The Meaning of Life...

[RoqueBear]

It seems to me theres quite a bit of Western thinking involved with the posts on this forum section. By Western, I mean rotting faith based belief institutions...

I'd like to share a quote from an author I've just started reading. His thoughts are deep and thought provoking. I believe that he is also an INTJ. He seems like an outside the proverbial box thinker. He has some perspective on similar topic posts here.

"Ultimately, Man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible..."
- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

[blueback]

Sounds like gibberish to me. "life" isn't capable of having a conversation with anyone. Maybe it would make more sense with more context.

[xhaan]

In Soviet Russia, you don't ask the meaning of life, life asks the meaning of YOU!

Heh, seriously though.

We're alive because we aren't dead.
We aren't dead, because.. we're alive.

And I think what Bear quoted, means basically:

Don't ask for the meaning of life, because you are it.
There is no ultimate meaning, only what you give to it.

[Antares]

In Soviet Russia, you don't ask the meaning of life, life asks the meaning of YOU!

Heh, seriously though.

We're alive because we aren't dead.
We aren't dead, because.. we're alive.

And I think what Bear quoted, means basically:

Don't ask for the meaning of life, because you are it.
There is no ultimate meaning, only what you give to it.

Sounds about right :thumbsup: I think you have to assign a meaning to your life. Personally, I have an purpose for my self about who I want to be, what I want to achieve and what I want to experience etc.

[richirare]

To me life is both question and answer; the meaning of life is life itself; when you live you are accomplishing the purpose of life, just to live.

[Nomad]

Life just wants to be. I live so that something else might eat. Sacred balance. And dancing naked around a fire with ENFP females.

-Nomad

[bubbles]

It seems to me theres quite a bit of Western thinking involved with the posts on this forum section. By Western, I mean rotting faith based belief institutions...

I'd like to share a quote from an author I've just started reading. His thoughts are deep and thought provoking. I believe that he is also an INTJ. He seems like an outside the proverbial box thinker. He has some perspective on similar topic posts here.

"Ultimately, Man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible..."
- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

I read that same book, too, for my AP English class when I was in twelfth grade, and something in his writing shows that he's INTJ... I think his background as a Holocaust survivor motivated him to write this book. Being in such a hopeless and defeated situation (as a victim of the Holocaust) really makes life seems meaningless. What's the point of living when one's future consists of nothing but misery? Yet, people found motivation to live through the Holocaust despite the torture and despair they faced. I think the author's "meaning of life" refers to the motivation to live. I agree with what he wrote: As long as we continue to live, even if we don't know why, we have something in us ("meaning") that motivates us to do so.

[MetalWounds]

The meaning of life is simply to live...those who search for a higher calling are simply insecure with their own vulnerability.

[xhaan]

The meaning of life is simply to live...those who search for a higher calling are simply insecure with their own vulnerability.

Higher calling has nothing to do with vulerability. Perhaps you mean to say higher power, or something else.

I get the impression that you are/were involved in military in some aspect, which I find commendable, but that is in essence a higher calling, so if this is true then your statement which I quoted is hypocrisy.

Edit: And yes, I guess I understand what you meant. It's just that people have stolen the phrase to mean a calling from something spiritual, but that isn't necessarily the case. A higher calling can simply be a sense of duty, or having a vocation which is above normal standard, not something that you just do, but you do it for something greater than yourself.

[MetalWounds]

yes, I am currently involved with the military, however, not to serve a higher cause, only to benefit myself...G.I. bill anyone?

[logos]

"Ultimately, Man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible..."
- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

In other words, "Life is what you make it."


Simple. Accurate enough. I've got no arguments.

[xhaan]

yes, I am currently involved with the military, however, not to serve a higher cause, only to benefit myself...G.I. bill anyone?

Ah, I get you. You must be doing well to some extent though, therefore you are serving, even if it is for 'selfish' reasons. I think they'd kick you out otherwise. ;D

[Dunno]

I am agnostic. I have not yet figured out the meaning of life. My motivation to live is that I have no idea what happens after one dies and afterdeath is possibly an eternal "hell" so I better try to achieve as much happiness as possible while it seems like this is a reasonable goal.

[Zilal]

I really think this is one of those questions there's no answer to, and part of life is learning to live without an answer. It's a bit disappointing at first, but then you start to think, "Oh, so I can just go eat my sandwich now."

[ssfanatic]

It seems to me theres quite a bit of Western thinking involved with the posts on this forum section. By Western, I mean rotting faith based belief institutions...

I'd like to share a quote from an author I've just started reading. His thoughts are deep and thought provoking. I believe that he is also an INTJ. He seems like an outside the proverbial box thinker. He has some perspective on similar topic posts here.

