A question asked on the Q & A program this week was "Does life have a purpose?".

I have viewed a number of websites on the meaning of life, many are in depth.

One quote, says: “You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life” - receiving the highest rating on that site.

The comment is "existentialism" - that each individual, not society or religion, is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living.

This in many ways sounds fine - but it once again ignores other views particularly that of the natural world and other animals.

How can we change humans minds that living elements on the planet called "Earth" and surrounds do have a purpose? How do get a message out there that we was humans "are" dependent on the natural world?

How do we get people to think more about life and not just fill it with "junk" and think more about our whole society?

''morning Nathan,

If you raise this question then unfortunately, you don't have one, a life that is!

If you need proof of this fact I've got even more very bad news for you, you won't find an answer on Google or Q&A.

"This in many ways sounds fine - but it once again ignores other views..."

You mean the views of other human individuals such as yourself, I assume, since we have no way of knowing what the Xeelee or other sci-fi imagined species might really think?

I've used it before but I'll repeat Leslie Dean Brown's quote with my addendum:

“Life decreases local entropy” - LDB.

"Entropy doesn't notice" - me.

So many questions, NathanJ.

>>How can we change humans minds that living elements on the planet called "Earth" and surrounds do have a purpose? How do get a message out there that we was humans "are" dependent on the natural world? How do we get people to think more about life and not just fill it with "junk" and think more about our whole society?<<

So few answers.

And there is a very good reason for that. You are asking questions based upon another, larger question, to which you have already - erroneously - assumed an answer. Namely:

"Does life have a purpose?"

If, as so many have determined, life does not in fact have any intrinsic purpose, then your proposal that we "change humans minds" on the topic assumes the diametrically opposite situation.

So, in order to provide substance to this, and your follow-up questions, you first need to demonstrate that life does, indeed, have a purpose. Furthermore, it would also be necessary to explain precisely what that purpose is, in order to know to what conclusion we need to direct the change of those human minds.

I look forward to your providing this essential prerequisite information, so that the rest of us can sensibly join the conversation.

Suppose your friend or lover comes in front of you and instead of hugging them you say, "wait, where is your shadow, I need to measure it" - that's what 'meaning' is: the mental shadow cast by that object which is then deemed "meaningful" (or "mind-shading"). Indulging the mind with "giving meaning to life and living" is therefore just that: a form of mental onanism.

Does life have a purpose? I think so, but then that purpose must be outside/beyond life, for if that purpose were within life, then it would be cyclical nonsense.

Now a few unrelated questions were posed (why not under a different discussion?):

<<How can we change humans minds that living elements on the planet called "Earth" and surrounds do have a purpose?>>

There are several ways to influence human minds, some soft, others quite violent - but why would one want to do it? Especially once it is understood that if life has a purpose, then that purpose cannot be part of life itself.

<<How do get a message out there that we was humans "are" dependent on the natural world?>>

That humans are dependent on the natural world is already taught in every school. WE, however, do not depend on the natural world, only the human which we temporarily wear does.

<<How do we get people to think more about life and not just fill it with "junk" and think more about our whole society?>>

There are quite a few ways to make people think about whatever you want them to think - whole industries such as the media do just that. The more profound question is how to help people to rid of their minds and STOP thinking.

What does life mean? Too often humans see it as 'people only'. So often a lot of people will 'look away' at the element of the natural world, very conveniently. We have other forms of life in terms of waterways, oceans, reefs, other living creatures like birds fish and kangaroos, soils for plants to live, the Sun and other planets, stars and hopefully into the future - fresh, clean air.

In terms of life having a purpose - yes it does, simply living - but depending on each living situation - it does not mean it is found or understood by all living creatures or every element will be the same.

In terms of changing a 'mind' 'set' - birth from day one is vital, a lifestyle change through direct action for those who lost out at a childhood level, individual education taken on or an unfortunate shock factor.

So what happens one year can be different to others and what occurs to one living individuals spectrum can be different to another in the whole sphere of living, planets and the spaces that surround all elements.

Down through the ages ring questions as to the
nature of humankind. Are we masters of our own
destiny or playthings of the gods? How will the
battle of good and evil end? Is death an end or
a beginning?

In what we like to think of as more primitive times
man speculated and symbolised his answers in story:
what we call myth. What causes night and day? Why do
the seasons come and go? How? What's the origin of fire?
Flood? Disaster?

