A thread for intellegent debate not trolling (Meaning of life)
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This statement shook me profoundly at seventeen. It was an awakening. It sent me down a path of non-belief to find meaning in my own life. I grew up in the Bible belt but I did not find what I needed there. This statement made me recognize heaven, hell, and purgatory in front of me, in the eyes of others, in the world—these terms are used as situational metonyms here. I have read the works of great thinkers since thirteen. I have spent most my life searching for meaning and contemplating things in my life. It has been worth it. I was able to break through the barriers that surrounded me on so many levels. The psychological barriers are the toughest to see and deal with. It is a difficult struggle but have succeeded. Because of my experience with struggling I help others whenever I can. I worked with at risk youth for about eight years. I have been busy the last couple but still help people when I can. My life has meaning.
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That is not my career though. It is a gift that came with prevailing after a lifetime of battling with the odds. I still am struggling. It is different now.
I can say that I know myself. I do my best to see others and offer a helping hand or a shoulder.
I also volunteer with some environmental groups and animal groups.
I meditate daily.
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Anyone else have a meaning for their life?
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Sounds very much like my own journey. Only yours seemed more glamourous.
I too work with youth, I volunteer for an environmental charity, and I run for many others.
Philosophy chewed me up and spat me out as I looked for the existence of something outside myself.
In the end I learnt that one can only follow what he feels is right. Then no matter the truth you can be content you have been true to yourself.Since coming to this conclusion I am content in life.
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I was simply asking whether we were meant to assume a singular meaning to the universe. Or multiple meanings to parts within it.
Either doesn't sit well with me, as externalised meaning would basically be 'god' wouldn't it?, a concept I personally find ridiculous.
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slugboy wrote:
I don't think external reasons necessarily imply God. Although, I think a belief in God is fine. Just because Christianity and other religions did not speak to my heart does not mean I have anything against believers or devotees.I was simply asking whether we were meant to assume a singular meaning to the universe. Or multiple meanings to parts within it.
Either doesn't sit well with me, as externalised meaning would basically be 'god' wouldn't it?, a concept I personally find ridiculous.
I think that questions of meaning are multi-linear. Their are many possible paths. Also, many meanings. The more one reflects and searches the more one may find. Let us call these possible paths of action.
So, what do you see as some possibilities?
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The Rhino wrote:
That is great. It sounds like you learned to trust your intuition. Is that accurate? How did you get to that point as it is a worthwhile accomplishment.Sounds very much like my own journey. Only yours seemed more glamourous.
I too work with youth, I volunteer for an environmental charity, and I run for many others.
Philosophy chewed me up and spat me out as I looked for the existence of something outside myself.
In the end I learnt that one can only follow what he feels is right. Then no matter the truth you can be content you have been true to yourself.Since coming to this conclusion I am content in life.
Also, what do you mean by 'no matter the truth'? Please, explain.
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Meaning has a purpose, an intention. If meaning is outside of and not created by the mind, then what imparts the intention to the meaning. Meaning requires sentience, so non mind external meaning needs a universal sentience to give meaning....
Which is a pretty good description of a god to me -
@ slugboy I enjoy your inclusion of the idea of sentience. I do think meaning is a feat of the mind as per previous conversation today. As to the idea of intentionality you are developing I am not following you. I encourage you to articulate a lucid statement of your ideas as the incomplete sentences are vague.
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That has been pointed out yes lol
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👿MRS_KILLER G👿 wrote:
Yeah, I previously mentioned it; however, I am willing to accept imperfection. I think it is perhaps a good thing. Maybe it makes the discussion more approachable? 😉A thread for "intellegent" debate? Has nobody picked up on the fact that the title of this oh so "intellegent" thread is spelt incorrectly? 😓
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Sorry to burst you bubble but A thread for "intellegent" debate? Has nobody picked up on the fact that the title of this "intellegent" thread is spelt incorrectly?
Now, the meaning of life? It's the same for all species, we were created for the sole purpose of reproduction. To breed and keep our species in existance. What we do along the way however is a personal journey, which is what makes our lives enjoyable and meaningful.
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mean
- verb (used with object) 1. to intend (to do or signify) 2. to signify - verb (used without object) 3. to have specified intentions
mean·ing
- noun 1. what is intended to be expressed 2. the aim or purpose -
Intent or intention or purpose is at the heart of meaning. And to have intention needs sentience.
