Ask HN: What is the meaning of life? Why are we here?
17 comments
We’re here because molecules that make the most effectively self-reproducing near-copies of themselves are most likely to continue to exist. The purpose of a human life is to perpetuate some of those molecules.
There is no meaning to life — just laws of physics and “laws” of natural selection that together cause it. But I suppose you’re welcome to make up something if it’s important to you.
There is no meaning to life — just laws of physics and “laws” of natural selection that together cause it. But I suppose you’re welcome to make up something if it’s important to you.
What is the meaning of life? Why are we here?
George Carlin had a theory and I can't find any noteworthy flaws in it. [1] Our entire purpose could be to make plastic.
[1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rld0KDcan_w
George Carlin had a theory and I can't find any noteworthy flaws in it. [1] Our entire purpose could be to make plastic.
[1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rld0KDcan_w
"The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people recognize, that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation."
It's by Neil deGrasse Tyson but probably still worth thinking about.
It's by Neil deGrasse Tyson but probably still worth thinking about.
Would you care if someone gave it to you and didn't like the meaning? If God almighty descended from the heavens and told you the purpose of existence was to eventually create his favorite Vtuber or hyperparasitic wasp, would you devote your life to it?
[deleted]
The meaning of life is agency and accountability.
Objectively the question is unanswerable and hence meaningless. That is just a neutral fact.
However, We experience "Objective Reality" through our Subjective Senses and infer/deduce more in our "Mind" from experiences/memories/recorded knowledge/etc. using various methodologies/tools.
Based on the above, we build "Worldviews" expressed as "Philosophies" and practiced as "Religions". It is in this domain that your questions make sense and answers can be given. A materialistic/utilitarian philosophy will give you a different answer from an idealistic one.
Note that though objective reality exists (since it is common to others besides oneself) it is through our observations/perceptions/deductions of it through our senses (and extensions of it via technology) that the mind defines/accepts a worldview model. A good way to think about it is as a blank canvas (i.e. nihilism) on which you paint your chosen philosophies.
It is for this reason that ancient Hindu/Buddhist/Greek/etc. philosophies placed "The Mind" at the center of existence and framed "Reality as an Illusion" i.e. your perceived/deduced reality actually exists on a more fundamental substrate. An example often used is that of waves on water where water is the reality and waves are the illusion since they come and go.
Hindu/Buddhist philosophies go further by disambiguating "The Mind" (the field in which emotions/feelings/experiences/thoughts/memories operate) from "Consciousness" (pure awareness which witnesses the above). Based on these theories they define a "universal framework" (viz. goals, stages and duty in life) for all of mankind. Here is a previous comment of mine explaining it - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48325659
Some resources for further study;
1) Philosophy in a Meaningless Life: A System of Nihilism, Consciousness and Reality by James Tartaglia (free ebook) - https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph?docid=b-9781...
2) In Hinduism, the different philosophical schools are called "Darsanas" which literally means a mode of seeing reality i.e. a worldview. There are six major schools and lots of minor ones. A good introduction can be found in An Introduction to Indian Philosophy by Satischandra Chatterjee and Dhirendramohan Datta. Pdf at - https://archive.org/download/IntroductionToIndianPhilosophy/...
However, We experience "Objective Reality" through our Subjective Senses and infer/deduce more in our "Mind" from experiences/memories/recorded knowledge/etc. using various methodologies/tools.
Based on the above, we build "Worldviews" expressed as "Philosophies" and practiced as "Religions". It is in this domain that your questions make sense and answers can be given. A materialistic/utilitarian philosophy will give you a different answer from an idealistic one.
Note that though objective reality exists (since it is common to others besides oneself) it is through our observations/perceptions/deductions of it through our senses (and extensions of it via technology) that the mind defines/accepts a worldview model. A good way to think about it is as a blank canvas (i.e. nihilism) on which you paint your chosen philosophies.
It is for this reason that ancient Hindu/Buddhist/Greek/etc. philosophies placed "The Mind" at the center of existence and framed "Reality as an Illusion" i.e. your perceived/deduced reality actually exists on a more fundamental substrate. An example often used is that of waves on water where water is the reality and waves are the illusion since they come and go.