Every culture it would seem, has its mythology, needs
answers to the unknown that satisfy an inner need,
needs some sort of belief system to govern life.
The nature of man is a seeking, curious,
speculative creature seeking answers to the
imponderables of life, and looking for a faith to steady
him and give him direction. As science
provides answers, new questions and new dilemmas arise.
And man's ongoing spiritual search for a way to Truth and
Life continues.

Of course life has no intrinsic meaning, even your conception was merely a race between sperm, not a giant cosmic plan. The only meaning to a life is what that life injects into it.

For me life is about feelings, physical or emotional.

The feeling of driving a very fast car across the top of the mountain at Bathurst, the feeling of a good horse gathering himself under you before a jump, or a yacht surfing down a wave on the way to Hobart. These are physical feelings you will never forget.

Then there is the feeling written on the face of your pit crew after a win or a loss, & knowing you are responsible for their feelings.

There is the feeling for a loved one, or a child, so different when they are hurt, or victorious in something no matter how small.

I get a warm feeling every time I walk down the paddock, & my old stallion gives me a whiney, & comes up for a pat, a 27 year old friendship. Then there is the pleasure when the just out of the nest magpie jumps up onto your knee, when you are sitting out front feeding the flock a bit of mince.

If this is the meaning of life, I'm all for it, but for many it is more about a new stainless steel oven. Well so what, who the hell am I to tell others what should give their lives meaning.

The meaning of life,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBArMmngVH4&list=PL6kapv4YcqLalu3M9UvFPuSB2cdWDG1S_

NathanJ,

Live in the moment. Read a lot and travel, not as a tourist though - throw the camera away and absorb.

Spirituality? That is personal and Hasbeen has shown you the way, maybe not intentionally.

Thank you onthebeach, enlightened right up to the penises, lighthearted from there. Flowers weren't impressed though.

Pericles,

>>"Does life have a purpose?”<<

I think this question does not make much sense. I can only ask and try to answer the question “Does MY life have a purpose for ME?”, i.e. “Do I see a purpose in MY life?” with a YES or NO, eventually with qualifications. I cannot ask, even less answer, the question “Does YOUR life have a purpose for YOU?”, and an answer to “Do I see a purpose in YOUR life?” is irrelevant even inconsiderate or worse, although I might be able to ask (but not answer for you) the question “Do YOU see a purpose in YOUR life?”

Does life have a purpose, pre-given, ready-made ? No.

Should life have a purpose ? Of course, usually in the company of others, including humans, and we're working on it all our lives: purpose as we see it.

Yeah, that's about it really.

Joe

Does Life Have a purpose?

Yes.

The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

Meaning lies in us, not in things.

Man's questioning never ceases. We
live with the fear of nuclear catastrophe and
so we search for certainty. The supreme quest
of every age is to look beyond the edge of
present vision.

Rabbi Marianne Williamson once stated -

"In every community there is work to be done.
In every nation there are wounds to heal
In every heart there is the power to do it."

Robert F. Kennedy summed up:

"The purpose of life is to contribute
in some way to make things better!"

Not quite sure why you pointed this at me, George.

>>Pericles, >"Does life have a purpose?”< I think this question does not make much sense.<<

It was the question posed by the opening post, even to the extent of being included in the title of the thread. And my own contribution echoes yours, to the extent that in my view, it is a question that cannot have any single answer. As I said:

"You are asking questions based upon another, larger question, to which you have already - erroneously - assumed an answer."

I don't mind being quoted. But it does confuse things terribly when you attribute someone else's words to me.

On a topic such as this, unless someone is prepared to provide an acceptable, impersonal definition of the word "purpose", all we will get is a personal warm-and-woolly statement as to how wonderful life is for the individual.

Or their shadow, if you happen to be Yuyutsu:

>>Suppose your friend or lover comes in front of you and instead of hugging them you say, "wait, where is your shadow, I need to measure it" - that's what 'meaning' is: the mental shadow cast by that object which is then deemed "meaningful" (or "mind-shading"). Indulging the mind with "giving meaning to life and living" is therefore just that: a form of mental onanism.<<

If my "friend or lover" said anything of the sort to me, I'd back away, slowly, talking in low soothing tones while simultaneously arranging psychiatric help.

What is unfortunate is that for many the new ethos(since Whitlam) is encapsulated in entitlement and dependency, with the 'gubbermint' doing everything for them.

