Someone interested in philosophy asked me this, and I decided it would be interesting to see what other people's answers would be...
What do you think your purpose in life is?
2007-05-09 14:12:52 · 11 answers · asked by Mr. Monroe 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
There are many different view points.
A personal view point that is more in a biological sense is that we exist to continue our existence. In other words, we exist to procreate and to continue the cycle of life.
In the existential view, more specifically Albert Camus' view, we exist in order to exist. We have been put on this earth for no apparent reason, a world full of suffering and without direction. A basic living hell, he argues. So why not rub it in the faces of society and mankind by continuing to live, instead of killing yourself. Like the man that was condemned by the gods to continue to push a rock up a hill, have it roll back down and then push it back up.
By proving the world that we can take all of the crap they throw at us and enjoy it, we give our lives meaning and purpose.
2007-05-09 15:36:20 · answer #1 · answered by mull it over 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To get this right before I die.
A long time ago I thought that love was something that you reserved for some special set of people that you had judged worthy of it.
After a while I got to thinking about what Jesus had said about turning the other cheek and loving our neighbor I put the two together and realized that he had made no exceptions in these statements. It became obvious to me that he intended that we exclude no one from the love that we are supposed to be giving. I started thinking about my idea of love and suddenly realized that I had not been loving anyone at all. I had simply been judging everyone and every thing.
Judging someone worthy of love is not love, it is only judgment. I actually started to cry when I realized this. I saw just how much of my life I had wasted being judgmental, thinking of myself as a Christian, when I was actually doing just the opposite of what Jesus had asked us to do.
I thought about the verse judge not lest ye be judged, and I understood it for the first time.
I realized that I have a lot of catching up to do. So many opportunities were wasted. I now try to apply the love that I have for the world in a universal way like Jesus asks us to do.
If I start to feel afraid and think that I see someone that I should not love because of something I have thought or heard I try to catch my mistake as soon as possible. I tell myself that I have forgot the truth and have fallen for the same old trick that had cost me so many opportunities to be loving in the past. The horror of this realization is often all that is necessary to bring me back to my senses and make me drop the judgmental nonsense I was thinking.
I still have a lot to learn about love, but at least I’m making progress.
Love and blessings
Your brother
don
2007-05-09 21:27:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we all have an innate gift, which many shall not share. But, those among us who do, shall impart some form of wisdom.... Those of us who utilize wisdom as a means to show others the difference by which folly was once our guide, shall impart that upon another..... therefore, there is worth.....
yet, some among us, utilize folly for our own purposes, and shall be seen in the eyes of those witnesses as fools.... by which many shall follow.
I pray I am worthy to not be forgotten. That when I am passed this place of existence, someone will remember that i have done well with my allotted time.
Your sister,
Ginger
2007-05-09 22:04:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The purpose in life, as I see it, is one of self discovery. There is nothing created which has not some meaning or function, else existance would be pointless. Therefore, ours is a journey of exploration, discovery, development, to quantify and qualify all things for the further evolution of the collective mind.
2007-05-09 21:43:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
living.
living as happily as I can.
I think what make me happy changes- and therefor my goals- but I think it's all kinda towards the same main thing- being happy, content.
Is that selfish?
maybe... though I don't think I would be happy if I only thought about my immediate needs, and I don't think only about my immediate needs and whims...
I just try to live as best as I can- that's my purpose- since I am already alive
2007-05-09 21:26:00 · answer #5 · answered by Mogli 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My purpose involves me naked in a bed with a very hot chick...and a jar of smuckers grape jelly, with a name like smuckers, it has to be good
2007-05-09 21:20:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There isn't one.
This is a question that is developed by people to alleviate emotional suffering such as hopelessness, helplessness, powerlessness and depression.
2007-05-10 01:24:14 · answer #7 · answered by guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe I have purpose. Why can't I simply exist?
2007-05-09 21:54:32 · answer #8 · answered by Michael M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fullfillment of one's nature in accord with virtue.
2007-05-09 21:29:46 · answer #9 · answered by Timaeus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truth is probably to reproduce and continue the species its in our nature to win or thrive i guess.
2007-05-09 22:18:48 · answer #10 · answered by Christin T. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