The Meaning of Life

[Received]

I never understood this phrase. All the answers I've heard just don't hold up if you're really honest with taking them seriously.

Consider "worshipping God." Ok. Well, you can only worship him for so long before this becomes fantastically boring.

Or "being a good person." What does that even mean? Moral goodness? Well, what do we do when we're not supposed to be acting morally (like when we're alone)?

"Happiness". Too vague.

The only thing that sets me on an agreeable direction is from Nietzsche: "This is my way; where is yours?" – Thus I answered those who asked me "the way." For the way—that does not exist." That is, you have to find your own set of meanings; the meaning of life is for each self to find meanings particularized for their own lives.

How does a person find their own meanings, their own ways? By becoming aware of their values -- those things that bring them happiness, pleasure, contentment. To value something is to set a marker that designates something as desirable, which when attained brings about happiness. You could arguably even break this down to a neurochemical level (what brings the most dopamine, etc.).

How do you become aware of your own values or meanings? By experiencing the world, not just thinking about it; the more you experience and think, the greater are your possibilities for finding things that really stimulate you. All force-fed dogmatism is antithetical not only to life, but the very possibilityof life, given that it stifles exploration, which makes possible values and meaning.

To say that there is one meaning to life (aside from my slippery definition of finding individual meanings) is really to say that one brain fits all selves. But precisely because we all have completely unique brains and situations, we all have unique meanings and callings.

 

[Ana the Ist]

42

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

I never understood this phrase. All the answers I've heard just don't hold up if you're really honest with taking them seriously.

Consider "worshipping God." Ok. Well, you can only worship him for so long before this becomes fantastically boring.

Or "being a good person." What does that even mean? Moral goodness? Well, what do we do when we're not supposed to be acting morally (like when we're alone)?

"Happiness". Too vague.

The only thing that sets me on an agreeable direction is from Nietzsche: "This is my way; where is yours?" – Thus I answered those who asked me "the way." For the way—that does not exist." That is, you have to find your own set of meanings; the meaning of life is for each self to find meanings particularized for their own lives.

How does a person find their own meanings, their own ways? By becoming aware of their values -- those things that bring them happiness, pleasure, contentment. To value something is to set a marker that designates something as desirable, which when attained brings about happiness. You could arguably even break this down to a neurochemical level (what brings the most dopamine, etc.).

How do you become aware of your own values or meanings? By experiencing the world, not just thinking about it; the more you experience and think, the greater are your possibilities for finding things that really stimulate you. All force-fed dogmatism is antithetical not only to life, but the very possibilityof life, given that it stifles exploration, which makes possible values and meaning.

To say that there is one meaning to life (aside from my slippery definition of finding individual meanings) is really to say that one brain fits all selves. But precisely because we all have completely unique brains and situations, we all have unique meanings and callings.

I agree that the phrase "the meaning of life" is not quite constructed logically. Because we obviously don't want to merely define the word . . . which is itself a challenge . . . we want to find a purpose for ourselves that is grounded in something that is transcendent and understandable at the same time.

So by understanding that's what we are actually trying to do, it makes our quest a little easier.

I leave the statement of the transcendent and understandable purpose as an exercise for the reader.

 

[juvenissun]

I never understood this phrase. All the answers I've heard just don't hold up if you're really honest with taking them seriously.

Consider "worshipping God." Ok. Well, you can only worship him for so long before this becomes fantastically boring.

Or "being a good person." What does that even mean? Moral goodness? Well, what do we do when we're not supposed to be acting morally (like when we're alone)?

"Happiness". Too vague.

The only thing that sets me on an agreeable direction is from Nietzsche: "This is my way; where is yours?" – Thus I answered those who asked me "the way." For the way—that does not exist." That is, you have to find your own set of meanings; the meaning of life is for each self to find meanings particularized for their own lives.

How does a person find their own meanings, their own ways? By becoming aware of their values -- those things that bring them happiness, pleasure, contentment. To value something is to set a marker that designates something as desirable, which when attained brings about happiness. You could arguably even break this down to a neurochemical level (what brings the most dopamine, etc.).

How do you become aware of your own values or meanings? By experiencing the world, not just thinking about it; the more you experience and think, the greater are your possibilities for finding things that really stimulate you. All force-fed dogmatism is antithetical not only to life, but the very possibilityof life, given that it stifles exploration, which makes possible values and meaning.

To say that there is one meaning to life (aside from my slippery definition of finding individual meanings) is really to say that one brain fits all selves. But precisely because we all have completely unique brains and situations, we all have unique meanings and callings.

