What is the meaning of life.... FOR AN ANIMAL?

Question

If youre wondering what the meaning of your life is.... try imagining the meaning of life as an elephant in the wild.

EAT, SURVIVE, REPRODUCE. and that is all to it.

And us humans have the EXACT same basic purpose in life. The main purpose of life itself is really pretty simple... to survive and to ensure the survival of the species. BUT we have something different that animals do not. We have way superior thinking abilities compared to them. We can DO SO MUCH MORE than just the basics in life... unlike the animals that are still stuck doing exactly what their ancestors are doing. Unlike them... we can build up knowledge from the generations before.

So I think... whoever asks again.. "What Is The Meaning of Life" and feel depressed about it... is just not using their brains to their advantage. Because.. A HUMAN CAN DO SO MUCH MORE THAN AN ANIMAL.

So I guess... the meaning of life for me is to achieve my set goals (other than the basics) and be happy and to live a life of meaning.

YES...we do not have the speed of the cheetah, we do not have the strength of the gorilla, the claws of the lion etc...

BUT with our thinking abilities.... we can make cars faster than the cheetah... cranes stronger than the gorilla... and power tools sharper than the claws of a lion..

Answer 1

live today gone tomorrow

Answer 2

Hi!

Your question and some of the answers to it reveal the thing that makes human beings less than the animal kingdom - our arrogamnt conviction of our own superiority. The "smarts" you emphasise are the very thing that we are not using responsibly. We are the only species, depite the myth of lemmings, that marches ever onward towards our own suicide. The awful truth is that we are taking the whole of nature with us on our death march.

We look at animals and think: "If you were smarter you could tell me what you are thinking". We are arrogantly oblivious to the possibility that they return our gaze thinking: "And if you were smarter, I wouldn't have to".

Your question lacks the humility essential to gaining any real insight. Like the sort of man who assumes his superiority to women, your lack of empathy with the rest of nature will make it impossible for you ever to get really close to other beings. If you step back from your question's assumption, there is a possibility that worlds full of wonder will open before you and your life will be filled with far more possibility. Indeed, if our species could let go of its arrogant assumptions of superiority and "rights" over nature, the possibility of our long term survival might improve enormously.

I'm looking forward to seeing if you are able to use your smarts to rethink - or if you will award those important points (for it is all about power afterall, isn't it? ;-)) to the person who most agrees with your starting point.

Good wishes.

Answer 3

We have the exact purpose, that is, our animal selves do. But man has a transcendent quality that goes far beyond eating, surviving and reproducing. Then maybe the meaning of life is more than an animal existence? Were it not for that transcendent soul, philosophy and religion, in all their forms would not exist. Neither would astronomy for that matter, since man is the only creature that looks up at the stars and wonders.

Answer 4

i think your question is great. first of all we are all animals. humans just think we are superior because we are, definitely, more capable of planning. but even this is a product of trial and error, we just have superior memory, and thus awareness, not to mention better physical attributes for shaping and manipulating matter. if an 'animal' could remember as we do, im sure things would be alot different. remember that 'animals' have superior hearing and seeing among other senses.
we also are just stuck doing what our "ancestors" did. we actually are doin almost the same. only certain places in the world are different.
i don't think 'animals' worry about a meaning for life, they just live. as we should also. this establishing meaning is what gets us away from the basic sense of life. just live. not saying meaning is useless, it is taking us to other worlds, helping us live longer, keeps us moral and countless other things.
i guess you also think the same, as your answer was given at the end of the question.

Answer 5

What is the meaning of life for an animal?
To create life to LIVE.

What is the meaning of life to man?
From information taken from your additional details
To destroy life to consume.

You suggest that all these 'great inventions; from fast cars to power tools' mean that we have superior thinking skills and can do so much, much more than just the basics in life?

Oh man in hat you should expect the BUT from me now, BUT you still ain't blocked me which is interesting ...........???

~As I was saying BUT who do these wonderful inventions actually benefit? Not the ecosystem, not the natural environment, flora or fauna, not really even other humans in less affluent countries than our own.

These wonderful thinking skills help destroy mankind and the natural ecosystems. Nuclear weapons, Pollution of air, soil, water, introduction of viruses such as myxomatosis in rabbits, concreting over miles of land, deforestation, altering genetics, cheating natural selection processes which maintain equilibrium in an ecosystem. Overpopulation. Exploitation of animals and other people to feed our greed and overconsumption.

Yep, we are definitely the highest thinking species who have definitely really done so much much more than just the basics in life.

Wonder why we call animals, animals?

Answer 6

Our superior thinking is our tool to survival. We do not have the speed of the cheetah, we do not have the strength of the gorilla, the claws of the lion etc... We have smarts to help us survive and promote the survival of our DNA. Just because we have superior thinking does not mean that we are more significant it just means that we THINK we do.

Answer 7

"EAT, SURVIVE, REPRODUCE. and that is all to it."

You've basically answered your own question. But then, that is the meaning we humans place upon animals. Unlike humans, animals do not have the mental capability to reason and think. Animals act primarily on pure instinct; thus, they cannot define a meaning for themselves whereas humans can.

Then again, we do not have a complete understanding of what really goes on in the minds of animals.

Answer 8

>>What about the Dolphins?
They are supposed to be as intelligent as humans....
>>What about the gorilla that was taught sign language & is able to actually communicate using this skill, not just emulate?
>>How smart is it that we build Nuclear (nukulur, haha) weapons with our intelligent minds?
>>Be happy with the simple things in life ~ I think is one of the most important things we can aspire to.

Answer 9

the main reasons for animail in the wild is as you said EAT, SURVIVE, REPRODUCE.and that is it. most animails have that on their minds because they are mroe basic and primitive compared to us. but some species like dolphins and chimpanses have a scence of humour .wich means they can can construct a piece of humour in there mind and display with in there own species.

Answer 10

Great job! More of the philosophy professors should do so well!

Answer 11

I don't want to survive anymore, I want to go to heaven.