Can the meaning of life be discovered by asking what it is?

Question

The question "What is the meaning of life" is repeated over and over on this site, but can the meaning of life be discovered by simply asking what it is? How does one discover the answer? Could, or indeed can there be only one right answer?

(And yeah, I know it's 42, but still... :)

I would like to point out that I, in fact, am not asking what is the meaning of life. This is proving to be as interesting as I hoped/feared it would :)

heroinxslut: Got you! ;)

Answer 1

Many, upon asking themselves, answer this most important of questions with an inspirational statement or two that has applied to their own good and bad experiences in life. While many of these sayings like "be happy", "try your hardest", "never be discouraged" and so forth are ways to help make life more meaningful, they will still leave the question of life nagging indefinitely. As many words as one can say will never bring closure to the question, for the answer is not a logical conclusion that one can share with others.

The "answer" to the meaning of life can only be found within oneself, appearing through the experience of realizing the connection of the core of what makes your being with that of the universe. If you truly want to reach this understanding, you must be willing to disregard all that has come between the pure essence of your existence and the person you have become to function in the world. The door to this journey has been left closed by many more than have opened it, for the idea of making changes and seeing the world in new ways is frightening for those who have made themselves comfortable in their place. When these people are asked your question they will give you a quick and unsatisfying answer.

Try to isolate the feeling that led you to ask your question in the first place and discover where it came from. Only you can find your own way to the one answer.

Answer 2

Ah, this question can be quite annoying. I think the question has no answer; that is, there isn't any really universal or cosmological answer. Rather than this being mere opinion, I believe it has to be fact, simply because everyone will take the meaning of life to be different for his or her own self. (And not just merely living however the hell they want, mind you.) But everyone's values are different, and not everyone is shirked by the idea of there being "nothing" when we die.

For the most part, I think it suffices to say that the meaning of life is just to enjoy it, plain and simple. Religion can't be of use here (IMO) only because even this we can't be certain of, no matter how appealing it sounds, and considering the variety and diversity of religions and faiths in the world, I reckon they can't all be right! Since there's no way to know, why get so caught up in such a question? Find what you love in life and pursue it. Only by this can you yourself find "meaning" in life.

Of course, this is not so much an answer as it is just a part of the solution. The overall solution is to stop asking a question no one can answer!

Yours truly,
Socrates

Answer 3

The question can be answered from different viewpoints. It is your responsibility to choose and accept one as TRUTH. Here is mine:

The meaning of life is SURVIVAL. To ensure our very existence as long as we can. And considering the fact that we will eventually die on a natural way, our most important goal is to propagate and ensure the survival of the race. Because SURVIVAL is the highest law. But you can also choose to ensure your own survival instead through ascension. Of course only if you allow yourself to believe in such things.

In either case, the most important is to maintain our very existence as long as possible. You are searching for an answer that is encoded into your DNA. The ancient power that motivated living beings to take actions in order to SURVIVE. Survival and Replication. Methods that even the most basic lifeforms use to live their life. Creating a nice story around this about the 'core of life' or the 'meaning of our existence' is nothing more then using an other packaging with a different color.

Answer 4

First in regard to the answer 42. Keep in mind that we still don't know what the question was. That would be tremendous help.

On a more serious note. Many have said that perhaps one can find the meaning of their individual life. I believe in a more active approach. I choose my meaning and purpose in life and I live my life as if my chosen answer is true.

Michael

Answer 5

no. everyone has their own meaning of life and their own goal and some.. just don't. But discovering other peoples goals and meanings of life may help you find yours or just think about stuff that you've never thought of before. So.. asking is always good, even if the answer that you get is not the right one.

Answer 6

The meaning of life can be found by asking what it is if the proper authority answers that question…

Everyone has a worldview that answers five ultimate questions.
1) Origin – Where did I come from?
2) Identity – Who am I ?
3) Meaning – What is my purpose?
4) Morality – What is right and wrong?
5) Destiny – What happens when I die?

Naturalistic Worldview

1) Origin – Where did I come from? I came from a “rock” (evolution).
2) Identity – Why am I here? I am just an animal with a conscience.
3) Meaning – What is my purpose? Self determined. Everyone determines there own meaning.
4) Morality – What is right and wrong? Self determined. Everyone determines there own morality.
5) Destiny – What happens when I die? You are worm food.

Transcendental Worldview

1) Origin – Where did I come from? Part of the “Divine One”.
2) Identity – Why am I here? Fragment of the “Divine One”.
3) Meaning – What is my purpose? Self determined. Everyone determines there own meaning. We are all our own gods.
4) Morality – What is right and wrong? Self determined. Everyone determines there own morality. Everyone is divine.
5) Destiny – What happens when I die? Reincarnation (continued suffering)/ or Nirvana (to reunite with the “Divine One”/become one with the universe.

However there is hope. A worldview center on God/Jesus has a much more hope/value/truth/meaning and depth.

Thesistic/Christian Worldview

1) Origin – Where did I come from? God created you.
2) Identity – Who am I ? You are God’s special creation, an image bearer of God.
3) Meaning – What is my purpose? God determines your purpose.
4) Morality – What is right and wrong? God determines what is right and wrong.
5) Destiny – What happens when I die? To live forever with God your creator (heaven), or without God (hell).

Either you or your creator determines your meaning (yourself or an outside authority).

This is just the tip of the iceberg of worldview analysis.

Answer 7

How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one's culture but within oneself? If there is a stage at which an individual life becomes truly adult, it must be when one grasps the irony in its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox. One must live in the middle of contradiction, because if all contradiction were eliminated at once life would collapse. There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.

Answer 8

I don't believe there is just the one meaning of life, there are thousands of reasons that make a life meaningful, each all very different to the next persons.
It's an individual process of how we perceive it perhaps.
Instead of asking why are we here, perhaps we should consider where else is there, and if we knew all the answers would it help at all?
Perhaps our purpose in life is to create ones own.

Answer 9

I say yes. You can discover the meaning of life by asking.

One can only discover the answer by looking for it.

And yes there is only one answer.

Answer 10

I have the answer to life --there is no answer, Asking ppl. can help educated oneself on certain aspects of life but like the Buddha one must get quite and ponder life for themselves to come up with the answers. By interacting with others we learn lots of things to use or discard as tools for our own life, however. Life is difficult but once we accept this as fact life becomes less difficult.