Hindu/Buddhist philosophies go further by disambiguating "The Mind" (the field in which emotions/feelings/experiences/thoughts/memories operate) from "Consciousness" (pure awareness which witnesses the above). Based on these theories they define a "universal framework" (viz. goals, stages and duty in life) for all of mankind. Here is a previous comment of mine explaining it - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48325659
Some resources for further study;
1) Philosophy in a Meaningless Life: A System of Nihilism, Consciousness and Reality by James Tartaglia (free ebook) - https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph?docid=b-9781...
2) In Hinduism, the different philosophical schools are called "Darsanas" which literally means a mode of seeing reality i.e. a worldview. There are six major schools and lots of minor ones. A good introduction can be found in An Introduction to Indian Philosophy by Satischandra Chatterjee and Dhirendramohan Datta. Pdf at - https://archive.org/download/IntroductionToIndianPhilosophy/...
I'm sad. Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? What is the point of anything?
To get that perspective from within one needs to give in to nature. Simply sit on a bench in a park for an hour. Do not talk to anyone, do not listen or watch anything. Just sit there. Outdoor.
The meaning of life is forgiveness, experience (present and anticipation of future ones), action, sharing/connection/responsibility to others.
I'm sad too. I think the point of life is experience, so take in the experience you're having and make the most of it. This might be the saddest point in your life, and someday you may need it to understand yourself or someone else through the lens of where you are today, or to fuel something you can't yet imagine. Make sure you have positive experiences at least weekly, if just a walk.
Ask yourself: what can I take from today? Do I want things to change? How did I get here? Is this sadness enough to make me choose a different path? If the answer is yes, then don't worry about solving everything. Just figure out the first step.
Then comes connection. Do you have someone you can talk through these questions with? If you decide change is needed, would they be willing to help hold future you accountable to the commitments you're making today, without it harming your relationship? And how can you make that reciprocal? Do you have responsibility to someone? If yes, do you intend to fulfill it? If yes, figure out the first step in doing that. (parent who needs your success, spouse, friend you owe a debt to).
It reminds me of a lot of the best religious principles, it's why they were come up with. Forgive yourself/others/your situation so you can keep moving instead of becoming paralyzed. Work to improve yourself. Let others lightening your load but then fulfill your obligations to others. Be a real friend, and remember that being a friend also means being willing to receive help and (potentially selfless) responsibilities on your part. Actively and intentionally reflect on your day at the end of the day and again forgive yourself/others/your situation so you can continue in action and not be paralyzed, look back on your week at the end of the week, and on your life at regular milestones.
I'm sad too. I think the point of life is experience, so take in the experience you're having and make the most of it. This might be the saddest point in your life, and someday you may need it to understand yourself or someone else through the lens of where you are today, or to fuel something you can't yet imagine. Make sure you have positive experiences at least weekly, if just a walk.
Ask yourself: what can I take from today? Do I want things to change? How did I get here? Is this sadness enough to make me choose a different path? If the answer is yes, then don't worry about solving everything. Just figure out the first step.
Then comes connection. Do you have someone you can talk through these questions with? If you decide change is needed, would they be willing to help hold future you accountable to the commitments you're making today, without it harming your relationship? And how can you make that reciprocal? Do you have responsibility to someone? If yes, do you intend to fulfill it? If yes, figure out the first step in doing that. (parent who needs your success, spouse, friend you owe a debt to).
It reminds me of a lot of the best religious principles, it's why they were come up with. Forgive yourself/others/your situation so you can keep moving instead of becoming paralyzed. Work to improve yourself. Let others lightening your load but then fulfill your obligations to others. Be a real friend, and remember that being a friend also means being willing to receive help and (potentially selfless) responsibilities on your part. Actively and intentionally reflect on your day at the end of the day and again forgive yourself/others/your situation so you can continue in action and not be paralyzed, look back on your week at the end of the week, and on your life at regular milestones.
work. sleep. reproduce.
Genetic legacy, societal legacy, and simple vibing.
Most anyone who has had children that have outlived them have satisfied the genetic legacy. Yes, that dilutes very rapidly, but it’s there.
Societal/civilizational legacy is where you are remembered by many after you have died. Thomas Edison and Nikolai Tesla achieved civilizational legacy. So did Cleopatra and Alexander and Genghis Kahn. Rush Limbaugh? Not so much. He failed at leaving a legacy.
The final level is vibing. Finding yourself, understanding yourself, finding peace within yourself, and being one with the universe. Enjoying every day that comes along. Finding satisfaction in everything you do.