The Meaning of Life? First, what is the meaning of “meaning?” (nature, Aristotle)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Intend – verb – To have in mind as something to be done or brought about; plan
The meaning of “mind?”
Mind – noun – the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.
So to have meaning, you need intent. To have intent, you need a mind. To have a mind, one who “reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges” needs to pre-exist.
Those are purely humane definitions quite far from reality. I'd not be really founding my life philosophy on them.
Everything exists in accordance with eternal order of progression. Its goal is to progress a unit of nature into a unit of intelligence and, ultimately, into consciouisness.
A human being as you know it is only a stage in this progression.
That also explains to you meaning of life. Eternal progression. Human thinking provides templates to nature for its development. Careful what you think.
Life means whatever you decide you want it to mean. It's up to you to decide what's important to you.
People who are content understand that life owes them nothing and therefore simply being alive is an opportunity.
I woke up this morning cognizant, ambulatory, not in much pain, and with things to do which I find sufficiently interesting. That is the meaning of my life. None of it is externally determined or bestowed, and if it were, that would simply be a meaningless imposition anyway.
Intend – verb – To have in mind as something to be done or brought about; plan
The meaning of “mind?”
Mind – noun – the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.
So to have meaning, you need intent. To have intent, you need a mind. To have a mind, one who “reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges” needs to pre-exist.
Who, oh Whoever, could that be?
this is made up. There does not have to be a "who" before anything.
Intend – verb – To have in mind as something to be done or brought about; plan
The meaning of “mind?”
Mind – noun – the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.
So to have meaning, you need intent. To have intent, you need a mind. To have a mind, one who “reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges” needs to pre-exist.
Frankly, this isn't a very well-constructed axiom. I recommend you examine Aristotle's writings (in particular, his treatise titled Metaphysics), and possibly Descartes, to get a better idea of your subject matter.
Specifically, proposing that a thinking being is a prerequisite of existence, we run into the classic recursive paradox of 'who is thinking of the thinking being'? By the standards set thus far, a 'thinking being' cannot possibly exist, except as a mechanism generated by a precedent such being.
Thus, for a 'thinking being' to be a prerequisite of existence necessarily requires that a 'thinking being' exist beforehand.
So to have meaning, you need intent. To have intent, you need a mind. To have a mind, one who “reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges” needs to pre-exist.
Who, oh Whoever, could that be?
Meaning, as well as every other symbol (like words) is interpreted by each person individually.
This means that each of us will consider words like God, love, good and evil in our own way, based on our own unique past experiences and learning. "The kingdom (realm/experience) of God (& everything else you experience) is within you."
The implication of this is so obvious but so significant because few get it - not even philosophers!
All we think is subjective - limited - and thus illusional.
It's all based on stories we each tell ourselves:
"I have so many reputation marks, so I'm better, or worse than..."
"I got up and exercised for a couple hours and ate healthy so I'm better than fat people."
"I have a room full of trophies, medals, awards, degrees and other honors, so my life has meaning."
"I survived a war and disease, so my life has meaning."
Even logic has limits, like when your emotions get the best of you and you act in ways that are very illogical yet reflect how you really, truly felt.
I believe the meaning of life is to be a Christian.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
