mystery solved - purpose of life is to "survive".?

Question

basic trait found in every living being but absent in non-living things. But as humankind survives and propagate probably at the expense of other, where does it all end? Do we instinctively know the right thing to do or we will have to learn and change the course of our actions in order to extend our survival.

the purpose of suicide is to become immortal by being remembered for ones extreme actions.

Answer 1

I think history has shown that we don't instinctively know the right thing to do.

Answer 2

Allow me to start with the point with which you ended, and to work back toward your beginning.

There are a small number of suicides that aim at immortality. But it would probably be a better generalization to say that the (usual) purpose of suicide is to end the unbearable pain. Humans are complicated creatures, and we are subject to a wide variety of pains, some of them obvious and physical ... which is when we consider suicide to be "euthanasia." Some are less obvious and less physical ... such suicides may gain the deceased a reputation as a philosopher.

So even at the most basic level, organisms have goals other than and sometimes in contradiction to survival.

One of the killers at Columbine High School suposedly said to a young girl who was on her knees praying, "Do you believe in God?" When she said "yes," according to a witness, he shot her.

That story may be false or over-stated. But there isn't anything implausible about it. If the girl had known that she would die a second after saying "yes," would she have said the same thing anyway? I suspect so.

Survival might have been her goal (survival in another condition, in another world) ... but it might not have been. Simply "bearing witness" might have motivated that answer.

Or defiance. "If you're going to order me at gunpoint not to say X, then I'll say X just to show you what I think of people who issue orders at gunpoint."

Is that spirit of defiance a sufficient purpose of life?

Answer 3

You are correct. We do know instinctively what to do, but culture confuses us. Paris Hilton would likely die in a week or so in the woods or jungle, she has no clue how to survive. A 7 year old child of a primitive tribe could survive better than she can.

Where does it all end? At death. It's that simple.

Answer 4

For you that may be the answer but for many survival would be the purpose of primitive life. What if we lived life from the eternal perspective of Soul instead of from the survival perspective of ego? Would that not change the course of humanity?

Answer 5

Well at least you have found the purpose of your life. Good luck on your survival. Hope you survive and ultimately get elevated to higher stages of consciousness.

Answer 6

Suicide would dispute your contention as would the behaviour of many animals such as Lemmings. From war to day to day eating habits, humans engage in behaviour that does not support the content that "every living being" exhibits this trait.

Answer 7

Fat chance! The purpose of life is to expand the universe by our constant preferences and desires. That may or may not include survival.

Answer 8

The meaning of life is to live.

Suicide is not the answer since it is perpetual suffering and not a true escape.

Answer 9

read this book if you can, i think it'll help answer your questions.