Is it ALL about the interest in the quest for "Meaning"?

Question

Is Intelligent Life all about the interest in the quest for Meaning? If so, why cannot we be happy with the zillions of our already invented (i.e. manmade) Meanings? Is it because the humanity as a whole is in search of that "Ultimate Objective Truth/Purpose" behind it all? Assuming such a state was even attainable AND comprehensible, what if it proved to be absolutely boring to our ever-playful human tastes. What then? Where else do we have to turn to next if "Heaven" proved to be just as boring a punishment as "Hell"? Will it be back to the dynamics of ignorant bliss and apparent confusion? ARE WE ULTIMATELY CREATURES OF "EVOLUTION" AND NOT "DESTINATION"? Is intelligent life all about the journey and NOT any Ultimate Meaning/Truth?

Answer 1

Aren't all "meanings" man-made? And aren't they just signposts pointing to some underlying reality? Some of which realities we can never reach? But feel the need, nevertheless, to strive toward? In some ways are we not forever lost in Plato's cave, enthralled and captivated by the shadows flickering on the wall? Victims of our own addiction to significance? So is it just shadow play that gives "meaning" to our lives? Or is there that something more, just out of reach, yet unreachable, unknowable? Likely we are driven by both origin and destination, biological inheritance and teleology or goal. The great tragedy of so many lives though is mistaking the signpost for the reality, the finger pointing at the moon for the moon itself.

Answer 2

I've been seeing a lot lately questions involving the question of an objective vs. subjective reality. I guess that is what you or anyone answering this would have to determine in starting to answer your questions: is there such a thing as an objective reality outside of man and his consciousness/understanding/perspective? Or is reality necessarily subjective, its existence based solely on its being perceived and given meaning by a sentient being (like man)?
From what I can tell, there are definite stops or demarcations in the intellectual journey, but it seems that one can only discover them when they look back (realizing that in time after a certain experience you learned x, but quite often can't pinpoint exact point in life when your newfound knowledge became yours, only when you realized you had it).
I have experienced things coming full circle, or the adage, "you sow what you reap," and find Buddhist thought particularly convincing and ideal. A philosopher who likewise came to write more/less on a tenet of Buddhism (in this instance that everything in the universe is part of God, so everything is one & is connected) in the Western tradition was Spinoza. So I guess for me there is an ultimate goal of reaching that level where you constantly feel your connection everything, that what you do does come back to you, and having peace with all of that.
The "ignorance is bliss" statement is just such a huge can of worms, and I am sorry to say I have seen nothing but life bearing the truth of that out. There is a short story in an excellent book by Sonya Taaffe called "Singing Innocence and Experience" about the Devil's School. I'd also highly recommend the story in the book titled, "Singing Innocence & Experience," though it's not quite related to your question.

Answer 3

Take your head out of the maze and you ll be amazed of the freshness of the air. Air full of thoughts air full of Meanings. Each belonging to an intelligent or to a simple mind. Make your contribution the best way you can. While you are breathing you'll realize that the Ultimate Truth is all around you and thats what makes life beautiful. It's as simple as that. Short and sweet. Such as life. Rejoice!!!

Answer 4

If you seek God with all your heart, soul, and mind, you will find Him. If you don't, you won't. That includes meaning too. God doesn't reveal or open up truth to those who have no intention to obey it. What if Heaven winds up being a boring hell. This isn't a spiritual temperament test. That is, is God an extrovert and I am an introvert... Is he more feeling oriented and I more thinking minded. Nope. Heaven exists because and is a reflection of God. Boredom is a self centered emotion no-existent in heaven because selfishness doesn't exists there. Evolution exists as a micro truth; animals are equipped by God to adapt from generation to generation but Macro evolution... the big bang? Its illogical. Designs without a designer, effects existing without cause, reactions without actions. Illogical and consequently unscientific since science uses those very concepts to discover truth.

Answer 5

the struggle in life is not for any other purpose apart from survival, in the human case you could say no one can touch us because we have become so powerful, but that's not true. the day we learn to control stars and planets, to conquer the universe, to ensure that life continues for eternity. perhaps then we can rest. the truth is that we as individuals are nothing, its humanity and life it self that's important, and every individuals is working towards that one single goal, some times without even realizing it, the goal is survival. so the truth is that we each have our own goals and ambitions but at the end of the day all these skills are required for the future survival of the race, and the human survival means the survival of other species as well.

Answer 6

More than philosophical, this is a religious question. The meaning of life would be different and dependant on belief of an afterlife or lack thereof. If you believe in an afterlife the meaning would be something to the effect of, "Life's purpose is to learn all the lessons intended to be able to exist in..." whatever form of heaven the person believes in.
If no afterlife is believed or intended then meaning of life may be more focused on a, "No day like today" sort of meaning. To use every moment, every day to it's fullest.

Answer 7

I think what matter is how are we looking. We keep on looking and searching within our own created groove therefore we can only see the limited surroundings of our little nest. We cannot break the walls of our ignorance and go outside the open field( true life).

Answer 8

thee; is that is...IS just that.leave comparisons and where are thou.? read not (where) as in location, but as in :are you bored.., with what ? are you play-full :., with what ..?Is Intelligent Life all about the interest . is; IS ;not interesting ? "MEANING" ? enjoy or-be bored is not ...? life..? a 'invention' of sorts..?? I've noted personally that "I"tend to make things 'hard' when really what's so hard??? your alive .your dead .. how hard is that .. even people that are "quote - unquote alive,:, sure can appear to be dead(to a person viewing their life) . even to the "quote ALIVE person their inner view of themselves can appear to be that of a dead person ..no , yes , perhaps i've made some sense.?. that is my intent . perception is = to all in the way you look at it. maybe the wide view holds one's attention abit , maybe ,too ;the focused view Fancy's the attention abit as well. all for now .. be blessed .. be well .. farewell

Answer 9

i think i agree with u that we are merely creatures of evolution and a small piece of long evolution chain. i think humans will eventually evolve to someone better. its just a phase. essence before existence (Sartre). There's no ultimate truth.

Cheers!!

Answer 10

We are creatures of goals, both the vaguely visualized and the concretely visualized. In other words, we want what we want and set about trying to get it with varying degrees of success.