I ask this only to stir some real thought here. In reality our lives really are pointless, because they end. I'm not talking about describing your life's goals, and leaving your mark, type of thing. Life itself's purpose is really to serve itself until it ends. So why do we value our human lives so much?
2006-06-25 21:28:50 · 23 answers · asked by jeffrey_meyer2000 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
What else do we have.
2006-06-25 21:42:15 · answer #1 · answered by avg70 1 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Something having an ending most definitely does not make it pointless. It's just the opposite in most cases. Books have endings, they impact millions. You'll be hardpressed to find someone who'll buy an unfinished novel. Same with paintings, symphonies, plays, any work of art.
Now that's not to same that just because something has an ending, it's valuable. But life, just like anything that can be molded and changed, has such potential to be made into something beautiful, that makes everything around it better, just for it having been there at one time or another.
Human life is so valuable because it's short, because it ends. We only have a short time on this earth, what we choose to do with it makes all the difference.
Think of it this way, a speech that rambles on and on forever has no point. A good speech makes a point, and then closes.
2006-06-26 04:42:54 · answer #2 · answered by donna_irene_mohr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your question is vitiated by a negative bias that life is short and pointless--it does not have the neutrality of a scientific enquiry. Such bias distorts the view like when physicists see life as only a moment in the trajectory of a star/planet, geologists see life as a precarious interlude between ice ages, historians say that all civilisations end up in inevitable decay and nothing seems to be certain except death and defeat
But if you analyse the matter with a clinical neutrality , you will appreciate that it is like seeing a glass as half full or half empty, depending upon whether you have a positive or negative perception of lifeThe history of mankind will show you that people have achieved astonishing success within 20/30 or 40 years of life and the bibilical span of life as three score years and ten (70)is more than adequate to score all your points in life
.Go out and see how all the plants and animals are trying to ensure that they live and do not die. How even a blade of grass is trying to turn towards the sun .to live.
Life is a wonderful posession and to be alive is much better than the "alternative" ! I am happy to be alive and breathing and I tell you, dying is the "last thing" I am going to do!
2006-06-26 05:22:44 · answer #3 · answered by KNOW ALL 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This question is like asking why value anything at all becasue eventually, it comes to an end. Love, Sex, friendships, money, a meal, a journey, you name it... they all eventually have an end.
The reason that we value anything at all is that we are made in the image of God. When God made the world, he looked, saw that it was good, and therein lies the first expression of value. The goodness of creation. The giving of part of God, that became creation. Life. Love. Laughter. Art. Music. Dinner. Kids. Friends, parents... You see, we start by enjoying life before we begin to value it. You might ask the question, why do some people commit suicide? At the root of it, you will find they were unable to put a value to their life as it was as of the time they committed suicide.
You know, in marketing, we talk of the price-quality matrix which is then refered to as the value matrix. In there is an implicit statement that you give something, and you get something back. And you believe that what you got has a higher value to you than what youo gave away, or else, youo would never giveit. We give love, we get love back, we give attention, we get some back, we give our time and energy, we get paid our salaries or wages, continuous trading. Giving, receiving. Endlessly, or so we desire...
You see, in actual fact, we do not want our trading to end. Why? For one, we are enjoying it, and whoever wanted fun to end anyway??? Secondly, we do not know for sure what lies in the after-death. So why venture into the unknown world, when you can have fun here. It has been said that change is the worst malady that ever hit mankind. So, we want to avoid this change, this transition, because first because change is a difficult thing, and second, we do not know what lies after it.
This in summary, is the root of the value. The fun in the continuous trading, and the fear of what lies after this life. For we know not for sure, the value we will get when we give up this life.... Therein lies the value we place on it.
2006-06-26 05:41:55 · answer #4 · answered by SmartAlec 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well your point of pointlessness is actually pointless, as when u realise at a point that you live for others. The shortcoming is that every start has an end, but that does no mean we should not begin. Other wise in reality we are just puppets in the hands of almighty may be he created us coz, he was somewhat geting bored.....
2006-06-26 04:37:56 · answer #5 · answered by nish_9494 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The question should be 'why many value a life beyond our human life'?
People who believe in an after life more than likely don't live their lives to the fullest. They figure that what is to come after their death is far more important and better than their current lives that they only look forward to it.
The truth is that we don't know there is something after we die. I live life to the fullest and only one day at a time. That is how everyone should live.
2006-06-26 04:34:33 · answer #6 · answered by TORCH 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because life is beautiful...no matter what state you are in. Just look into those people who are diagnose with cancer or sickness that has no cure...Why do they try to survive?? and search for medicines and ways to cure them? That in itself is already an answer...life no matter how we look at it, it is still good.. Whether you are suffering from some illness or enjoying your luxurious cruise. We just try to live and make the best of what we have...that's the beauty of life.
2006-06-26 05:06:28 · answer #7 · answered by á?¦â?«â?¥flygalâ?¥â?«á?¦ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most keep this in mind, and make the best of it here. Some take it for life for granted. Some don't even think of it.
It is intrinsic of our species (as every other) to exist only to procreate and multiply, therefore perpetuating our existance. After procreation we are occupied with the survive of our children to ensure our contining existance.
All this has been consciencious forgotten as we are also pre-occupied by enviroment, trivia dilemmas and stimulation.
In other words we are pre-programmed to survive, just like every other species.
2006-06-26 04:39:45 · answer #8 · answered by jay w 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If we believe that our earthly lives are only the opening act in a glorious eternal existence, we don't consider our lives to be pointless. I'm in this category, and I look forward to my eternal life and my awesome destiny as a co-ruler of the universe.
2006-06-27 06:28:56 · answer #9 · answered by In Honor of Moja 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would rather value and make the most of my short pointless life than do nothing.
Anyway I have never thought of life as short and pointless.
Cheers...
2006-06-26 04:56:02 · answer #10 · answered by Uri 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We value our human lives so much because our purpose here on earth is to serve God, not self.
2006-06-26 04:36:05 · answer #11 · answered by newdirection 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