"Ultimately, Man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible..."
- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
oooh, that man is very mislead. This is my opinion, but the purpose of life is to be a part of something much bigger than ourselves. It is evident in EVERYONE. Some wish to be part of the winning team, others wish to be in the most popular group, others wish the lengthen the bounds of their mind, in turn contributing their thoughts to the greater good. But whatever it may be, we wish to be important, to leave a mark. I find my mark in faith and Christianity, i may not be the most intelligent (theres always at least that one guy, and i found a lot of you "one guys" on here), i find myself spitting our wisdom that i never knew was in me. Wisdom that i pick up through my faith. And in the long run, wisdom is much more important than knowledge (i cant believe i just said that).

[1OFMANY]

It seems to me theres quite a bit of Western thinking involved with the posts on this forum section. By Western, I mean rotting faith based belief institutions...


DO NON rotting ones count?? :P

[ssfanatic]

Man, someone sounds anti-western thinking dont they, well i guess we just better throw away diplomatic government and, if i remember correctly, socialism was a western thought also.

[1OFMANY]

It appears that the days of unchecked aggresion against the people on these boards who have "faith" in a religion are over. I for one do not flame someone for their beliefs, I will not stand idly by and let you trash some one for theirs either. It also appears I am not alone :P

[AgentofGaming]

Man, someone sounds anti-western thinking dont they, well i guess we just better throw away diplomatic government and, if i remember correctly, socialism was a western thought also.

What's wrong with socialism?
and by western thought I suppose he means the christian meaning of life.
(moral handcuffs, servant of whomever in the sky, abortion is wrong etc)

[prometheus]

That is an easy answer:42 The real question is, what is the question? Yes, this is from THHGTTG but seriously, it makes a lot of sense.

[ssfanatic]

What's wrong with socialism?
and by western thought I suppose he means the christian meaning of life.
(moral handcuffs, servant of whomever in the sky, abortion is wrong etc)
I wasnt saying there was anything wrong with it, i was praising it to an extent. I was saying some easy things to remember that originated from western thought. And we cant jump to conclusions, he just said "western thought".
And on the abortion thing,
The whole argument is when is the fetus considered a person, well, we dont know...so why dont we just heir on the side of caution and stray away from it?

[1OFMANY]

What's wrong with socialism?
and by western thought I suppose he means the christian meaning of life.
(moral handcuffs, servant of whomever in the sky, abortion is wrong etc)


How is that "western"?

[AgentofGaming]

And we cant jump to conclusions, he just said "western thought".

Well he is being implicit, so you'd have to jump some conclusions in order to understand.
By Western, I mean rotting faith based belief institutions...g



And on the abortion thing,
The whole argument is when is the fetus considered a person, well, we dont know...so why dont we just heir on the side of caution and stray away from it?
Fair enough, I meant extremely conservative religious people.
As well I'm not here to question on the fetus being a person issue, I'm not in medical science.

How is that "western"?

Western as in something that is prevalent in West Europe and/or North America .
I concede that it is not confined to Western religion but more to fiercely conservative/aggressive religions.

[ssfanatic]

How is that "western"?
It was developed by a European, therefore its western. just bec it was adopted by eastern countries doesnt make it eastern thought.





ssfanatic added to this post, 0 minutes and 45 seconds later...

Well he is being implicit, so you'd have to jump some conclusions in order to understand.




Fair enough, I meant extremely conservative religious people.
As well I'm not here to question on the fetus being a person issue, I'm not in medical science.



Western as in something that is prevalent in West Europe and/or North America .
I concede that it is not confined to Western religion but more to fiercely conservative/aggressive religions.
Thank you for not generalizing me with the extremist, thats a VERY common misconception.

[AgentofGaming]

Thank you for not generalizing me with the extremist, thats a VERY common misconception.

No, I was not at any point attempting to generalize you.

rotting faith based belief institutions...
I was describing the depiction of the quote above, not you.

[ssfanatic]

Ah, sorry i misread it. Ironic, huh.





ssfanatic added to this post, 1 minutes and 50 seconds later...

The meaning of life is simply to live...those who search for a higher calling are simply insecure with their own vulnerability.
Im very secure with myself, as a matter of a fact, i dont even feal the longing to know the meaning of life, no because i dont care, but rather because i find my life perfectly peacefull as is. Thats the generalizing i was talking about. Man is it annoying.

[AgentofGaming]

Ah, sorry i misread it. Ironic, huh.
It's not too ironic since there is about a 50% loss of communication over the Internet.

ssfanatic added to this post, 1 minutes and 50 seconds later...


Im very secure with myself, as a matter of a fact, i dont even feal the longing to know the meaning of life, no because i dont care, but rather because i find my life perfectly peacefull as is. Thats the generalizing i was talking about. Man is it annoying.

Well that seemed to come from another topic where some people claimed something along the lines of 'there was no point in living without a meaning'.



EDIT: Grammar-> Don't proofread once and look what happens: less than 50% of the meaning of my message sent. :angry:

[ssfanatic]

It's not too ironic more like the 50% loss of communication over the Internet.



Well that seemed to come from another topic where some people complained there was no point in living without a meaning.
Its not that i dont feel like there is a meaning of life, but rather that i see no need to find one. I was just trying to say that im secure even though i put beliefs in a higher being. To be honest, this is the first time ive ever really thought about a meaning of life.