What is the point to life?

Atrocities · #1 October 6th, 2003, 05:34 AM

Think about this for a second. We are born with the knowledge that we are going to die, so I ask you to consider why we are even given life in the first place. Doesn't it seem like a cruel thing to do, give something life with the knowledge that its life will ultimately mean nothing because it will die?

Why live if you know that the end result is just going to be death. Its like playing this great video game even though you KNOW your going to loose. That in the end everything meant nothing because you can't take it with you.

What good are memories of good times, and bad, if life after death is nothingness where concience thought does not exsist?

Think about this, do you remember the time before you were born? If not, then how do you expect to remember the you were live after you have died?

Our lives are meaningless in the end, and the journey there is made even more terrorfying because we know what will happen.

What is the purpose to life if death is the end result?

[ October 06, 2003, 04:37: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Hotfoot · #2 October 6th, 2003, 05:50 AM

You don't lose at life, it just ends, like any video game ends.

Yes, everything comes to an end eventually, and while it might seem meaningless, it's only got the meaning you give it. If you feel it's meaningless, it will be. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Why are we here? To live, to exist, to continue. Those are our basic instincts, it's how we managed to survive evolution. Beyond that, it's our decision. That's the burden of sentience. So you have to decide if you want to make your life worth something or not.

I look at it like this. We have survived, as a civilization, for thousands of years. We strive ever forward, attempting to make our lives better, to improve things, and to learn. If I can leave behind a legacy for future generations, if I can do even the smallest something to help further that goal along, my life is worth something. If I were to die tomorrow, I'd know that I've had some impact on the world, however small it may have been.

You live for yourself, to enjoy life as much as you can. Life's too short to endlessly wallow in the bad things that happen or in despair. Contribute your skills and talents to make the world a better place, and learn. Never stop learning, and never stop teaching.

PvK · #3 October 6th, 2003, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:
...
Doesn't it seem like a cruel thing to do, give something life with the knowledge that its life will ultimately mean nothing because it will die?
...

Idea 1: Maybe for people who only care about themselves?

Idea 2: Maybe the point is to have a good time. "Live" it up.

Idea 3: Why would something have to exist forever in order to have any meaning?

PvK

[ October 06, 2003, 05:01: Message edited by: PvK ]

Jack Simth · #4 October 6th, 2003, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Think about this for a second. We are born with the knowledge that we are going to die,

Are you so certain of that? Do two-year-olds act like they know they are going to die? Do you remember knowing you were going to die when you were two? Or one? Or six weeks? If not, how are you certain people are born with the knoweledge, rather than aquiring it at some later date?

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:
so I ask you to consider why we are even given life in the first place. Doesn't it seem like a cruel thing to do, give something life with the knowledge that its life will ultimately mean nothing because it will die?

Interesting; you seem to be operating under an assumption: X Eventually dies -> X is ultimately meaningless. I don't recognize that transition as valid. Do you have support for it?

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:

Why live if you know that the end result is just going to be death. Its like playing this great video game even though you KNOW your going to loose. That in the end everything meant nothing because you can't take it with you.

What good are memories of good times, and bad, if life after death is nothingness where concience thought does not exsist?

Think about this, do you remember the time before you were born? If not, then how do you expect to remember the you were live after you have died?

How do you expect anything you haven't done/seen done before will come out the way you expect? You trust the accounts of others, or rely on your own reasoning. If there is an account you trust that says there is something beyond the grave, then you don't need to worry about nothingness following, and can reasonably expect to remember you were alive. If you don't have such a trusted source, well, stinks to be you.

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:

Our lives are meaningless in the end, and the journey there is made even more terrorfying because we know what will happen.

Just because something has ended does not mean that it was meaningless.

Likewise, how can you be so certain that there isn't anything after death?

Even if there isn't, why should a certainty be terrifying? There is no reason to be afraid of something that is totally certain; the fear will help you not one whit (pretty much by definition of that scenario). Fear is better saved for things you can do something about; if you can't, fearing it is quite pointless, and you efforts can be more enjoyably spent elsewhere.

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:
What is the purpose to life if death is the end result?

Death's a transition, not an end. The condition is not met, so the consequent is immaterial.

I'm in an odd mood today....

Ran-Taro · #5 October 6th, 2003, 06:28 AM

"Everything that has a beggining, has an end"

Sorry to quote a movie trailer, but it's a meaningful truism for me.

Or, another way to think about it - does a raindrop only have meaning while it is falling?

Or does it return to being part of a greater meaning when absorbed back into the earth?

For a fleeting moment it seems to have the freedom of it's own form, but really it is always a part of greater whole. We too are like this.

You can accept the reality of the illusion, or you can despair and waste it.

I believe joy has meaning, even though it ends.

Instar · #6 October 6th, 2003, 06:45 AM

Biologically, it is to reproduce and then increase your offspring's chances of success at mating. Some species do the rabbit approach (make a zillion babies, some will survive maybe) or the human was of doing things is to have few children and spend large amounts of energy on them to increase their odds.
Spiritually, I suppose the point of life is to attune yourself to whatever religion/beliefset or whatever.
Me though, I am here to take over the world.