The rock does not intend to lay on the beach, but I may intend to throw it into the water -
@👿MRS_KILLER G👿
Nice. Breeder perspective also includes God by default.Just thought I would put that out there since someone would inevitably. Lol.😜
Perpetuating life is a base level of meaning. It is statement with a serious claim for inclusion in a meaning of life; however, to be the sole meaning of life is circular reasoning. To say the meaning of life is the perpetuation of life is somehow not enough for me. Could be that it seems base and that is a turn off for me? I guess it would be nice to have something of more significance than what a roach or plant can do for real meaning. I would like to think my life were more significant than worm food when I die.
Can one say that breeding provides meaning to life or is breeding a fact of life? For me, meaning should be more than this. I am talking about breeding itself and not child rearing or being a parent. I want to make that differientiation. Perhaps, it is a passage we are lucky to go through in life that may contribute to our meaning.
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@ Slugboy I read through all of your comments to try to understand what your point is. After reading:
"Meaning requires sentience, so non mind external meaning needs a universal sentience to give meaning....
Which is a pretty good description of a god to me."I have no idea why you need an idea of God here? The thoughts in this statement are unclear. That you believe this describes something adequately confuses me. The tangent you make seems random to me. "Non mind external meaning"? Why not just say, "rocks need meaning assigned by something"? If that is what you are trying to say how does it justify God? Also, wouldn't that just be the act of naming i.e. someone pointing and saying, "there is a rock"? Then, you pick it up and perform an action which would give the rock significance when compared with other rocks? Maybe, build a wall for me to beat my head against?
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Your definitions only seem to reveal how you don't seem to understand you are inadequately describing things intelligibly.
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I don't 'need' an idea of god. It's just the logical endpoint of externalised meaning.
If I point at a rock and say 'that rock is for throwing' that is my own set meaning for it, from my own mind. An externalised 'non-mind' meaning of 'rock to be thrown' has entirely different implications. -
Explain 'externalized meaning?' is this meaning that of 'the other'—ala Martin Buber—are you personifying nature? Are you implying a society view of meaning?
Whatever the terminology how is this a statement describing a possible meaning of life?
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In order to discuss the meaning of life do you not think it prudent to know what meaning is, and how it is expressed?
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slugboy wrote:
Yeah. When you figure it out get back to this post.In order to discuss the meaning of life do you not think it prudent to know what meaning is, and how it is expressed?
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What? What? 😜
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Mr. Ikslopot wrote:
Either way that was intended was completely unhelpfulslugboy wrote:
Yeah. When you figure it out get back to this post.In order to discuss the meaning of life do you not think it prudent to know what meaning is, and how it is expressed?
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A rock does not assign purpose to itself. Nor does a hammer. They require an act of creation, and any purpose must come from intelligent creation.
"meaning" in the context of "the meaning of life" denotes an outside intelligence, and there is no getting around the commonly accepted understanding that it does.
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slugboy wrote:
I was simply asking whether we were meant to assume a singular meaning to the universe. Or multiple meanings to parts within it.
Either doesn't sit well with me, as externalised meaning would basically be 'god' wouldn't it?, a concept I personally find ridiculous.
Possibility of collective intellegence would be an example not involving God
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Mr. Ikslopot wrote:
That is great. It sounds like you learned to trust your intuition. Is that accurate? How did you get to that point as it is a worthwhile accomplishment.
Also, what do you mean by 'no matter the truth'? Please, explain.
If my intuition leads me down the wrong path I know I have been true to myself. I am comfortable with uncertainty
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Lol I just Speke it wrong too. But then I have an excuse.
I think what alot of people are having difficulty with is objective meaning. Perhaps meaning is subjective to a single creature of a species, but more objective as we view the species as a whole from the "point of view" of say an ecosystem etc.
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As far as I was aware, whether or not there is/was an outside intelligence is part of the question, not assumed as fact.
Maybe a cultural difference? -
Ecosystems made me think that in certain cases could meaning evolve? Like the first nation saying 'it's the wolf that keeps the stag strong' (or whatever the exact phrase is)
Or whether this is just a case of ascribing meaning where there is non. -
The Rhino wrote:
Collective intelligence is derived from the mind, not from beyond. As such isn't an alternative answer to external meaning. Tho I can see how the word externalised can be misleading. 'Externaly created beyond the mind', would have been clearer if rather a mouthful lolslugboy wrote:
I was simply asking whether we were meant to assume a singular meaning to the universe. Or multiple meanings to parts within it.
Either doesn't sit well with me, as externalised meaning would basically be 'god' wouldn't it?, a concept I personally find ridiculous.
Possibility of collective intellegence would be an example not involving God
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