What is the meaning of Life?

Question

Looking for well-thought opinions unless someone has the real answer.

Answer 1

Your question is one that is a perennial open-question that mankind has faced since the ability to reason. If you are simply looking for people's opinions about what they think the meaning of life is, then you'll get a million different answers--and that is not very helpful. Most people's opinions about the meaning of life will not be very well thought out. The greatest minds for thousands of years have tackled this question, and the answer is still unresolved because the question itself is not the kind that admits of an unequivocally correct answer, or a single self-evident answer. So, the "real answer", as you suggest, will forever elude you. That does not mean, however, that you cannot eventually become convinced of an aswer, and with good reason. But there is a difference between having a conviction, and having a well thought out conviction. Most people, concerning this question, are quite convinced about a particular answer--and they are all too happy to inform you of theirs. but few are convinced because of well reasonsed deliberations. (Many will think they have reasoned well about their answer, when in fact they have just assumed certain commitments from which everything else follows--like religion or subjectivism and so on. No one wants to think that THEY don't reason well. But the fact of the matter is, reasoning well is not something that just comes naturally, nor is it whatever you want it to be--reasoning well is not a salad bar where you get to pick what you like, anymore than mathematics is whatever you want it to be). You should familiarize yourself with at least the history of thought on this question as found in philosophy and theology, among other sources.

If you think there is a "real answer" that could be found on Yahoo! Answers, how would you know it would be the real answer? What do you think is required of an answer to this question such that it is the "real answer" and not just some pseudo-answer?

The very question itself is problematc. Many persons have argued that the form of the question itself is circular or lacks semantic meaning, thus rendering such a question as nonsensical or incoherent. Others think it is a legitimate inquiry about value. Again, you have to reason about this and consider many veiws. But you are considering many veiws, not for plurality's sake--that is not useful, but to gain a greater frame of reference toward providing an aswer you believe is true or most likely true, or at least a plausible starting point.

So consider at least the following:

First of all you are already assuming there is meaning to be found, otherwise life itself could not have meaning you attribute to it. So, you need to examine what your reasons are for thinking there is meaning in the first place--it could be the case that there is no meaning whatsoever. And, given those reasons, is this meaning subjective (dependant upon one's beliefs and experiences) or is it objective (independant of anyones' beliefs and experiences)? Once you've hashed that out, then you can set out to determine if that meaning you think exists, applies to life itself; and if it does, whether that meaning is objective or subjective will probably point you in the right direction toward what would count as meaning in life.

Do not confuse your question "What is the meaning of life?" with the different question, "What is a meaningful life?" or "Is life meaningful?". "Meaningfulness" and "meaning" have distinctive meanings and distince categories and properties. Usually people use the word "meaningful" in a sentimental, subjective sense, like, " Everything is so meaningful with you in my life, sweety." But in your question, the word "meaning" has a metaphysical sense; that is, it means something about what there is, not about how one feels.

As I hinted at above, many thinkers have given their accounts of your question, and they all think their accounts are good ones. But the question is such that many plausible accounts can be given that are mutually exclusive from one another.

What is important for attempting to answer this question is being guided by the ideals of self-knowledge and self-control. By self-knowledge I mean that for any claim you make that counts torward your answer, you should know just what it is you are claiming and you should know the reasons on the basis of which you have made your claim. This knowledge, then, manifests itself in claims and reasons that you clearly understand. It requires you to fully understand the meaning of all salient terms and concepts employed in these claims. The notion of self-control involves claiming only what you mean, and you should claim what you mean on the basis of reasons you yourself recognize. It is a necessary condition for claiming what you mean that you have mastery over all terms, concepts and notions employed in your claims. Thus, it is a necessary condition of claiming with reasons that you be abe to answer "Why?" with respect to each claim you have made. If you cannot meet these conditions, you do not have control over your claims.

Good luck to you.

Try looking into the following as a contemporary book relevant to your question:

Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing, by Rundle.

