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we've all heard of the question, what is the meaning of life,
well this one is more about purpose, what is the purpose of life other than prolonging a species. do we have a purpose, a personal purpose maybe.
is there any meaning to life and if not why do we continue the sham?
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life goes on automatically ,once you're alive the meaning is to be happy
- the partially blind semi bald eagle
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To procrate ... nothing more ... nothing less.
Without reproduction we would cease to exist.
You give to the world when you're giving your best to somebody else.
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(12-21-2010, 09:00 AM)velvetfog Wrote: (12-21-2010, 06:53 AM)kath3 Wrote: To procrate ... nothing more ... nothing less.
Without reproduction we would cease to exist.
So you are saying that the human race has no greater purpose than the cockroaches and the dandelions then?
Ultimately... yes.
If you accept the belief, we are also commissioned to look after and care for the planet, as well as one another, and the animals/birds/fish/insects which of course adds to our purpose. However, I believe the planet would do more than well without our meddling and recklessness.
It has also been written (bible) that our purpose is to commune with God.
But without our no. 1 purpose being to reproduce the other purposes would fall away as with the human race.
You give to the world when you're giving your best to somebody else.
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i agree that our purpose is to reproduce and evolve till we die as a species, i think thats the same for every living thing.
i think the laws of the universe dictates it, we have no option. we're hot wired to survive as best we can. even our beliefs can be attributed to survival of the species. by believing in something we tend to stick together in larger numbers than we would if we had no belief, our only job or purpose is to follow the physical laws and reproduce. we are a cog in a clock, or part of one side of an equilateral equation. we dream and converse because we can, because we evolved to, we're no better, not even more intelligent than any other living thing, we're just different, we think because we define intelligence as we do that it's so but in reality it's just a tool to help us evolve the same with love and the emotions. we manufactured them within a society to ensure our survival, without morals we'd probably be lower down the food chain than we are at present. things like intelligence love hate etc have developed because they had to.
and this question isn't about the meaning of life? it's about the purpose of it.
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yes,it doesn't look like we're going to be around much longer,so be happy i say
- the partially blind semi bald eagle
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(12-21-2010, 01:14 PM)velvetfog Wrote: (12-21-2010, 12:05 PM)kath3 Wrote: If you accept the belief, we are also commissioned to look after and care for the planet, as well as one another, and the animals/birds/fish/insects which of course adds to our purpose.
(12-21-2010, 01:14 PM)velvetfog Wrote: Who exactly, commissioned us to do what?
I was referring to God's requirements of mankind to be good stewarts of His creation.
Genesis 2:15 "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."
There are many references throughout the bible stating our responsibilities to the planet, animals and towards one another, though I'm sure your not looking for biblical teachings. I myself do appreciate biblical direction as much as I do from other sources. I have a collection of quotes that I keep for inspirational purpose and encouragement.
"The earth was given to man, with this condition, that he should occupy himself in its cultivation... The custody of the garden was given in charge to Adam (mankind), to show that we possess the things which God has committed to our hands, on the condition that, being content with the frugal and moderate use of them, we should take care of what shall remain. Let him who possesses a field, so partake of its yearly fruits, that he may not suffer the ground to be injured by his negligence, but let him endeavor to hand it down to posterity as he received it, or even better cultivated. Let him so feed on its fruits, that he neither dissipates it by luxury, nor permits it to be marred or ruined by neglect. Moreover, that this economy, and this diligence, with respect to those good things which God has given us to enjoy, may flourish among us; let everyone regard himself as the steward of God in all things which he possesses. Then he will neither conduct himself dissolutely, nor corrupt by abuse those things which God requires to be preserved."
(12-21-2010, 01:14 PM)velvetfog Wrote: It doesn't seem to be working out that well. 
We are heavily polluting the planet, and gutting it for natural resources.
We are on the verge of exterminating the remaining wild animal species, and we have pretty well stripped the great oceans of all the large fish species.
On top of that, we have built the industrial war machinery needed to exterminate the majority of the human race.
(12-21-2010, 12:05 PM)kath3 Wrote: I totally agree with you 100%. I believe it is because we do not take heed the instruction (bible and other teachings) inspired upon us through a higher power. We have desicrated all good things for profit and power, and it is ultimately us who will pay the sad price for our actions ... in that every good thing that has been given will be gone by our own hands.
You give to the world when you're giving your best to somebody else.
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i don't know if it's god's will or if god exists. but i think it would be good if we kept the planet safe for our offspring, to do so would improve the chance of our survival as a species.
sadly that idea would only float if the majority of humans embraced it. they don't !
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(12-21-2010, 06:53 AM)kath3 Wrote: To procrate ... nothing more ... nothing less.
I agree.
"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."
The purpose of life...is to give life a purpose.
Just like the purpose of a canvas is to painted upon. What the artist chooses to paint is up to him.
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isn't that more of an ambition or need? sure our only purpose is to make babies.
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only 2 things are sure in life,we get born and we die,in between it's fill in,i Quote: rather fill it in with a colour pencil than black and white
- the partially blind semi bald eagle
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I would say that procreation is actually the need, and not the purpose (in the grand scheme of life, not for each individual)
I agree most with lawrence. Life exists, just like the universe exists, probably for no specific reason. Nevertheless, it's pretty damn special.
PS. If you can, try your hand at giving some of the others a bit of feedback. If you already have, thanks, can you do some more?
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Oh no, I didn't mean special as in unique. I only meant that life is a pretty interesting phenomenon, line most of the universe's other phenomena.
PS. If you can, try your hand at giving some of the others a bit of feedback. If you already have, thanks, can you do some more?
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The purpose of life in general is procreation.
A sentient being can choose to do, or not to do, anything that makes them feel fulfilled. But that will be different for everyone, and not everyone will feel such a need or be able to find a way to satisfy it. The erroneous concept that everyone has such a "purpose" is the cause of a huge amount of angst and misery.
"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."
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i agree, choice, which we all have is not the same as purpose.
Human beings are pretty unique. Why, you ask?
It's not due to our intelligence, as there are plenty of species we know of which are, in certain ways, more intelligent than us.
Nor is it a sense of self; our consciousness or awareness. Elephants and chimps exhibit self-awareness (I'm a member of the elephant rebellion).
I think it's our imagination that truly differentiates us; No other being we know of on this planet can draw up schematics for a bridge, paint the Girl with a Pearl Earring, or write a moving sonnet like we can. I think we're born creators, and that's why it makes sense that we forge our own meaning in this universe.
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(01-03-2011, 05:33 AM)Lawrence Wrote: Human beings are pretty unique. Why, you ask?
It's not due to our intelligence, as there are plenty of species we know of which are, in certain ways, more intelligent than us.
Nor is it a sense of self; our consciousness or awareness. Elephants and chimps exhibit self-awareness (I'm a member of the elephant rebellion).
I think it's our imagination that truly differentiates us; No other being we know of on this planet can draw up schematics for a bridge, paint the Girl with a Pearl Earring, or write a moving sonnet like we can. I think we're born creators, and that's why it makes sense that we forge our own meaning in this universe.
yes but the question isn'y, what sets us apart. the question is;
what's our purpose. what's the purpose of life.
Why, to use what sets us apart! To not use it would be such a waste of..of...a species!
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