First, the question should be: The meaning of Earthly life.
I guess that is what you are asking.

There is only one true meaning: Prepare yourself to have a better life in the Heaven (eternity).

All the other so-called meanings are meaningless.

 

[Strivax]

Well, I've explored quite a few meanings of life, in my time. And I'm sympathetic to the idea that we should not, on any account, obstruct seekers in their own explorations. But, for me, the meaning that found most resonance as I checked out the options was quite a simple, obvious one. And one consistent with Christianity, which, despite it's faults, has the basics in place. The thing that gives my life meaning is love, and the love of love, in all it's Godly variants.

Best wishes, Strivax.

 

[FireDragon76]

Consider "worshipping God." Ok. Well, you can only worship him for so long before this becomes fantastically boring. .

Maybe this says more about our human condition rather than about worshipping God.

Nietzsche? We are talking about someone that went stark raving mad with syphilis and was a bitter misogynist throughout his life. I'm not sure he was remotely happy at all, or even satisfied with his life. Most of his writings are rants against father-figures.

 

[Paradoxum]

I agree that the meaning of one's life is a personal thing.

I'd say 'the meaning of life' generally means asking what should focus ones' life on, what should one value, what should ones' life be about. I'd say that a moral life, trying to make the world a better place, and loving ones' family is probably the greatest meaning for one's life. But I doubt that's something I can prove.

In the end you must choose what you stand for in life.

(I can imagine that worshipping God might not be boring; I used to enjoy it. Maybe it would though after a billion years).

 

[Viren]

Well, I've explored quite a few meanings of life, in my time. And I'm sympathetic to the idea that we should not, on any account, obstruct seekers in their explorations. But, for me, the meaning that found most resonance as I checked out the options was quite a simple, obvious one. And one consistent with Christianity, which, despite it's faults, has the basics in place. The thing that gives my life meaning is love, and the love of love, in all it's Godly variants.

Best wishes, Strivax.

Agree. Now, what is love?

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

Consider "worshipping God." Ok. Well, you can only worship him for so long before this becomes fantastically boring. . . .

OK here's a weird alternate view of the hereafter.

Souls have a life of eternal bliss. They only endure this so long, and they get really, really bored.

For those who wish, they can have their memories stripped and be born on earth. Guaranteed to shock the system and relieve boredom!

After death, the soul is re-introduced to universal love and the old memories are gradually restored.

But the love is deeply appreciated! At least for a while.

If boredom recurs, the incarnation can recur.

Should make the background scenario for a modern novel.

Don't take this description as something I think is true. Its just proposed as an exercise in speculation.

 

[FireDragon76]

God is infinite and inexhaustible... how could one ever be bored by the Beatific Vision?


I know that sounds hard for modern society to wrap our head around when many people have been raised with literalistic views of heaven, or sentimental pictures of reunion of relationships (owing to the Victorians and their focus on such things), or dismiss the idea of God altogether. I'm just saying the oldest Christian views of the afterlife can hardly be qualified as "boring" except to the crudest minds bereft of a desire for beauty.

 

[PsychoSarah]

42

Only because the question wasn't specific enough

 

[Ana the Ist]

Only because the question wasn't specific enough

Haha!

I knew someone got it!

 

[Strivax]

Agree. Now, what is love?

The reason the world exists. But, if you want a definition, the best place to look is a dictionary.

Best wishes, Strivax.

 

[quatona]

I never understood this phrase. All the answers I've heard just don't hold up if you're really honest with taking them seriously.

Consider "worshipping God." Ok. Well, you can only worship him for so long before this becomes fantastically boring.

Or "being a good person." What does that even mean? Moral goodness? Well, what do we do when we're not supposed to be acting morally (like when we're alone)?

"Happiness". Too vague.

The only thing that sets me on an agreeable direction is from Nietzsche: "This is my way; where is yours?" – Thus I answered those who asked me "the way." For the way—that does not exist." That is, you have to find your own set of meanings; the meaning of life is for each self to find meanings particularized for their own lives.

How does a person find their own meanings, their own ways? By becoming aware of their values -- those things that bring them happiness, pleasure, contentment. To value something is to set a marker that designates something as desirable, which when attained brings about happiness. You could arguably even break this down to a neurochemical level (what brings the most dopamine, etc.).

How do you become aware of your own values or meanings? By experiencing the world, not just thinking about it; the more you experience and think, the greater are your possibilities for finding things that really stimulate you. All force-fed dogmatism is antithetical not only to life, but the very possibilityof life, given that it stifles exploration, which makes possible values and meaning.