Answer 2

If we honestly analise we will find that meaning of life is nothing. We are born, live, produce and die. In between these we perform many roles as per the dictates of nature. All that we create are nothing but rearrangement of things already there. Nothing is permanent. There is no birth or death. It is a big illusion. Only the present moment looks real. Your question is good, but can get no answer friend.

Answer 3

Your own thoughts and interpretation changes what the meaning of life is. So then you feel compelled to search nto the spiritual scientific, theological, and philosophical question. Which sometimes leads you to Darwins “origin of life” question or believing in the creation of all things by God. . Which then leads to the value of your own life. So then we ask what is the use of life? And we start over again redefining. Man will always seek this answer.

Answer 4

I don't believe anyone knows the true meaning. To me, life is a game. The way I see I'm stuck on this earth, in this life, so I might as well have fun with it. Like all games there are rules, in this case it's the rules of society. Some can be bent pretty far, some can be broken without getting caught easily, some don't have as bad consiquinces as others. To me, it's fun to see how far you can bend a rule without actually breaking it. I don't think anyone has never cheated on a game, and just like cheating on a game people try to cheat in life. Sometimes they get caught, sometimes they don't. All throughout life you have to figure out who you can trust and who you can't, you have to learn to watch your own back. To me it's fun to observe human behavior like a sientist would observe animal behavior and try to predict how they would act in a certain situation and if you trust them in certain situations. Like diving you always need to be alert and on the lookout in life. This life, I believe, is just one stage in the whole cycle of our existance. I believe that what you do and how you act in this life has a big impact on how your next stage in life will be, just as what corses you take in college lead up to what kind of career you will be a part of. I hope I have answered your question well enough. If you're intrested enough in what I have said here feel free to IM or email me and we can discous life and philosophy all you like, I enjoy talking about it for some reason, as well as learning other peoples believes/philosophys.

Answer 5

The uncertainty is the consustantial feature that makes us what we are: a mistery. If we are willing we can end up with this mistery, not the enigma overall. If we can't win or get out of the way (as ecologist Garett Hardin said) we are the ones to set up OUR RULES and play it OUR WAY. This is the ability to ***create THE reality***.
For me, the meaning is to fins trascendence, power, peace and justice.

Answer 6

Life – it has a meaning and loving purpose - you just have to find your purpose and live it.

I believe every person is here for a definite purpose. Each person is special and valuable; that refers to me, you, your family, friends, in fact everybody! There is a loving plan for each of our lives here on earth and there is no such thing as coincidence. I don't believe that anything in life happens by chance and that every aspect of our lives points to something deeper.

You need to decide now to live for God rather than for yourself. You spend your life on Earth preparing yourself (as best you can) for death. I don't see death as a scary, negative experience, but birth into a bliss filled eternal life with God. I believe that this is something you have to consciously choose or not during your life on earth.

The meaning of life is for us to discover that we are true children of an infinitely loving and merciful God, to find out what our responsibilities are to our Creator, and to fulfill those responsibilities. Each of us is called to affirm, accept and develop the talents God has given us. -

Answer 7

that other guy's answer was well said, but i think theres more than 1 meaning. learn, experience emotions and times. i believe in past lives and all so i think we live many lives learning and experiencing so much. i myself believe my soul has gone thru alot, which iz probly y im always bein said im mature. wat evr moment ur in, liv it. u might not get it again. but then again who knos? religion trys 2 simplify the meaning and how life is made, but maybe its not meant 2 be simplified. very complicated and im takin a guess. we dont remebr anything from our past lives b/c it would get in the way of new views perspectives and experiences. thats my philosophy which i made, i believe it.

Answer 8

Life means whatever you want it to. Don't ask us. Ask the person in the mirror, he knows the answer better than anyone. That's My 2½¢.

Enjoy

Uncle Mikey

Answer 9

Life is about surviving, and finding happiness.
Happiness is relative, so it depends on you to know what you need 2 be happy

Answer 10

If you want the meaning, go to the Wikipedia page.
If you want the purpose, look around you and think for yourself.