The Hardest Question that needs No Answer...?

Question

What is the meaning of Life?

This question springs to life the quote::
"I am Unique, just like Everyone Else!"

While everyone has their own unique answer to this question (all of us wanting our own to be right), it is this question that needs no particular answer in order for it to be right.

All answers to this question, no matter how "unique" they are, are the correct AND incorrect answer to this question when perceived by anyone.

My answer (my Truth) is going to be my answer no matter what anyone else believes, as it is the same for everyone else. So, by answering this question, all one is doing is trying to convince others that they are right...

Isn't this one of the underlining causes of turmoil in this world? Why can't everyone be right, and no one be right, at the same time?

So my question to you...

When faced with a question like this (that needs No Answer), do you answer it?

Lets see how many understand...

Reply to Buzz:: Thank You! You understand! :-D

Reply to dbytz:: Then why did you answer?

Reply to bettierage:: Wasn't expecting an answer, but this answer works. ;-)

Reply to sen b:: While I have faith in God as well, this is is still an answer where the answerer is seeking to be right. And one would retort, who are you to say you are right? ;-)

Reply to James B:: Agreeance is a great answer to any unanswerable question, in my opinion, as it offers no offense to the asker. =)

Reply to R.L.J.:: Another who understands! Thank You! This reminds me of the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant. =)

Reply to Blakenwhite:: Decent enough for a Thumbs Up from me! :-)

Reply to plantasia:: Says who? Maybe I say differently? You see?

Reply to YDoncha:: Another Mind of Understanding! Kudos!~

Reply to I'm Obsolete:: While I agree with this answer, some may certainly not. But Thank You Anyways! =D

Reply to hisgloryisgreat:: Who's to say that even when all voices are speaking the same "truth" that that is absolute Truth? Who get's to make that judgement? ;-)

Reply to David:: Don't we all? ;-)

Reply to Eryn v:: A Great Answer, from a Great Mind! Thank You! =D

Reply to Kenny:: Says who? While this may be YOUR Answer (Your Truth), it certainly is not the Answer for everyone. Who are you to say that it is? To me, to subjectively try and sway another to believe this goes against the teachings of Jesus. Just some thoughts. ;-)

Reply to Donaldsan:: Haha! Peace! =D

Reply to grizzbr1:: What is Truth?. ;-)

Answer 1

In other words, "life is what you make it."

I am amazed at the number of questions I read in Y!A asking "why" certain things exist or what the "purpose" of something is, things like other galaxies or remote, uninhabited planets. The assumption is that everything has some exploitative use or it would not exist.

Here in R&S, they ask why things like "evil" exist. They even occasionally venture to ask why "we" exist. The answer is, of course, to succeed. The next question is obviously, "what is success?" Persistence, continuation, is one candidate. Can one persist indefinitely? Well, then you get into nebulous issues like the nature of time and the value of self-awareness and memory, and everyone starts disagreeing.

Speaking on a purely human level, our bodies die. Whether there is a "soul" to survive physical discorporation is a subject of endless, unverifiable debate. So "dying with the most toys" can be either a short-sighted POV or a practical response to despair. Altruism is either a fool's game or a prudent preparation for the afterlife. We simply can't prove either contention.

Self-awareness, memory and abstract thought are clearly our greatest advantages as a species. But were they "designed" into us or did they develop out of necessary adaptation to a changing environment? How reliable are these abilities? One can halucinate, develop false memories and believe impossible things. "Mental illness" transcends the germ theory of disease because it can have so many causes, mechanical, chemical, genetic, infectious, and even psychological abuse by others. It is difficult to define because its manifestation is tied to our personal identities. People can be mentally ill and not know it; the diagnosis must be made by others. And they can't always be sure they're right. Who is "ill" and who is merely eccentric? Whole sciences have developed around the ramifications of "conformity".

Evolutionary theory claims that organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive than other organisms. Commercial practices have tended to bear that out, as hospitals breed super-bacteria due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics and pesticide application breeds resistant pests. We sometimes worry that we are engineering our own extinction event.

But what ARE we? We have tiny insects in our hair follicles and billions of bacteria in our digestive system. They belong there, without them, we would be in serious trouble. Are they part of us? If I lose a limb, am I less me?

The more we study ourselves, the more we seem to conclude that our bodies are interdependent colonies of specialized cells overseen by a nervous system. Although dependent on its metabolic underpinnings, that thing that makes me a unique individual appears to reside somewhere in the brain, somewhere, but nowhere more specific than the location of an electron surrounding an atomic nucleus. Is there an organ of identity or are we an agregate of electrical impulses? What is the material connection point between soul and brain? (Philosopher-scientists once thought it was the apparently useless pineal gland, until they discovered it had a practical function.)

