Why do people ask for "the meaning of life"?

Question

Life doesn't have a meaning at all. If you are not religious and believe in evolution then you will realize we are not so special because there have been hundreds and thousands of life forms before us. We didn't just appear here out of nowhere. We have evolved from a single cell right through to what we are now. But we have been the only ones so far to gain a perspective of our awareness and question what is life and where did we come from etc. This is just because of advances in the brains of humans through evolution. Animals are also life forms but they don't give a rat's booty about the mysteries of life. We are all here because of an accident originally. We weren't all sent to earth with a purpose to fulfil.

So why question the meaning of life? There is no meaning.

gryphon1911 - I am not close-minded at all. I am quite open to all beliefs, theories and explanations. I was just wondering what people expect as an answer when they question the meaning of life. Of course there are few purposes in life; like help the poor, be kind to your elders etc. but are these the answers people who question " the meaning of life" expect? I doubt it. There is no eternal, absolute meaning of life. How can there be when we are all here as an accident originally when life formed on earth?

You are more showing your close-mindedness by saying you cannot include animals in this argument. Why not? Aren't they life forms too? To me you are suggesting that humans are more superior, more special than other forms. This is what I don't get. We are all born with brains to discuss and argue like now because of evolution and natural selection. Otherwise we would all be just looking for food to eat and a place to rest all our lives, like animals.

Answer 1

People keep asking questions about the meaning of life, the purpose of life,the ultimate answer, the one thing that needs to be known above everything else ...... take a look at Y/A itself.

You will find hundreds, perhaps thousands of answers there, yet not one ot them is satisfactory. The reason is that only those who have not found the answer can answer - it must be so, because those who have found it cannot answer, it is impossible for them to answer - not because they would not like to, or because they want to keep it all to themselves . Quite the contrary, in fact. Out of compassion and a deep understanding that truth is the exclusive possession of none, they yearn with all their heart to 'communicate' and 'explain' , but words like these are out of place, even here - All words are out of place.

Try to explain to a child what it is to fall in love. You have been in love yourself, you have the actual experience. Not like when, asked which are the highest and lowest points on earth ,you answer 'Everest and the Mariana Trench' . There! All ready-made. Information right from your memory. From the book to your brain and out in words, even the words are ready-make. You know nothing about what you are talking about. If you were to ask Hillary, he sure would know something about Everest, he will try to 'explain' what it was like, but he would not be able to transfer his experience to you, even if there were words for it.

So all you can tell the child is: you will find out when you grow up. But then there will be no need to ask the question. And there will be no need for any answer. Still, like children, out of restlesness, we keep trying to 'anticipate the times'. We keep trying to get an answer to the meaning of life. But there is no way possible or even imaginable that this can be done.

Answer 2

Why ask the question when you are so closed minded? You've already decided there is no meaning to life, and doubtless anyone could change your perspective.

Truthfully, the meaning of life is different for each person. The hardest thing for people to understand is that. A lot of people think that the meaning of life is universal for all, but it is not.

Each person must find their purpose of why they are hear. Some people never do, others figure it out early in life. I did not fully realize my "meaning of life" until I was in my late twenties/early thirties.

In a way, you are asking the same question by your very post. You want to know what the meaning of life is for you, it just seems that you are on the verge of losing hope.

There are signs every day of what you should be doing. Some people refuse to see the signs, are niave, while others see the signs, but reject them, while others misinterpret the signs. Most of the time, it is much easier to do what you want than to do the right thing. That is why society is the way it is today.

Everyone has a purpose to fulfill, everyone has an affect on all those around them. Just because you do not "perceive" the affect, does not mean it is not tangible or real.

As far as animals are concerned, they lack a lot of what makes us human -- free will, the ability to reason in the abstract, self awareness and self actualization. So really, it's not quite fair in this dialog to even include them.

Answer 3

The Meaning of Life

Mein Wetbild, Amsterdam: Querido Verlaq, 1934

What is the meaning of human life, or, for that matter, of the life of any creature? To know an answer to this question means to be religious. You ask: Does it make any sense, then, to pose this question? I answer: The man who regards his own life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unhappy but hardly fit for life.

Albert Einstein

Have a wonderful weekend.

Answer 4

fantastic ONE! If there is 'meaning IN each and every thing' it ability that it replaced into located there through an exterior being. Or that it replaced into continuously there and that we 'come across' it (as a rule through twist of destiny). If 'we place meaning ON each and every thing' it propose we are extra smart than we supply ourselves credit for. style of like the Rorcharch Ink Blot try. (utilized in diagnosing the psychological stability of persons). Or the inventive suggestions of youngsters or artists that see shapes and varieties in clouds. i think of we place meaning ON each and every thing. i've got faith that the suggestions creates this 'meaning' with the intention to make some style of sense. If not we'd be 'freaking out' each and every of the time on account that this Universe would not make sense in any respect. LOL think of roughly it, no count in case you suspect that this Universe began with the 'vast Bang' out of not something or that it replaced into 'created through God' (out of not something) it defies our good judgment. nonetheless, it may propose that we can't see the meaning IN each and every thing. the two way we are some distance from understanding it. thank you for a good query!

Answer 5

You don't need to believe in religion to believe in meaning. There may be no specific meaning to life, but neither is life meaningless. We make our own meanings, be it to create a better world, raise a family, acquire knowledge or even to acquire power and possessions. If we believed life had no meaning, most of us would never have children, never love, never want to go on living. I hope you will eventually find or create some meaning for your own life. lol.

Answer 6

Humans are inquisitive creatures. They seek reason and meaning in everything.

"Why's the sky blue, mommy?"

"How come I can't stay out past my curfew, dad?"

"Why do people ask for 'the meaning of life'?"


People are always looking to acquire knowledge. Hence, Yahoo Answers was born.

Answer 7

I agree, there is not meaning, our very existence is just a huge mistake that we were caught up in. I know why people ask though, because they want to believe they have a purpose. When all reality we don't.

Answer 8

If you are correct and there is not meaning... then why do you care if other people want to seek meaning in their lives?

Answer 9

because some does not see a menaing in there life at all.

Answer 10

students!