Whats the point of living, if your not gonna be remembered?

Question

60 years into the future, no one will know your name....no one will ever know what you contibuted to society.....you will be unkown and rendered useless.

Answer 1

60 years from now, people will still remember/know about Bill Gates, George Bush, Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, etc., though each would be remembered in a different way by different people. So from that standpoint, there is a purpose to our life: live in such a way so people will remember us fondly or at least die trying :-).

Unknown or useless is kind of extreme: many of us will leave this world leaving behind some legacy, some in the forms of "being known to others" (as mentioned above), others in the physical forms of our descendants/relatives. The collective impact the "collective-we" make, I truly believe, will at least be known to someone in the future and at best not rendered useless. So in this sense, learn to live with our children is possibly the best thing that we can do.

Best wish!

Answer 2

Greatness may last a thousand years for a few and eternally for none. On the scale of earthly time, individual lives are but mere blinks of an eye. We're born, we live, we die and then you're not heard from ever again. There might be a tombstone or family tree made with your name on it, but eventually the tombstone weathers from age and who knows what media your family tree will be used. All the memories and accomplishments will be totally forgotten, unless you're a Hitler or Alexander the Great type person.

In a thousand years, your bones will be dust and no other trace of your existence will be seen, unless, of course you become fossilized for some reason, but even then, after thousands of years more, that will be disintegrated into dust. We influence the lives of our children and others, but they too will eventually die. So what's the point of living you ask?

In astronomical terms, the Earth will eventually succumb to the supernova of our Sun, it's an astonomically certainty the earth will be burned to a crisp.

So does death render our lives meaningless. If we were immortal, that would be the ultimate in boredom, repetition, day after day, of doing the same thing for thousands of years (hundreds may be OK, but nothing beyond that)....but i digress, back to your question.

Answer 3

People knowing what I've done isn't the measure of the worth of what I've done, or of me. I know what I've done.

My husband and I routinely do volunteer work. We pick situations where our contribution makes a difference, although we're rarely recognized for our efforts in any public way. Our feeling is that "a little better" beats "the same" or "a little worse."

You can either lie down and start growing mushrooms, or get up and try to leave the world a little better than you found it. It's easy to give up and let entropy have its way, but beyond being lazy, fatalism is boring.

Probably no one will know my name in 30 years, let alone 60. The number of people who know my name now isn't large. Still, I've had a lot of fun, and helped to save homeless people, homeless animals, and tutored people seeking their GED's. Have I changed the whole world? No, but I got a lot of satisfaction from helping someone get his GED and go on to college. I wasn't the only one who helped him, of course, but my contribution helped.

Of course, I'm a Christian, which gives my life some focus. My life is about enjoying the world around me, leaving it a little better, trying to become a better person, making sure the people around me feel loved and appreciated, and glorifying God.

Ripples in the pond - every person I've helped is left in a better place than I found him. Some of those people help other people (I've seen it), and it moves on from there. My husband donates blood, and there are people walking around, caring for their kids, who wouldn't be there otherwise. We own a tiny piece of whatever good those people do, and the people they help go on to do. Unknown? Probably. Rendered useless? Impossible.

Answer 4

Yeah sure, that's what kids are for, DNA. That's your legacy. The fact that you have survived in such an awful world this long is testament to that. Everyone on Earth is descended from multiple "important" historical figures, pass that DNA along to hopefully help in the future. Quit being selfish, you're mearly the DNA vessel, another vessel may put it to good use.
Cheer up and live it up!

Answer 5

You know what? I've thought this a million times... Which is why I am planning something outrageous to do before I die. I'm not sure what, just something people will remember me by.

Maybe i'll drive a plane into the white house, I'll rob 100 banks, break a guinness world record. Legal or illegal, I want my name remembered!

Answer 6

Man, that's depressing!

Hey if you can't make your mark on the world, make on mark on YOUR world.

You have your family and friends. Particularly your family and the generations that follow. I have an unusually good historical account of my ancestors. They may not have been great scientists nor world leaders or such, but they made an impact on my forefathers and even me. Their mark was made on the next generation of "Dude's".

If all else, make your future sons/daughters and/or nieces/nephews remember you. In their minds and hearts, you will live with them.

Just an idea, man.

The Dude.

Answer 7

You might want to look into therapy. The medical industry has come a long way in finding ways to resolve depression. It may be as easy as taking a pill. Then again in 60years if you are still alive there is a strong possibility that someone will indeed know your name.

Answer 8

I happen to disagree with your point of view. (Sorry) It is a privilege to experience life in the first place. You are hear to gain wisdom, taste all of life's sorrows and pleasures, and yes, contribute to society (however way you choose), influence the next generation,etc. Life's mission is not to be remembered or to have a plaque, statue, or document of your accomplishments. Give your life meaning! And to the person above ( F_C): Well said, my friend!

Answer 9

You know...I was saying almost the same thing the other day, nobody is going to remember me by saying "WOW, she had great credit!" or "D**mn that girl was a waste of time", so I guess I have to rely on the hereafter, hope I use my money wisely there, and don't P**ss anyone off.

Answer 10

unkown to whom? who cares is society won't remember? do you have family? loved ones? they are the ones that will remember you and they are the reasons why you should be trying to accomplish something. to be as shallow as you are now...maybe you should just go an cut yourself there buddy