What do you think of my "Meaning of Life Theory" (ML Theory)?

Question

I figure it is all about six Virtues:

1.) Good family
2.) Good friends
3.) Good memories
4.) Strong purpose/goal
5.) Lover/husband/wife
6.) Religion/spirituality

So say you are missing family and friends in you life, then the remaining four Virtues must become more imporatant to fill the "void" (think of a pie chart with missing pieces - it doesn't matter which other Virtues become more important). Or, if you are a religous person, and you are missing five of the other Virtues, then it must be a huge thing in you life to fill the "void".

If a Virtue is missing or is lacking (and is desired), then this accounts for why we feel "empty" or "lost" at certain times in our lives. *Not every Virtue is for everybody; however, if you don't want it, then it is crucial for other Virtues to take it's place.*

Are there any Virtues missing? Is my theory too overly simplistic?

*It should also be noted that you must never cause suffering to others.*

I would like to include the following details:

1.) YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RELIGOUS TO BE HAPPY
2.) I AM TALKING ABOUT A UNIVERSAL MEANING OF LIFE, FOR ALL PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD - RELIGOUS AND SECULAR

As I wrote in my theory, if religion is most important for you, then you can completely disregard the other five Virtues if need be.

Again, think of my theory like a pie chart with 6 slices - if one slice is missing, then other ones must increase to fill the "void" (i.e. - your empahsis on friends could increase by 5%, your interest in your purpose by 10%, etc.)

I believe that if one were to live their life by my ML Theory, honestly, then we'd be quite happy. It's a matter of constantly questioning yourself, "Am I living it right? Is this what's really important to me?".

*I particularly liked Rabidbunny and Raunldldw's responses - they contain the sentiment that I too believe: There is no "meaning", per se, to the life.*

If you travel around the world and meet a host of different peoples in different economic stratums and social, you'll realize it's quite different for everybody across the board: Some love being around others, for some it's all about family, for others it's religion and nothing else, etc. Some of the happiest people I've met live in the poorest countries in basic thatch huts... And they're happier than a vast number of Americans or Britains I've met. The reason? Good family, good friends, good goals (i.e. - helping others, the community, etc.)...

At the end of the day, it's just about being happy and knowing you lived a happy life. But how to ensure it? My ML Theory... uh, hopefully.

Answer 1

"1.) Good family
2.) Good friends"

People disappoint. People die. There's nothing we can do about that. It will happen, no matter what. These things cannot make people permanently happy.

"3.) Good memories"
Often times, maybe always it is arguable, we don't have control over what we experience, and therefore, we don't have control over what memories we possess. And what does a person do with good memories? I think mostly we just pine for those experiences, and want to experience them again, which causes suffering, because it is impossible to relive the past.

"4.) Strong purpose/goal"
What purpose can possibly be achieved that will create lasting and permanent happiness? And what kind of permanent satisfaction can be achieved in striving for a goal? Once we have accomplished something, it ceases to be meaningful. The rewards may be present, but those also fail to bring permanent fulfillment.

"5.) Lover/husband/wife"
The same problem as numbers one and two. People: you can't live with them, and all of them die, leave, or hurt you.

"6.) Religion/spirituality"
Few people are able to derive real meaning and happiness from religion. It may be helpful, or it may be a hindrance, depending on what kind of person you are.

Your theory is good, I just think it's more a theory of pleasure than of meaning. The things that you have on your list do bring pleasure, but I don't see how they bring meaning. Meaning is a sensible order, a rationale, a purpose, a reason. These things bring pleasure, but not meaning, other than what a person creates themselves. If you were able to do that, you'd be Nietzsche's superman.

And as far as being a workable plan, there are conditions in which a person would be lacking in all these areas, and be unable to attain any of them.

There's one thing missing: where's money on this list? There is absolutely no denying that money does bring happiness. Having money brings pleasant feelings of security and power. Purchasing things brings the pleasure of acquisition. The things you purchase bring many different kinds of pleasure.

