Humans- Do we have a purpose?

[DoomedWolf]

Originally Posted by Phantom

This is one of the most interesting questions ive asked but no ones answered. Do humans have a purpose in life?

Some people believe our purpose is to be born and eventually die. Some people believe we're here to look after the Earth(which we aren't doing). Some people think tht these ideas are stupid. we are here because we're here.

What do you think?

Haha, whenever I think about this I think of the 'Circle Of Life' thing. =D

Anyways, down to business.

The purpose of life is widely explored, and given seperate answers and meanings that pretty much have to exist, because we have no true way of proving it. If we were to say, "our purpose in life is to wage war" then immediately groups against war would sit up and say "no, our purpose is this, not that."

An endless round of what people think is their calling.

So, what I believe is simple, and is somewhat a cop out, apparently. I believe that the reason for life is to live to the best of our abilities and the way we wish to live. To co-exist with our own goals, and do what we think is right. It is as simple as that. We are here to live, and that is all I need to know.

[Terminal Est]

If we were to say, "our purpose in life is to wage war" then immediately groups against war would sit up and say "no, our purpose is this, not that."

It gets pretty ironic. XD

So, what I believe is simple, and is somewhat a cop out, apparently. I believe that the reason for life is to live to the best of our abilities and the way we wish to live. To co-exist with our own goals, and do what we think is right. It is as simple as that. We are here to live, and that is all I need to know.

I like the thought, and whether or not I agree, I move forth with pretty much the same ideas, despite what I believe to drive them, however I must point out...

Do what we think is right...in confrontation to what you perceive to be wrong on the part of others, and them unto you? It inevitably causes strife when we think our paths are the right ones, and other people have chosen the wrong way.

And welcome to the forums, please stick aorund?

[Revenant]

Do we have a purpose?....Well, it is a very philosophical quastion.

As for japanese philosophy, they say that our purpose is to love, but they also compare us with flower and bird. The bird's purpose is to sing and flower's purpose is to blossom, but neither flower nor bird can not recognize their purpose. And we, people, can!

[NeoFighter5]

. . .good god, this damn question. . .

*rubs eyes*

. . .my eyes are tired, dry, and itchy. . .cuz i just read all your comments, except terminal's and MF's on page 7. . .too tired to read those long comments. . .


*sigh*

. . .anyways, here is what i believe:. . .

. . .life has no purpose. . .i believe in the bible, and Jehova. . .so taking my beliefs, i sat down and thought "God has no need for humans, cuz God will exists with or w/out humans. . .if God made man out of dust as is said in genesis, then we are essentially nothing. . .we have no purpose or part on the "grander scheme of things" because we are not needed. . .we were not created for any particular purpose. . .to have a destiny or purpose would mean that we are indeed needed, required, and such is not the case. . .we simply travel from point A to point B, what you do in between is of no relevance, and we serve no greater purpose or idea". . .therefore, what your purpose or destiny is, it really is up to you to decide. . .if your porpuse is to blow up towers, to become rich, or to be happy, so be it. . .

. . .if you believe in science, then the answer still is no purpose. . .the equation shows that there is nothing after death. . .and thus your life serves no meaning. . .

. . .my own little goal?. . .have fun, do what in my mind is right, and. . .watch soccer games. . .

. . .say, kelila, you like invictus, too?. . .

[Delorean]

Like a lot have probably said before me, I don't think there's any special meaning in living. I mean, you could look at it like your purpose is to do shit until your get old and die or just die, but it really makes little difference.

But I say if we must have a purpose, it should be to accomplish as much as we can before we're six feet under.

[Zotar]

I think our purpose is not only to live, but to EVOLVE. I mean that in many ways.

The first of which Is to Improve technologically and culturally as we have been doing for the past century. (but mabee a little slower, most people in my family cant keep up with advances for lack of funding, which brings me to the next kind of evolution.)

The second way is economically. For while our world system works, it is still far from complete, there are still many people left in the bin unable to move forward.

The most crucial way of evolution is that of Spiritual advancement, in this i mean compassion, empathy, Love (the "Agape" type(look that word up if you have trouble.)) It is this type of evolution, and the lack thereof, is what has effected the other aspects of Human achievement. There are many people who are still suffering around dispite our recent advances, the formost reason for this is that our world is still divided by conflict.

