Is the purpose of life, simplified, simply to Feel Good?

Answer 1

If you dont believe in God, or religion, or an afterlife...then YES! If you only have one life to live and no 'consequences' for not doing what is 'right' then all you can do is enjoy yourself, feel good, do what makes you feel good!

On the other hand, if you believe in something beyond this life (whatever it might be) then what you do matters. And every religion or spiritual source I know of (probably you too) does not allow a number of things that might 'feel good' because there is something more beyond 'feeling good' that counts in the long run.

Therefore, as basic as it gets, you cant do something that 'feels good' when it (1) hurts other people, or (2) is beyond the 'rules' of your beliefs (for example, premarital sex might feel good, but its a no-no NOT because it hurts the other person necessarily, but because its not what God intended). I think for the religious person the purpose is not to feel good, but to DO good, and feeling good is a nice by-product.

You dont have to be religious to think that everything in life is not propelled by hedonistic drives. I think even non-religious persons (myself included) agree that you just cant do anything and everything that feels good, because who wants to be a downer on other people's lives?

On the same token, its really a good thing that not everyone thinks that the purpose of life is to feel good...because how would that go? I personally think it would be complete chaos! Within the rules of a society you can still feel good, and maybe the purpose is to feel good without infringing on everyone else.

Its up to you to think whatever you think, and to do whatever you think....but beyond that there are always going to be laws that tell you what you cant do (even if it 'feels good').

I think its silly to say there is a grand "Purpose of Life". My personal belief is that everyone has a different purpose, which might be very specific or very general, but the challenge is to figure out your purpose.

And maybe still...there are a number of purposes to everyone's life. Nearly every day you might serve a purpose that sets "the world" (your family, friends, neighborhood, whatever) in motion. And in that case its not always about making yourself feel good, but maybe, sometimes, about making others feel good too.

Answer 2

You got it half right....it's to decrease pain and increase pleasure.....all else is lost to oblivion.

There's not one scintella of evidence of a pre-ordained plan. What makes a person stand out anyway?

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?

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.

It all boils down to how creative we can be in the short period of time we have on this earth....Our activities need to be worthwhile for their own sake, not because they fulfill some supernatural transcendental purpose....LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST DAMNIT, YOU WON'T GET A SECOND CHANCE!!!

Answer 3

Plato's Republic clearly debunks the idea that the purpose of life is to feel good. Pleasure cannot be the ultimate end in life; it can never function as the Good. One argument that puts paid to this idea has to do with the human ability to feel pleasure and pain simultaneously. Another point that suggests pleasure is not the Good is analyzing what brings pleasure to humans. Suppose that torturing others makes me feel good. How could that be life's purpose, when such behavior does not rightly balance human rights and duties?

Answer 4

I would not say that is the purpose of life but that is a by-product of living a worthwhile life I think and doing things that bring joy to yourself and others.

Answer 5

perhaps the purpose of life is simply living.

Answer 6

The answers are different as they ansewrers.
Personal Opinion:
The purpose of like is to struggle against misery!

Answer 7

i have requested myself that a million circumstances. i have requested that becaue I have needed so a lot more advantageous out of existence and have not gotten it. i do no longer trust now that there's a purpose to existence except to easily stay, and take convenience in doing the acceptable you could, what ever it truly is. there's a deep and passionate feeling in searching deep into existence and wondering about it, hoping that there is a few thing hidden so that you could discover. i truly do not imagine there is, because if there have been, then those who love the non-public and care the most ought to in some magical way be rewarded. There no longer. I honestlly trust that there is not any intending to existence, it truly is merely the following. Time has lengthy previous on continually, there is an eternity behind us, and an eternity in the front individuals, why is it so confusing to trust that merely per chance it really is all random danger. given sufficient time, some thing is available... actually. So what's inaccurate then, with merely residing on a on a daily basis foundation the acceptable you could, and hunting for as a lot happiness as you could. what's inaccurate with eccepting the actual undeniable reality that we are only born, we stay, and we die, and inbetween is what concerns. solid luck, and that i'm hoping in some small way this answer facilitates.

Answer 8

No it's to find a god that other people have invented and worship it. The only danger is that the real god will think you're wasting his gift by worshipping a God that was made up by other people.

It's a catch 22, and I think that's the point.

Answer 9

Depends how you go about it. If heroin feels good to an addict, is that a good quality of life? I just try to take it day by day, do my best, learn from my mistakes and hope it will all be ok. :)

Answer 10

No,

the purpose of life is to know God, to love God, and to serve God in this life so that we will be with him forever in the next. That is why we were created that is why we are here.