"Why are we here?" Help with a logical fallacy?

Question

Three major questions giving rise to religion have been "Why are we here," "What is the purpose of life" and "Who put us here?" To me, all of these questions are inaccurately stated because they strongly imply that 1) there IS some objective reason that we are here, 2) that there is some objective purpose or 3) that some entity with some degree of ability consciously decided to "put" us in this land, on this planet, in this universe. This, of course, potentially leaves the answerer with three (of many) options: 1) refute the structure of the question and its assumptions, 2) answer with "I don't know" or 3) admitting that some supernatural entity must have something to do with it.

Clearly, these questions could be more accurately stated to reflect the lack of necessity for an objective purpose or creator. It seems to me that there would be a common term for this kind of question. Is there a philosophical term or another term to describe what type of fallacy these questions represent?

Answer 1

It comes closest to "begging the question." This happens when an assumption on which the conclusion is based is as controversial as the conclusion itself. The idea is that If the person you're trying to convince with an argument rejects one of your assumptions, then the argument will not succeed.

e.g. The assumption "There is an objective reason to life" is as controversial as "God exists." So using said premise to support the conclusion is an instance of begging the question.

Answer 2

It only represents a fallacy if you are completely opposed to the idea of a higher power "creating" this planet and its life for some greater purpose. And since this supposition can never (at least not now) be proved or disproved, the 3rd assumption above cannot be truly called a fallacy.
And you have answered your own question : instead calling it a "fallacy", the search for meaning that is, a branch of thought called "philosophy" was born.

Answer 3

I'd say it's slanted language myself. Skydaddy is just a biased word, if you were really having a debate I wouldn't be calling an entity a skydaddy but 'an entity' or if we're talking about the christian god, Yahweh, or so on depending so it's neutral. I personally prefer to call him Yaweh though not "God" as if the christian god is above all other gods of other religions. He has a name, or Jehova works too. But that's condescending and also slanted language I think to call that god 'God' as if he's the only one that there is, which kinda begs the question a fallacy assuming the premise exists already. Anyway that's a neutral and fair position, tell the atheist to please stop using slanted language if he says sky daddy to degrade your god. He/She is trying to make the argument look absurd by this when it needs to be done more maturely, I'm an agnostic atheist myself and argue religion a lot, even writing a book this week on the 'philosophical critic: god and religion', which I'm about to get back to writing.

Answer 4

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.....
Deteriorata! Deteriorata!


Go placidly
Amid the noise and waste.
And remember what comfort there may be
In owning a piece thereof.


Avoid quiet and passive persons
Unless you are in need of sleep.


Ro-tate your tires.

Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself
And heed well their advice,
Even though they be turkeys.


Know what to kiss.....and when!

Consider that two wrongs never make a right
But that THREE.........do.


Wherever possible, put people on hold.


Be comforted that in the face of all aridity and disillusionment
And despite the changing fortunes of time,
There is always a big future in computer main-te-nance.


Chorus

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.


Remember the Pueblo.


Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle and mu-ti-late.


Know yourself.
If you need help, call the FBI.


Exercise caution in your daily affairs,
Especially with those persons closest to you.
That lemon on your left, for instance.


Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls
Would scarcely get your feet wet.


Fall not in love therefore;
It will stick to your face.


Gracefully surrender the things of youth:
The birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan
And let not the sands of time
Get in your lunch.


Hire people with hooks.


For a good time call 606-4311;
Ask for "Ken."


Take heart amid the deepening gloom
That your dog is finally getting enough cheese.


And reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot
It could only be worse in Milwaukee.


Chorus

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.


Therefore, make peace with your god
Whatever you conceive him to be---
Hairy thunderer, or cosmic muffin.


With all its hopes, dreams, promises and urban renewal
The world continues to deteriorate.


GIVE UP!

Reprise

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.

Answer 5

I think the proper term for the logical fallacy represented by those inquiries is 'begging the question'.

Answer 6

yes; its called putting Descartes before the horse. its the same nuance and implied yet unconscious meaning the phrase "i came into this world" has.

if people more correctly said "i came OUT of this world" it would subtly change the thought process.

there are whole disciplines dedicated to the study of how language affects and effects human behavior and thought process.

Answer 7

I am here at this moment to answer your question. When my girls get home from school I will be here to help them with their homework.
More specifically. My parents decided way back in 1977 to have unprotected sex. That is why I am here.

Answer 8

42

If you do not understand this answer, you did not ask the right question.

The Earth is a supercomputer designed by hyper-dimensional pan-dimensional beings to figure out the ultimate question to life, the universe, and everything.


EDIT: Thanks for the "lyrics" to Deteriorata. Did you know that was Melissa Manchester singing the chorus?

Answer 9

Here is the type of fallacy these questions could fall into:

http://www.fallacyfiles.org/noncause.html

Very commonly used, like many fallacies, for the propagation of religious propaganda.

Answer 10

Strawman questions...

What is the meaning in life? Creates the strawman that meaning uniformly exists.