Selfishness and jealousy grow insidiously, as does interference in others' backyards. The cursed political correctness is everywhere.

Thinking of this thread, I would be hoping that the OP is intending to get off his own behind to go out and do some things himself, rather than doing what so many others do, which is taking long draws on sucking on the taxpayer's teat while scolding the said taxpayer - the respectable citizen working and being responsible - on how to live his/her life.

Pericles,

>>Not quite sure why you pointed this at me, George. … And my own contribution echoes yours, to the extent that in my view, it is a question that cannot have any single answer.<<

Sorry, I did not want to point it at you if that means contradicting you. Au contraire, I thought I was complementing, expanding on what you wrote. Nobody can tell you what you see as the purpose of your life, (including the claim, should you make it, that you see your life as lacking any purpose).

People could speak of what SHOULD be the purpose of a person’s life (see e.g. Foxy’s or Yuyutsu’s posts). That, however, sounds like giving advice, even preaching, and its acceptance depends on how close are the world views, for instance morals, of the giver and receiver of the advice.

42, the almighty answer to the Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything is 42. It was calculated by the computer Deep Thought for seven million years and when asked to build a better computer to discover the Question to the Life, the Universe, and Everything, it built the Earth. Before the Earth could tell the Question however, it was destroyed by the Vogons to make room for an interstellar highway bypass. For more information, see The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Definitely a scientific truth is that the Meaning of Life is 42. Do not be deceived by 'false prophets' who erroneously claim the Meaning of Life is only 41, unlike 42 there is no scientific basis to this preposterous claim that the meaning of Life is in fact 41, or any other number other than 42.
NathanJ, I hope what i have posted above has been of benefit to you in your quest for the Meaning of Lift, rarely do I impart such profound knowledge to a fellow human being, but in your case I have made an exception. Cheer'o and God's speed, in your quest for whatever it is you are questing! Is that clear, I hope so.

That was the confusing part, George.

>>Sorry, I did not want to point it at you if that means contradicting you. Au contraire, I thought I was complementing, expanding on what you wrote.<<

If you had quoted me, instead of the opening post, things would have been a touch clearer.

But then you say...

>>Nobody can tell you what you see as the purpose of your life, (including the claim, should you make it, that you see your life as lacking any purpose).<<

There is a clear difference in logic between "life" having a purpose - as in, the concept that there might be a reason (purpose) behind our presence on earth, and "my life" having a purpose, which is entirely up to me.

I thought that NathanJ was referring to the former. Which is why I pointed out that the preponderance of responses tended to answer the latter. But then again, I don't see anyone really willing to get serious about the "life on earth" question anyway, so all we can expect are personal platitudes.

Pericles,

>>There is a clear difference in logic between "life" having a purpose - as in, the concept that there might be a reason (purpose) behind our presence on earth, and "my life" having a purpose, which is entirely up to me. <<

This is exactly what I tacitly assumed when I wrote that the impersonal version of the question did not make much sense, and expanded only on the personal version.

Looks as though we are in complete agreement then, George.

>>This is exactly what I tacitly assumed when I wrote that the impersonal version of the question did not make much sense, and expanded only on the personal version.<<

Which is a good way to start the day.

Dear Pericles,

<<If my "friend or lover" said anything of the sort to me, I'd back away, slowly, talking in low soothing tones while simultaneously arranging psychiatric help.>>

Exactly! I am glad you understand - trying to find the meaning of life is insane.

Life is present and readily available in front of our nose, within our breath, but some of us, instead of embracing it try to capture its shadow, its reflection on the human mind. What a waste!

Dear Paul,

Indeed, when the shadow of life falls on a mind, it takes different shapes and forms. It is quite believable that when it fell on Deep Thought's mind, it took the form of "42". When falling on another mind, it could be perhaps "strawberry jam", but not the real strawberry jam, unfortunately - only the idea of it!

The meaning of life….that’s a massive question and not to mention other life with-in these universes let’s say for argument sake. Let’s put earth as the number 1, then 000000000000000000000 of time passes, then another 1 appears, then more time passes 00000000000000000000000000000000, and you guessed it, another 1 appears. The maths on this being the only one, well, the mind can only think with-in its time lines of.
Each and every life form has its path, how to choose which path is split into three categories? Can you name the three which applies?
I will give a clue…..only the strongest survives.

