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philosophical question
- Thread starter Knowledge3
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In this case, the word meaning can be understood as purpose,direction,reason,substance,value,worth and so on.
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This is a cool question, I am up for a thought exercise.
The purpose to life, in my opinion is different to every person. We make our own purpose and find our own things to care about. Think about it, if everybody had the same purpose, where would the individual be how would we be unique if everybody has the same motivation moving them forward?
In general, though, making a living and being good at your type of work is a big part of what motivates us. Being able to provide for ourselves, and keep a roof over our heads is another big part to it too. It is hard to survive, millions of people spend more money than they make.
I'll never have a credit card again, not if I can help it. I don't even use my debit card anymore. Seriously, when I get my paycheck, I put three hundred in the bank and three hundred in my wallet. And repeat for the next paycheck. So far it is working.
I feel that also trying to help people and do the right thing is a big motivating factor to why I do things, because after all, I am inherihently good and care about morals. I feel though that people are not inherihently good or bad, they're neutral, and you don't see a person for his or her true self all the time.
Humanbeings sometimes disappoint you.
The purpose to life, in my opinion is different to every person. We make our own purpose and find our own things to care about. Think about it, if everybody had the same purpose, where would the individual be how would we be unique if everybody has the same motivation moving them forward?
In general, though, making a living and being good at your type of work is a big part of what motivates us. Being able to provide for ourselves, and keep a roof over our heads is another big part to it too. It is hard to survive, millions of people spend more money than they make.
I'll never have a credit card again, not if I can help it. I don't even use my debit card anymore. Seriously, when I get my paycheck, I put three hundred in the bank and three hundred in my wallet. And repeat for the next paycheck. So far it is working.
I feel that also trying to help people and do the right thing is a big motivating factor to why I do things, because after all, I am inherihently good and care about morals. I feel though that people are not inherihently good or bad, they're neutral, and you don't see a person for his or her true self all the time.
Humanbeings sometimes disappoint you.
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In order for life to have meaning, there must be purpose. For example, the rich man advertises the rates of his bank in order to increase his wealth. His purpose in life is to gain wealth. Yet having wealth adds no real purpose to his life.
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Your question is confused. You said that meaning means the same thing as purpose, and now you're acting like the two words mean different things. So, I ask you again, what is meant by the word meaning, in the context of the original question?
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Here is the standard textbook definition of the word "meaning": http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/meaning
mean1 /min/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[meen] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, meant, mean·ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to have in mind as one's purpose or intention; intend: I meant to compliment you on your work.
2. to intend for a particular purpose, destination, etc.: They were meant for each other.
3. to intend to express or indicate: What do you mean by “liberal”?
4. to have as its sense or signification; signify: The word “freedom” means many things to many people.
5. to bring, cause, or produce as a result: This bonus means that we can take a trip to Florida.
6. to have (certain intentions) toward a person: He didn't mean you any harm.
7. to have the value of; assume the importance of: Money means everything to them. She means the world to him.
–verb (used without object)
8. to be minded or disposed; have intentions: Beware, she means ill, despite her solicitous manner.
—Idiom
9. mean well, to have good intentions; try to be kind or helpful: Her constant queries about your health must be tiresome, but I'm sure she means well.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME menen, OE mǣnan; c. G meinen, D meenen]
—Synonyms 1. contemplate. See intend. 2. destine, foreordain. 4. denote, indicate; import, imply, connote.
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Sojourner<><
Incoherent Freedom Fighter
I think just this really.
love
Yeah... love really does give life substance doesn't it?
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I'd say to take care of those in need. That's because Human Beings, more than any other creature, are somehow programed to respond to Love.
.
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You say you are a recovering philosopher, but I conclude that you would be able to grasp the meaning of my question.
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"Life" is a condition of biology.
"Meaning" is a concept within the mind signaling intentionality or tokening.
Intentionality and tokening are features of psyches, and unknown outside of psyches.
There are many instantiations of life that do not seem to possess a psyche.
Therefore, since life (in and of itself) does not necessarily require or possess psyche, life has no meaning. It's like asking what color two is. It is a nonsensical question.
Human life, simply being another instantiation of life, has no inherent meaning any more than any other life. The existence of psyches comes about through biology as well (brain is the root of mind), so it too has no inherent meaning.
But an individual psyche making a choice has meaning, in that it possesses intentionality of its own.
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Eudaimonist
I believe in life before death!
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Since all purposes are chosen by oneself, there is no "meaning of life" in some externally imposed sense. This does not mean that nothing matters, or that it doesn't matter how one lives.
So, which purposes should you choose? You should choose the ones that matter positively to your existence as a human being -- those purposes that allow you to function smoothly and effectively as a human being living a human life. You should choose to actualize your potentials in an integrated and harmonious way, and thus flourish.
There you have it.
eudaimonia,
Mark
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yet to him, that is his meaning to life and that rich man has thus answered your question. just like someone could say that serving God or fellow man is the meaning of life but if someone doesn't see life in that manner, that meaning of life has no meaning.
seems to me, the meaning of life is nothing but a personal thing...the meaning of life is going to be a different for a human being that lives 70 plus years, as compared to a human being that lives 10 or dies as an infant or in other words there is no universal meaning of life.
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Blackguard_
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.
It;s only nonsensical if you take that Materialist approach.
In Theism, a mind precedes matter and life remember, and so that mind could put a purpose on even unconcious life.
But I will agree there is no general "Meaning of Life".
People tend to over-emphasise the meaning of life anyway, I mean aren;t there more important things? Isn;t the (relative at least) meaninglessness of life why people are willing to die for things?
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