What is the meaning behind existence, in your view?

[JustHisKid]

God is a hedonist?


eudaimonia,

Mark

I don't believe God allows silly little men to define Him. God is God.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I don't believe God allows silly little men to define Him. God is God.

Neither might a dictator allow his subjects to define him, but this dictator would still be a hedonist or not.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[JustHisKid]

Neither might a dictator allow his subjects to define him, but this dictator would still be a hedonist or not.


eudaimonia,

Mark

A dictator is just a man. You cannot compare man to GOD.

 

[FullEnglishBrekkie]

God is a hedonist?


eudaimonia,

Mark

Do you mean that God took pleasure in creating us, or that he created us so that we could then do things that pleased him?

 

[ananda]

No, not everyone.

Some people understand that permanent joy is not possible -- that life has its ups and downs, and will end in death -- and what they seek is joy (or at least peace of mind) for as long as they can manage, valuing it for what it is.

eudaimonia,

Mark

.. and when joy or peace of mind is gone, do people not seek earnestly after it again?

 

[ananda]

They are doing it while existing. They obviously don´t when nothing exists.
We were discussing my statement: "Existence is a prerequisite for (there being) meaning."

A person may possess a desire to travel to location "A". When he arrives at location "A", he no longer possesses that desire.

So, perhaps in the same way, meaning requires existence, but when one arrives at non-existence, meaning has been fulfilled?

 

[ananda]

The meaing behind existence is simple. Rational attraction to being.

Ouches included.

Why is "being" so attractive?

 

[ananda]

First there was an event (as yet explained only by theory, e.g. "big bang"), that gave rise to natural consequences (expansion, cooling, chemical & physical reactions) and that eventually lead to the emergence of sentient life on this planet and I guess that's what you mean by "existence". Life forms developed a la evolution and led to the emergence of those that were able to reflect, consider and philosophise. Then "meaning" was sought and applied, and backdated to be the cause of existence rather than the result of it.

Some folk don't like to think that we are all here by accident and some don't mind that.

So, for those who think that we are here by accident, does that mean that there is no meaning?

 

[ananda]

A dictator is just a man. You cannot compare man to GOD.

If God created man in his image, then why not?

 

[bhsmte]

?

The meaning of existence is determined by each person and everyone is fully capable of doing so.

 

[bhsmte]

So, for those who think that we are here by accident, does that mean that there is no meaning?

If I won lotto, by accident, would it be that it would have no meaning to me?

 

[ananda]

The meaning of existence is determined by each person and everyone is fully capable of doing so.

that's sounds reasonable.

 

[ananda]

If I won lotto, by accident, would it be that it would have no meaning to me?

Would it have meaning behind your existence?

 

[bhsmte]

Would it have meaning behind your existence?

You mentioned the thought of existence being an accident, so I used the analogy of winning lotto by accident and still being able to apply meaning to it.

Meaning is a very personal thing, which everyone is capable of deriving on their own.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

In a sense, the 2d world would be in contact with the 3d world, in terms that they understand (slices).

But 2d world can't know that the growing and shrinking circle is a sphere. The "ever changing circle" could be from outside of 2d or maybe it exist only in 2d and is an anomaly. A shape that constantly changes size and exist in 2d only. There is no way to determine that from their pov.

 

[arensb]

So, for those who think that we are here by accident, does that mean that there is no meaning?

Well, the universe as a whole doesn't care one whit what you do with your life. Or, for that matter, whether the solar system gets vaporized by a supernova.
But that doesn't mean that your life doesn't matter to you, and to those around you. You have a chance to live, and it's up to decide how best to do that.
But asking "what is the meaning of life?" in the sense of "what should I do with my life?" is like asking "what should I major in in college?" It's something you should decide for yourself.

 

[ananda]

But 2d world can't know that the growing and shrinking circle is a sphere. The "ever changing circle" could be from outside of 2d or maybe it exist only in 2d and is an anomaly. A shape that constantly changes size and exist in 2d only. There is no way to determine that from their pov.

They would need to transcend, if possible, the limitations of their 2d physical senses to properly understand the 3d world ... and, if that could be the case, their experiences of the 3d world would not properly translate into words or concepts that other 2d occupants would understand without experiencing it for themselves.

 

[Eudaimonist]

A dictator is just a man. You cannot compare man to GOD.

Yes, I can, in that if God exists, there must be some truths about God. For instance, he's either a hedonist or he isn't.

You are making him sound like a hedonist by suggesting that he created human beings for his pleasure. Once you introduce pleasure as a motivation, you've introduced the possibility of hedonism.

I personally find pleasure an odd motivation for God to create anything. I would think that a better explanation would be that God thought that it would be "Good" to create human beings, and any pleasure he took in that would be incidental.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

.. and when joy or peace of mind is gone, do people not seek earnestly after it again?

Typically, yes. That's not the same thing as seeking permanent joy, though.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[JustHisKid]

Yes, I can, in that if God exists, there must be some truths about God. For instance, he's either a hedonist or he isn't.

You are making him sound like a hedonist by suggesting that he created human beings for his pleasure.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Well, sure you can, but it isn't a valid comparison. You are attempting to define God with a derogatory man-made term, suggesting that there is something derogatory about God. God created us for His good pleasure. That's it. He takes joy in us.. well, at least those who are in His Son.