So blah, blah, blah. What is this "meaning" of life? "Why" are we? God solves the problem of purpose by providing an intentionality in our creation. But it's a solution without proof. Yet without God, there's just no reason at all. We somehow pulled ourselves together without a clear objective in mind. Where are we going? Where can we hope to go?

If Evolution is true, the ultimate goal is universal adaptation, the ability to deal with ANY change. Humanity is the best candidate for this, but there is still plenty of stuff that can wipe us out. Spreading ourselves around is a good idea. Makes us harder to kill. Long-distance communication is also good, so we can remotely learn from mistakes. Telepathy, maybe a group mind, would probably help us coordinate ourselves better as a species. But is it possible to develop?

And what of the individual? These ploys are designed to preserve the species but they ignore me. We believe there is something useful and creative in having more than one perspective, as inconvenient as it sometimes is to an organization. We can't all live practically on a farm in the country. There isn't room or resources. But we give up some freedoms when living in community, for the sake of efficient use of resources for the maximum benefit of the most people. There's "good" and "bad" in everything, despite what absolutists would say.

Ultimately, we can't infallibly determine the "meaning" of life. It is both enjoyable and aggravating. As you engage it, parts of it get easier and parts get harder. To stay healthy, you have to wear yourself out. Life is a collection of paradoxes. Solutions cause problems. Answers beget questions.

The choice seems to be to play or not to play, whether you think you know the rules or not. Once you get in the game, you don't think about folding it up and putting it back on the shelf. You just want it to work, like a baby bird out of the nest or a toy with a broken wire. Solve the problems before you. Get to know the people around you. Live. That is the meaning and purpose of life.

Answer 2

It needs no answer, u r right. But we can still think of possible answers. It is good to think of answers for un-answerable questions cos it works our brains.....

But i do think that this question can be answerd, the prob is just that it has such a complicated answer/sooo so many answers that it is almost impossible to say what the meaning of life is before it is over.

Personally, im not really botherd by the meaning of life. I will know at the end of my life. What is the point in knowing the meaning of my life before it has finished. Its like knowing the solution to a maths problem before u get a chance to do the working out....there would be just no point to do the working out.

So i will live my life as well as i can, and muse over the possible answers and outcomes to The Q. and if i live my life well, i will look back, at the end and think "I am happy and at peace that its done." And then i will be satisfied.

Answer 3

a million. A towel 2. Corn? You throw away the wrapping and cook dinner the interior (the corn) and then throw away the middle, it incredibly is on the interior... 3. The railing? Jeez, those are no longer hassle-free... 4. a chilly 5. A coffin 6. a bath? 7. Tiredness/relax? 8.Treading water? 9. A raincloud?

Answer 4

The answer depends on the presence on earth of absolute truth. If there is absolute truth then it's not my opinion that that truth applies to everyone. It's not an opinion that there is absolute truth if there is indeed absolute truth. The fact that there is only one voice proclaiming it is the truth when everyone else denies it, if there is absolute truth, means that that truth has a voice. The absolute truth has far beyond one voice.

Answer 5

Actually, when I am faced with a question like the one above, I do in fact respond to it - however I respond with a like sentiment of yours. I beleive that each one of us has to give meaning to our own lives. So, like you, I agree there is no real "meaning" to life - or at least no correct response to that question.

Answer 6

The meaning of life? To die and live until we do die? The only two things people really HAVE to do...everything else is optional.

I answer anything if I think the answering process will be fun. It was fun. Thanks for the good times.

Answer 7

I go the Douglas Adams route, 42.

Everyone has to find their own meaning...any definitive answer would be meaningless...

=0)

Answer 8

The Hardest Question that needs No Answer...?

What is the meaning of Life?

ANSWER!

"I think ... therefore ... I AM!"

Answer 9

OK smart a**. I won't answer your question, I'll ask my own.

You are hired to work on Jeopardy.

Tell me the answer that needs no question?

*BUZZZZ* "Wrong! Must be phrased as an answer."

Answer 10

That's not the hardest question.

The answer is, the meaning of life is to worship God that is why we where created. Whats hard to answer about that.


My answer is not my opinion but what God has told us is the purpose of our lives. If you cannot take Gods word as the truth then that's your prerogative. I simply stated fact not my opinion. Like it or lump it, does not change it.