You have to think very deeply on this, for the meaning of to me may well be different to you and that’s the point of us as a new and yet to be a completed life form.
1 ask yourself what you want.
2 ask yourself what you need.
3 ask yourself can I get it.
These are my top three questions I ask myself every morning.
This is my split.

What is yours?



Tally

It is about looking at a meaning for life with a purpose. Too many people today and no doubt in the past have simply a "its in front of our nose" approach.

Its a very easy "cop out" of the debate option.

But what does this do in terms of improving a life? No, I don't think we as humans should obsess 24 hours a day, seven days a week about the meaning of life or question it.

However this was the connection to point to about why so many people fill their minds with junk from 2014. This is an easier option, than a philosophical thought or change to life - its something you can pull off the shelf of a shop, its a piece of fast food or a $$$ designer label piece of clothing.

For so many people, there's not even one focus on even (one) say small element that could give their life more meaning, or even a basic recognition that we as living creatures need a protected natural environment to live in.

Its easier to simply turn away, turn on the T.V set, lay on the lounge - or spend money at the shops.

Dear Nathan,

You assume that finding a meaning to life would change how we live - specifically for the better.

But it doesn't work this way. So many of us have ideas and ideals, but do not live up to them, so at most it can make us feel guilty, inadequate and eventually despair and forget all about it.

Meaning is a feature of the human mind - it does not otherwise exist in nature. How could you possibly expect the mind, itself the repository of greed and vanity, to sacrifice itself for higher things such as protecting the environment and all its living creatures?

I recently found a 1945 cookbook that was printed locally where I live, which had recipes including brains and I was told you can still buy brains today in Butchers shops in 2014. It didn't sound very tasty.

This can be how much some people value a brain.

It's something to eat or unless you are a top class person - like a teacher, doctor, nurse or specialist, your life really isn't worth much or you can't change - your mind is set. Set by others, including elements.

It can be difficult, particularly in a society, dominated by the right wing movement and the socialists - and if you don't fit into their standards you are attacked and have to defend your credentials. I know this - as I go through it myself - being individual and different.

Some hate me to death (and I've been verbally attacked for example) but when people do see some of the things I've done - they realise change can be made in our community.

P.S My brain is filled with a green element, being environmental (not the political party) - maybe its genetic?

Nathan J >> What does life mean? Too often humans see it as 'people only'. So often a lot of people will 'look away' at the element of the natural world, very conveniently. We have other forms of life in terms of waterways, oceans, reefs, other living creatures like birds fish and kangaroos, soils for plants to live, the Sun and other planets, stars and hopefully into the future - fresh, clean air.<< >> It can be difficult, particularly in a society, dominated by the right wing movement and the socialists - and if you don't fit into their standards you are attacked and have to defend your credentials. I know this - as I go through it myself - being individual and different. <<

Reading through your posts and especially your most recent post it appears to me that when you raised this topic you had a specific agenda on your mind. Throughout your posts you refer to 'So many people...' and go on to say they are essentially wrong in their thinking or way of living.

None of us knows exactly how each one of us fits into the big picture or what purpose each one of us (including all the animals, microbes, plants trees, bacteria etc) contributes.

Nathan, its a giant assumption on your part that being Green, leaning to left politically, or even loving your neighbour is better than someone else's path; in fact none of those things are the purpose of life.

For me Life is a magical spark that differentiates everything that is alive from that which is not; life is a natural force in itself that is like an ocean, containing all living things throughout the whole universe. Individual's or at least their bodies can die but Life, the all encompassing Life Force is infinite and cannot be destroyed. Life as we know it may change significantly over time and is guaranteed to go on with or without human participation.

So what is the purpose of Life? Being, while you can.

NathanJ, "I recently found a 1945 cookbook that was printed locally where I live, which had recipes including brains and I was told you can still buy brains today in Butchers shops in 2014. It didn't sound very tasty"

You are not going to fit in with the pretentious and materialistic 'cream' of the academics and public bureaucrats who are the leftist 'Progressive' elite manipulating Greens and Labor social policy.

As hipsters, they like to be seen in those trendy restaurants with very large plates and small servings, where offal such as crumbed brains is the (expensive) dish of the day. Add an affected (likely kitch) label to it and these posing 'connoisseurs of good food' wolf it down.

