I’ve always viewed this as an unclear question. I have no idea what kind of answer one might be satisfied with or even view as being legitimate as a response. I think there’s a couple of questions rolled into one with ‘what is the meaning of life’.
“What is the meaning of life?” = “What should I be do with my life?”
“What is the meaning of life?” = “Is there a non-contingent reason for me to act in the world?”
3. “What is the meaning of life?” = “Does the universe/god/nature/etc have intentions about how I should behave”
For myself, I think my answers to all three have a certain similarity. I think this is true for most people and it’s why they get combined into one question about the ‘meaning of life’. Enough preamble. My answer:
I am a particular kind of thing. I am a thing that has interests that are inherent to being the kind of thing I am. I try to act in accordance with what is ‘good for’ the kind of thing that I am. I often fail, but hey-ho. C’est la vie.
Less BS—I gain most of my meaning through conversation, goals which lead me to learn about stuff, moving towards a job that gives me a decent amount of freedom and that interests. Most importantly of all having fun.
On a personal note to you, dear Aprillion : I think having a ‘goal’ is perhaps the most important thing in terms of ‘having something’. The second you start moving towards something you genuinely desire, even if the goal is deeply unrealistic. That feeling of meaninglessness disappears. I won’t say I have some deep sense of ‘meaning’ in some spiritual or zen sort of way. But, I definitely don’t think things have been meaningless since I’ve started to move towards things I fundamentally wanted.
Not asking that question, so ignoring the first part.
Going all the way anti-zen is an option too and I’m glad that the approach worked for you. For me having a goal / meaning / “fundamental want” are all in the same bag of things I’m investigating how other people found their bags, not separate items to pick one at a time 👉👈.
“What is the meaning of life?”
I’ve always viewed this as an unclear question. I have no idea what kind of answer one might be satisfied with or even view as being legitimate as a response. I think there’s a couple of questions rolled into one with ‘what is the meaning of life’.
“What is the meaning of life?” = “What should I be do with my life?”
“What is the meaning of life?” = “Is there a non-contingent reason for me to act in the world?”
3. “What is the meaning of life?” = “Does the universe/god/nature/etc have intentions about how I should behave”
For myself, I think my answers to all three have a certain similarity. I think this is true for most people and it’s why they get combined into one question about the ‘meaning of life’. Enough preamble. My answer:
I am a particular kind of thing. I am a thing that has interests that are inherent to being the kind of thing I am. I try to act in accordance with what is ‘good for’ the kind of thing that I am. I often fail, but hey-ho. C’est la vie.
Less BS—I gain most of my meaning through conversation, goals which lead me to learn about stuff, moving towards a job that gives me a decent amount of freedom and that interests. Most importantly of all having fun.
On a personal note to you, dear Aprillion : I think having a ‘goal’ is perhaps the most important thing in terms of ‘having something’. The second you start moving towards something you genuinely desire, even if the goal is deeply unrealistic. That feeling of meaninglessness disappears. I won’t say I have some deep sense of ‘meaning’ in some spiritual or zen sort of way. But, I definitely don’t think things have been meaningless since I’ve started to move towards things I fundamentally wanted.
Not asking that question, so ignoring the first part.
Going all the way anti-zen is an option too and I’m glad that the approach worked for you. For me having a goal / meaning / “fundamental want” are all in the same bag of things I’m investigating how other people found their bags, not separate items to pick one at a time 👉👈.