To say that there is one meaning to life (aside from my slippery definition of finding individual meanings) is really to say that one brain fits all selves. But precisely because we all have completely unique brains and situations, we all have unique meanings and callings.

To me, "the meaning of life" is just another of those absurd attempts to strip a concept that is useful within a frame of reference from this very frame of reference.

Personally, I don´t even have a problem with the "meanings in my life" changing from one minute to the next.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I never understood this phrase.

I take "meaning in life" to mean "purpose in life". It suggests that there's something that we ought to be doing with our lives.

Or "being a good person." What does that even mean? Moral goodness?

I assume that it means having a good (i.e., virtuous) moral character.

Well, what do we do when we're not supposed to be acting morally (like when we're alone)?

Exercise those virtues involved with being alone.

Morality doesn't have to be exclusively interpersonal.

"Happiness". Too vague.

Sure, that may need elaboration.

The only thing that sets me on an agreeable direction is from Nietzsche: "This is my way; where is yours?" – Thus I answered those who asked me "the way." For the way—that does not exist." That is, you have to find your own set of meanings; the meaning of life is for each self to find meanings particularized for their own lives.

I wouldn't say that the meaning of life is merely to find your own meanings. To be precise, I would say that it is to pursue your own meanings, with the finding as a necessary means.

How does a person find their own meanings, their own ways? By becoming aware of their values -- those things that bring them happiness, pleasure, contentment. To value something is to set a marker that designates something as desirable, which when attained brings about happiness. You could arguably even break this down to a neurochemical level (what brings the most dopamine, etc.).

This doesn't sit perfectly well with me, because it sounds like an overly hedonistic conception of meaning. I think that pleasure and contentment can possibly be indicators of meaning, since one would presume that a proper calling in life would bring some measure of good-feelings, but I think that it is more than this.

I would look towards one's talents and the sense of attraction one may feel towards actualizing them. I would also consider the Flow (the mental absorption) one gets while engaging in those activities.

How do you become aware of your own values or meanings? By experiencing the world, not just thinking about it; the more you experience and think, the greater are your possibilities for finding things that really stimulate you.

Yes, certainly. Perhaps you've found just the right word: we should look for what "stimulates" us.

To say that there is one meaning to life (aside from my slippery definition of finding individual meanings) is really to say that one brain fits all selves. But precisely because we all have completely unique brains and situations, we all have unique meanings and callings.

Yes.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Received]

To me, "the meaning of life" is just another of those absurd attempts to strip a concept that is useful within a frame of reference from this very frame of reference.

Personally, I don´t even have a problem with the "meanings in my life" changing from one minute to the next.

Agree!

 

[Received]

I take "meaning in life" to mean "purpose in life". It suggests that there's something that we ought to be doing with our lives.

I distinguish the two slightly: meaning stands for that which would connect you with the possibilities of your future, and purpose is the telos of that chosen future.

I assume that it means having a good (i.e., virtuous) moral character.



Exercise those virtues involved with being alone.

Morality doesn't have to be exclusively interpersonal.

From a virtue ethics perspective, surely. But I think Aristotle would distinguish between ethics (as the sphere of personal becoming related to eudaimonia) and morality (as the sphere of interpersonal relations).

I wouldn't say that the meaning of life is merely to find your own meanings. To be precise, I would say that it is to pursue your own meanings, with the finding as a necessary means.

Agree. The finding means a necessary exploratory stage. So maybe we could say that the meaning of life is exploration (thinking, experiencing) related to individualized meanings and values.

This doesn't sit perfectly well with me, because it sounds like an overly hedonistic conception of meaning. I think that pleasure and contentment can possibly be indicators of meaning, since one would presume that a proper calling in life would bring some measure of good-feelings, but I think that it is more than this.

I would look towards one's talents and the sense of attraction one may feel towards actualizing them. I would also consider the Flow (the mental absorption) one gets while engaging in those activities.

I agree that there's more to the phenomenology of meaning than just good feelings. I just think that the biggest cash value of meaning lies with the feelings involved, which can be broken down to a neurochemical level. Even thinking has good feelings to it, good neurochemistry.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Personally, I think life has whatever meaning you give it. I don't agree with concepts such as fate or even purpose when it comes to such things, we have life, it exists with whatever meaning we give it.

 

[durangodawood]

THE meaning of life ???

That sounds naive.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

rational attraction to being? all else... fails?