ponder their purpose in life like humans have. Therefore, we are mentally above animals in that sense. The purpose being to have fun is pretty interesting too. Recently I've been reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius(you should read it if you get the time). That book might make you change your mind on that. He argues that our purpose for being alive is communion, or to come together as humanity as a whole to accomplish things. He says that having fun is only temporary, and in the perspective of the bigger picture, it is worthless. His reasoning for this is that, after we die, we will simply be forgotten if we just live to have fun. Our existence will have meant no more than an ant getting stepped on. Since the nature of the universe is constant change, we too will fall behind into nothingness when we die unless we work towards some common good rather than just living to have fun.

[tasminsmith]

Animals, though they should be treated with respect no doubt, may not be on the same level as humans. What I mean by that is that animals do have reason enough to make certain decisions like whether a dog wants to go on a walk or not, BUT they do not have the reasonable capability to ponder their purpose in life like humans have. Therefore, we are mentally above animals in that sense. The purpose being to have fun is pretty interesting too. Recently I've been reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius(you should read it if you get the time). That book might make you change your mind on that. He argues that our purpose for being alive is communion, or to come together as humanity as a whole to accomplish things. He says that having fun is only temporary, and in the perspective of the bigger picture, it is worthless. His reasoning for this is that, after we die, we will simply be forgotten if we just live to have fun. Our existence will have meant no more than an ant getting stepped on. Since the nature of the universe is constant change, we too will fall behind into nothingness when we die unless we work towards some common good rather than just living to have fun.
that in time would also be forgotten in a few million years and we get wiped out that will be meaningless so if you look at it like that then in a sense everything is meaningless, so just do something that makes you happy because in the end your the only one that means anything to yourself

[Microcosm]

that in time would also be forgotten in a few million years and we get wiped out that will be meaningless so if you look at it like that then in a sense everything is meaningless, so just do something that makes you happy because in the end your the only one that means anything to yourself

It's just scientific theory that we will eventually be destroyed altogether. Also, perhaps with advancement of our technology, we can prevent the end of the world(or at least delay it somehow). I think that Aristotle was on to something by saying that we live to reason. Isn't it best to spend a lot of your time learning rather than just simply passing time? Maybe it's better to make learning enjoyable. So that, while enjoying it, we learn and advance as a civilization.

[amgb]

Here, we have the defining question of - what is the purpose of life? Since quite a young age I've always been pondering over this question and thinking about the meaning and purpose of my life, of life itself. I don't believe there is a wrong or right answer to this. We were all born into this world for a reason, we are all destined to walk each of our own unique and colourful journeys in life. In the individual sense, I believe that we live life to experience, connect, create, discover and make a difference in the world. Looking at it as a bigger picture, I believe that all human beings live life in the purpose of striving to improve and keeping the survival of mankind. If we don't live, we'll die out. I don't know if we will for sure but I think we'll die out someday. That's why the purpose of life is not only to exist and survive, but to bring at least a little more goodness into the world to push forth the years infront of us so the lives ahead can live in more peace and happiness and we can remain here for a little longer before it all ends.

[Cpt_Cutter]

Purpose infers creation, and creation infers a creator, which as an atheist I don't believe in. Life evolved. It doesn't have a purpose, in my opinion atleast.

[JamesSuperBoy]

One purpose may be to seek the truth - make up our own minds. Aristotle world was very different from our own.

[Mothership]

I think it's interesting that we have cognitively evolved enough to be able to ask ourselves that question.

Personally, I don't believe that there is some kind of predetermined destiny for anyone or anything. Everything happens for a reason, but not some spiritual and deep reason, for example: Little Timmy didn't survive his leukemia because almighty God said that he'd be alright, so he was. Little Timmy had to go through intense radiation therapy and chemotherapy as well as other experimental remedies to try and cure his illness, and it worked. He survived his cancer because of modern medicine, not because he was predestined to live. If he never would have gotten treatment, he more than likely would have died.

The point I'm going with that is that there really isn't a purpose of life from the point of view that a lot of people want to look at it. Purpose is something you create yourself, it's a personal thing.

[mrmee]

Depends on the life. Personally, I'm not here for a long time. I'm here for a good time.

Others may think progress for future generations is our purpose.

