Sum up the meaning of life in one sentence.

Post Reply New Topic

Experiance as much as you can, stand up for what you believe in, and hopefully learn something along the way.

"meaning" is a human word, and it has nothing to do with "life".

As clearly illustrated by the last few US presidential administrations.

"...because the conditions of reality encourage it."

It starts out from us realizing what we need to survive, then it adds on aspects of us and how we operate; from there it takes some rather wild turns when we see something or anything that seems to connect us beyond our hunter/gather schema. Strange enough things have happened, on all kinds of scales to make people think that there is more meaning than just we live, we eat, we f---, we die, then again that's the fun of human neuro/genetic diversity - we're built from the ground up to experience profoundly different things, regardless of whether you wish to call the builder random chance or deity.

The alternatives of random chance or deity leaves out the most important third alternative.

Which is that a random flux generator spit out universe after universe until our deterministic sphere happened to spin into existence? That's both still the chance model and still interestingly enough wide open for a lot of possibilities.

I think this is the cue where you or cosmiccat tell me something that I don't already know.

Chance is a random concept. Although the universe has random factors, in general it is not random. I do not mean to imply teleology or an intelligent conscious creator.

Right, and I'd interpret random chance, in a realistic sense, is random chance as it falls though the filters created by the laws of physics, thermodynamics, and chemistry - the general ways that matter and energy are known to behave. The debate seems to be, on an individual level, whether what we have of an internal sense of 'spirit' mean anything - some have had proof to this effect (usually more general and reasoned than, say, revelation) while others doubt the validity of it.

Dum spiro, spero.

Whislt I breathe, I hope.

IMHO the purpose of AS is (and always has been) to evolve and advance humanity, through advances in modelling (physics, mechanics, maths, ...), technology, medicine, and ironically enough, even social advances (better structures of government, economy etc). This unfortunately comes at the cost of our own personal happiness (but hey, you can't take it with you, and in the end we all end up the same way - most AS will only achieve recognition long after we are dead). Human colonization of at least one more planet is probably the next goal (the future of our species is vulnerable on this rock), although machine control of this planet (e.g. via the singularity) to prevent mankind's ego from destroying millions of years of evolution on this planet might be a prerequisite.

To all other AS out there - remember that you are more intelligent than NTs (as you have made the effort to think independently). Their labels only stick if you let these affect you (and FFS do not let them convince you to institutionalize yourselves). In order to function and have influence in society (think jobs, relationships etc), you will need to observe NTs and repeat their behaviours to them. It just takes concentration and practice. Show them what they expect to see. But don't judge them. Forgive them. They are just in their more animal state (as we all can be at times). NT's prefer herd mentality - as long as they don't stick out in society, they believe they will be 'safe'. And despite the drawbacks of AS, their are benefits, too. We are nigh immune to indoctrination, be it religion, consumerism, fashion or politics. Lonely, maybe, but we will never be puppets or zombies. Do not be condescending to NT's - they aren't inferior, they just haven't chosen to remove their blinkers. Respect this choice. Many of us would prefer to take the blue pill given a second bite.

Stop worrying - life is but a game anyway, and the weight of the world should not be on your shoulders. More than anything it is the continual analysis (of the past) and postulation of the future that defines us as AS (and IMHO, more than anything, it is this anxiety which NT's despise about us - we are forcing them to think outside their comfort zone, causing THEM anxiety, hence their repulsion for us). And finally, AS does not necessarily automatically equate to aetheism. Even the mighty intellect of an AS is insufficient to comprehend the complexity of the universe, certainly not individually, and certainly not in our lifetimes. So consider taking on a deity as a placeholder for what you do not, and cannot know in this lifetime. This will provide psychological relief to allow us to focus on one evolutionary step at a time, without unnecessary pressure.

Lovingkindness.

(Source: Psalms)

the only meaning life has is the one you give to it the dictionary gave on to it and so will you. there is no point to life though its nonsense.

If that is the meaning why is there so little of it?

ruveyn

Eats sh*ts, then dies.

Or...if you prefer an alternate take just by adding a comma...

Eats, sh*ts, then dies.

It's all in how you look at it, where you pause and how long...and of course, where you place the damn commas.

There is as much of life as most people can stand. If you want more you have to be a parrot or a turtle.