Is the Meaning of Life irrelevant?

Question

Humanity has a universal hunger for purpose, but what (in *evolutionary* terms) is its significance?

Why does humanity need this quest for meaning?

Is it just a side effect of our awareness of our mortality?

In short: why do we ask why?

Answer 1

Many people have observed that the human mind is very good at searching for patterns. In many practical ways this activity has served us well. We observe the turn of the seasons and so can prepare for winter while food is plentiful. We have harnessed the flow of electricity and have learned to use it to do work and light our homes.

But this quest for meaning cannot be limited to mundane things like when to plant corn. Sometimes we see patterns even in things where patterns do not exist.

We love to find pictures on clouds. We have imposed a whole galaxy of pictures on the arbitrary distribution of the stars in the sky. People swear by their system for predicting the next turn of the cards or the next winner at the track. This is a quirk of human nature from the way our minds work.

We have to have meaning.

Does life have a meaning? I literally have to believe it. And I find my meaning and affirmation in achieving a better relationship between myself and my world, with people and with nature.

Maybe that is part of being human. I like to think that at some point evolution in humans began to include both physical and cultural evolution. The rate of cultural evolution is much faster than the physical, which must rely on the turn of generations. And this cultural matrix we find ourselves in dictates the way we look at all that happens to us, and provides sustenance for the whole species.

So the meaning of life as we understand it is NOT irrelevant. Far from it. On this understanding we hang all our activities, every conversation, we fight wars, and make babies, and care for the weaker members of our tribe.

The meaning of life MAKES relevance. And whether you can define your understanding in words or not, you could not live an independant existence without having some notion of it.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with looking for the meaning of life. In fact it can only be considered a good thing. Each of us has to work out why we're here, otherwise we'll be wondering through life confused and aimless. If you know that you have a talent in public speaking, for example, then use your presentation skills to deliver speeches that would inspire people. If you know you are cut out for medical research, then do what is necessary to get into the medical field and try to find a medical cure. We each have a role to play in this life, and I like knowing there is a purpose in my own life, and many people I know also feel the same. Just finding it all meaningless doesn't help you or anyone around you. It just becomes another source of misery if you remain unfulfilled because you don't know your life's purpose. Isn't there enough misery in this world without adding to it? Get busy and you won't have time to ponder such questions. I mean that in a good way, not to put you down. Any time I thought about such things when I was younger, I found I had to change gears mentally and think about something constructive so I wouldn't do my head in.

Answer 3

If we don't ask why is there still a why; does ignoring
causality undo causality. In my opinion, the meaning
of life should be self-evident as the responsive living.
Living is, and it must have meaning even if the meaning
is vague and subjective. Without meaning we wouldn't
have a reason to live. If we don't understand the meaning
then that doesn't mean we aren't alive; the meaning
is that we are alive. Therefore, the meaning of life is
only irrelevant if we don't want to be in control of our
lives. The purpose is the relevance.

Answer 4

We ask why because we have developed reason. Its significance is the proof that we have evolved into a curious and questioning species. We need to quest for meaning because otherwise, life would be pointless. It is a good thing, confusing and painful, but good. And yes, it is sort of the "side effect" of our awareness. But I wouldn't exactly say the side effect.

Answer 5

If evolution is the source of our hunger for purpose, then we are miserable slaves to a meaningless process that put that idea into our heads eons ago. And it doesn't stop there. All of our ideas about love, loyalty, courage, friendship, honesty, character, etc. are all the same, i.e. meaningless thoughts encouraged by evolution provided "feel good" brain chemicals. We are slaves to what is essentially a drug addiction. It is as difficult to look at a meaningless existence as it is to look at our own death.

OR , it could be that our Creator put that idea into our heads to point us to seek Him.

Answer 6

The meaning of life is very relevant, simply because it is human to want to know what and why we live for (hence the questions- 'Why am I alive?' ; 'What is my purpose?'; and the most relevant one- 'What is the meaning of life?'
Humanity needs meaning because, in my opinion, meaning is the most important thing in the world. Otherwise, we would walk around in circles, even though we know it is pointless.

Answer 7

QT-
Your questions are TOO HARD! lol!
I don't think there is significance. Does knowing the meaning of life affect your life? It's like religion; having a why lets people live with a little less fear. So its function is to allow you to function.
-ADD

Answer 8

we ask why to progress, to move forward. if we never asked why we would be stagnant and docile. our need for more information has led us to innovation and revolution. Change is how we learn aside from the evolution of understanding, we have a need to see what is next what can we do to make it better, faster and more efficient. Our morality has to be challenged there in creating a new and different set of morals that encompass more liberal view points.

Answer 9

We have more developed minds than other animals so we ask logical questions on what we are doing here, how did we get here, etc... It's all part of the journey of self discovery

Answer 10

Its not irrelevant, just unanswerable.We ask why because humans have an unquenchable thirst for knowing the unknown.