Or maybe it's like the op said is to interact with each other, which is not likely in my opinion.

[Miserabilia]

There can't really be one purpose to life unless someone made life with a purpose, in which case that would be (a) god, in which case the purpose of life would be to fulfill the purpose that creator had given.

If you don't beleive in (a) god, make up your own purpose.
Atleast, that's what seems logical to me.

[JamesSuperBoy]

There can't really be one purpose to life unless someone made life with a purpose, in which case that would be (a) god, in which case the purpose of life would be to fulfill the purpose that creator had given.

If you don't beleive in (a) god, make up your own purpose.
Atleast, that's what seems logical to me.


seems good to me. I like that of course there must be many purposes to life but I cannot see that aristotle was meaning an individual.

[DylanDanger]

I think goal in life should be to live life to the fullest, do something you love and treat others well. atleast thats my purpose lol

[Xander_]

There is no purpose. You and I are just a well-coordinated series of chemical reactions and electrical signals. Happiness, pleasure, etc are all simply chemical processes in your brain. They don't actually mean anything. A person getting off or laughing doesn't actually add anything to the world around us. Nothing has value.

You and I will both die. Everyone we've ever had any positive impact on will die. Suppose you make a contribution to society and your legacy lasts for centuries. Eventually the sun will expand to the point where life is unsustainable and everyone will die. Then it will violently erase any evidence that we ever existed. Suppose we travel to other solar systems and survive any solar related ending. Eventually we will either destroy ourselves or every star in the entire universe will do the same thing our sun will do. In the end there will be nothing left, so what's the point?

[Screw Attack]

There is no purpose. You and I are just a well-coordinated series of chemical reactions and electrical signals. Happiness, pleasure, etc are all simply chemical processes in your brain. They don't actually mean anything. A person getting off or laughing doesn't actually add anything to the world around us. Nothing has value.


I know that sounds depressing but I agree too. People's traits, their success etc are all relative. But I think we have to do what we think is right or what will suit us. No matter how meaningless life is, it's something we have. We might as well do things that give us pleasure. Also, because of our families and friends that care for us, we have some level of moral responsibility, which gives us something of a purpose I'd say

Life's scary when you look at the big picture. But on a individual level, it's okay.

[Seth Green]

The purpose of life is to survive and keep your species alive. I'm not trying to be sarcastic that's just scientifically the only thing that could be considered a "purpose".

[Arkansasguy]

What is the Purpose of Life?

First, I suggest you take a look at this video that I found. It gives a pretty convincing argument on what our purpose is based on the thought of Aristotle:
Philosophy: Aristotle on the Purpose of Life (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQk6t-9mQjE)

Aristotle concluded that the purpose of our life is to think rationally and to use language and interact with each other. It's a pretty valid argument in my opinion.

Maybe it'd be a good idea to apply this logic to the average person in our modern world. What kinds of things should we direct our attention to and think logically about? What is considered to be important and worthy of our thought? Politics? Religion? Is the purpose of our lives to learn to travel the universe and make communion with alien species? Is it to worship God or gods? Discuss what you believe to be the purpose of life, why you believe it, and more in this thread.

The question is discombobulating.

The purpose of being alive is not a sensible question to ask. What does it mean?

The purpose of a human being, which is what I think you meant, is communion with ultimate being (God).

You see, all things tend to imitate the divine, thus everything (including humans) tends to reproduce after it's own kind, and thus live on in a way by doing so.

With human beings, while our bodies are naturally subject to decay, and so physically we tend to immortality by the same method as animals, our souls, which are the principles of our bodies, are by nature immortal, thus the perfection of human intellect, which is philosophical contemplation, is the highest human good, and is fulfilled by direct intellection of divine being.

Strictly speaking, the highest good of man is therefore to know God directly, and the will follows the intellect, so Heavenly worship proceeds from this.

This of course refers to the eschaton, but it is mimicked in this life.

[Babs]

If there is a set purpose of life, I don't think we will know what it is for sure.
Personally, I think the purpose of life is different for each individual. Not something predetermined, but something to figure out for yourself.

[Vlerchan]

The purpose of life is to overcome nihilism and create meaning, despite how futile that might seem.

Because what's life without meaning?