This must END.

Consider that your purpose even if you don't believe you have one. We must show compassion for our fellow people, even those we hate, to move beyond what we are now, otherwise we're still one step away from acting like infants of cave me.

I could explain in more detail, but I'm lazy. and this is afterall just me thinking outloud, no offence ment though i don't see much you could be offended about. i yjust want to get y'all thinking....

[Terminal Est]

It gets me thinking about about the primordial aspects of evolution which branch of to social or cultural evolution as you say, and must point out that you state we must rise above hatred and hostilities.
However, mankind is built upon certain emotions, and these emotions bring forth actions, and have been with us since always.
Man has always, since the beginning of humanity, waged war against his fellow man or has always oppressed him. If we are to believe the theory of evolution, the early man has evolved, through primitive and barbaric means by this very basis. (Neanderthals VS Cromagnons.)

So if we consider what fear, anger and hatred are and what these things make us do, how can we ever overcome them if they are part of our natural construction? Is not love and empathy the motivational tools needed for procreation and self worth?
The question here really is, what makes you think any of this will ever change? Our dark nature defines and paints humanity itself. Not out of evil intent, but rather through necessity. Justification serves to nullify this truth, becoming conviction, I could use Christian history as a perfect example.

I do not find that mankind has ever much ''evolved'' beyond its need to survive and the adaptations of growing technology or awareness, although this may be the key in itself.
Everything works as a pendulum, and ''growing economically'' is more than part of this balance.
I could use the Great depression or the French Revolution as examples, amongst many others.
It might merely seem that things change due to our primitive years of before and the simple methods by which we obtained what our survival instinct deemed as vital, however not much is different today. The methods change indeed as mentioned before but, the concept of their necessities still quite remains the same.

I am not here to offend either, and would really like to know what you may think about this, in regards to The Bible.

[Zotar]

In regards to the Bible you say?

Well...

The Word says that God made Adam and Eve. But humans were not "sinners" untill they (Adam and Eve) willfully disobeyed God, by eating the Fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, after which they became embarrassed and ashamed about thier nudity and passed those traits to all of thier decendents... along with what was called by some "the original sin."

Acording the the Bible, Mankind was not created with those traits that make us rebellious, agressive, lustful persons. it was not ment to be in our nature. In that sense, Adam and Eve caused us to "Devolve" right after creation.

Then of course many hundreds of years later, Christ came and by his blood clense us of our sins. The moral and spiritual evelution of our kind progressed, through his blood and through his teachings. While those who acept the core of cristian faith are saved, many are still lacking in compassion, Love, empathy, and trust. Listen to the teachings of Jesus and put them in action. Even if you don't believe. There are other spiritual leaders that have come to this world with similar or identical teachings. but its up to us to make these things happen so that we may evolve.

(jeez... i feel like im preaching...)

[Cordelia]

Originally Posted by Zotar

I think our purpose is not only to live, but to EVOLVE. I mean that in many ways.

There must be a reason for evolution to occur. If life was entirely pointless, then evolution would be also be pointless, as we would continue to evolve until we could evolve no more. Then as life would have no more reason we would all die, which means evolving in the first place was a waste of time.

The answer is entirely subjective, life has whatever meaning we choose to give it.
I am personally a bit of a nihilist, but I'm also a hedonist. You could argue that viewing life as pointless would mean that you could not experience pleasure. However I choose not to think about it, and I take comfort in the fact that I won't ever find out the meaning of life. I may still view it as something that will end, but I won't have my views proved, therefore I can fool myself into not caring.

[Son of Sephiroth]

Cordelia, your logic about evolution is...mind bogglingly stupid.

Evolution DOES have a purpose. To better survive. It is as simple as that. We have no grand final conclusion to go to, we are mearly in a constant fluctuation to better fit to our current environment.

And for the meaning of life? call me a realist but do you all honestly BELIEVE we have something to do here? We are all a sequnce of chemical reactions and hormone pathways designed to cause our DNA to propigate. I mean what gives us the ego to not think, but nay DEMAND we have a reason to be here? We don't. You live you have kids, you die and the worms feast upon you.

That is the "meaning" (if you can call it that) of life.