Answer 2

Hello The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do Our first and last love is.. self-love The two mistakes that shouldn’t be done in life.. **Don’t regret for the past.. so forget what has happened bad… ** Don’t fear for the future… so face challenges in the upcoming year…. If you find the whole world against u and u r alone on one side Do not panic just TURN BACK and u will become the LEADER of the Whole world! We are born to live Not living because we are born. So live life to the fullest…. Live as if u’ll die today.” What goes around comes around. Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. THESE ARE SOME WORDINGS ABOUT LIFE ............ MAY BE IT CAN DEFINE WHAT IS LIFE or MEANING OF LIFE.....

Answer 3

I suppose you can write a book about "The Meaning of Life Theory". I'd read it. It is a rather interesting topic. You might also discover more about yourself if you write that book. However, I somehow agree with rabidbunny. I also believe that there probably isn't any meaning in life. It is only a matter of living a happy life. We live to die happy maybe. Also, don't let those who claim that the afterlife is more important get to you. They are just people who are too afraid to live, and too afraid to die. They're afraid that death means the end of everything, they want their lives to be ethernal. I can't prove that there is no heaven, but I can't prove that there is one either. So, I'd live my life before I die. Before it all ends. I'd be a happy man everyday, treat my friends and family well, love my lover; create as much good memories as I can so that I can remember them before I die, and not feel resentful for not having enough good memories, have a purpose in life, like helping the hungry children in Africa. In the end, right before I die. I'd know that my life was good, that I lived the life I wanted to live. If we change the life of others for the better, then they would see you as someone precious, someone of meaning to them. Perhaps that's the meaning in life?

Answer 4

look at it this way.
you live your life trying to fill these voids-- friends, family, religion, career success, etc.

but when the day comes and you finally die, what purpose does it serve? if you've spent your whole life trying to do nothing but make money, spend time with family, and make friends (not saying these are bad), do you think it'll matter? i'll tell you first off, right now that i am a christian. so if you think that this is just gonna be a worthless buttload of nothing, then, by all means, stop reading now. but if you want me honest, personal opinion, then i say get past the things that won't matter when you're dead. there's something to say for living a good life, and making money, friends, and having a great, healthy family; but i'd rather have that, and go to heaven to live with Jesus, than go to hell.

i just felt like saying that. i'm not sure what religion you belong to, but i'll tell you, there's a secure feeling you get when you know where you're gonna spend eternity. it's really a blessed feeling.

Answer 5

I think its good theory. my thoughts are though that perhaps some pieces of the pie are bigger or more important, such as having a purpose or a faith are certainly more important than friends (I think) I also think that having a faith is very similar to having a purpose (as a Christian I belive this cos I belive that God put me here and now for a specific purpose so you can see how those two overlap for me).

Also, it does raise interesting questions cos what about people who never get married? are you suggesting they can never be 100% satisfied? I dont know, maybe not.

This is very interesting cos I've been thinking a lot about this recently and have come to pretty much the same conclusion.

Answer 6

I don't agree.

The whole purpose of life is to discover your true self ... to awaken the soul and find your way back to your home. Much like a person who has an accident and suffers amnesia. We have no idea who we are or from whence we came. We are here on Earth to serve that purpose, and that purpose alone. The good family, good friends, good memories, purposes and goals, relationships (they're all karmic) are all simply a consequence of good (or bad) karma which we must experience on our journey to discovering our identity. Our only emptiness and yearning is separation anxiety. Separation from God and the only true love we've ever known.

Answer 7

That's true. The king james bible is the only bible with God's seal on it for the english speaking people of today. He promised to preserve his word and he did. The newer, modern versions have shown up in the last century and a half because the end is near and Satan knows his time is short. But God has raised up pastors after his own heart in these the last days. To know the meaning of life find out what God is saying about these days that we're living in today, the end time days. God has given us true preachers of the truth who use the king james bible to show us the way.

Answer 8

You're obviously a kind and thoughtful person. The fact that you came up with a theory says that you struggle with the meaning of life. You won't find it through philosophy though. Life is a gift from God and in order to understand life you have to go to him. The bible says he who comes to God must know that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, and that without faith it is impossible to please God. A key point here is that these thoughts or whatever you want to call them come from the bible. If you desire to know God you should read the King James Bible. It's written in a form of English no longer spoken but the Spirit of God still speaks to you through it. That's why there are so many other versions because the devil doesn't want God talking to people.

Answer 9

42

Answer 10

Way too simplistic. Life really has no meaning, beyond survival.

Everything else is individual taste.