"Chef recommends stuffed camel hump as the main course."
"How unusual, ethnic, diverse, we will all have it of course", as the diners each bob with learned multicult obeisance as their entre servings of Manipur Rakti arrive. The waiter says it is authentic indigenous Nepali, made from goat's blood not pig.

Still, that keeps them away from annoying the waiters and patrons in established restaurants, which is good.

deny Creator and show yourself as totally clueless.Most posts have certainly confirmed that.

The meaning of life is life itself, it serves its own purpose.

Tally

Consertavehippie,

If I took your logic, no comments would be made by myself or others. I would be in a shut up mode, which I have been before - or am I being pressured into it, because some may not like what I say?

You are entitled to your agenda or views just as much as I am, the difference is I challenge normal things and go for it.

I've said to myself I'm not going to the anti LIberal Party protests for example, because for myself a lot of these people were very silent during the previous labor government. I tried to get some action and change, but It was so difficult. It was like talking to a brick wall.

I was very annoying because a lot of people I knew said nothing about the environment at all or other policies and then as soon as the Liberal Party came into office we had what look like daily protests, still going today.

I will be myself regardless of what others think or If I am attacked! One time I even got a vile email from a person who hated me, that to me is their life, not mine.

Runner, if we are to believe what you say; <<deny Creator and show yourself as totally clueless>> You being a believer in a "Creator", then please pray tell us what is your excuse for being totally clueless.

Tally, that's a bit deep isn't it, but I'll go alone with it, as long as its your next shout!

<<I was told you can still buy brains today in Butchers shops in 2014.>> Beach what kind of insular world do you live in. Not only can you still buy brains, you could use a pack yourself, might give you the IQ of a sheep, anything would have to be an improvement. You can also buy tripe of which you publish liberal quantities onto this forum, just read your last post. You seem to be living on a steady diet of schwein scheiße and sauerkraut. What social policy are you trying to manipulate?

Paul1405,

NathanJ said that not me. [@NathanJ, Friday, 24 October 2014 9:04:36 PM]

For all those posters wandering aimlessly and searching for life's meaning, I highly recommend Kenan Malik's wonderful book, just out, called "The Search for a Moral Compass: a World History of Ethics". Absolutely brilliant.

Being not too bright, I'll have to read it two or three times. Maybe perseverance is a boost to the search for a purpose to life. First time around, I think he's a bit hard on liberals but second time, we'll see.

It should be in the more superior bookshops.

If you can't find that, try Viktor Frankl's Search for Meaning. There's a bloke who knew what it meant.

Joe

Beach, NathanJ did indeed say that (about brains), but the rest of the guff about <<the pretentious and materialistic 'cream' of the academics and public bureaucrats who are the leftist 'Progressive' elite manipulating Greens and Labor social policy.>> Is yours! I can not speak for The Labor Party, but in the case of The Greens this is demonstratively untrue. As a democratic grass roots political party, policy in The Greens is formulated by the broad base of the membership, not some "elite". There is no 'Progressive' elite manipulating party social policy, as you put it.
What type of "elite" manipulates your parties social policy?

Paul1405,

"What kind of insular world do you live in. Not only can you still buy brains, you could use a pack yourself, might give you the IQ of a sheep, anything would have to be an improvement."

This is exactly the problem. You talk about improvement? What type? The type you want at the dinner table?

Too many elements of life, including that of humans - don't reach their fullest potential because they are told too often how to live by others.

One example: A simplistic war (by some adults) on public versus private schools. Speaking to one person who HATED private schools having government funding, I said what about the students? The parents have selected that child's schooling and I didn't want to see any students worse off, particularly those not doing well at school. The person understood my attitude.

I found one comment that highlights why respect, hopefully leading to individual improvement is good: "Is there a point in being born, struggling to live, only to let go when death arrives?"

NathanJ, are you referring to the 'dinner table socialist' with <<You talk about improvement? What type? The type you want at the dinner table?>> Just as not every christian can be a Mother Teresa, can every socialists be a great social reformer like Mahatma Gandhi. The contribution by any individual no matter how great, is puny when compared to the contribution of the total collective as a whole.
Many I know within my own party, as I'm sure there are many within both The Liberal and Labor Parties, do far more than simply sit around talking politics over dinner. These people are at the forefront of practical action within our community on a wide range of issues and causes. Obviously some, because of their position and wealth in society can be seen as doing more that others who do not hold such privilege, Is their contribution greater, in my opinion, no, contribution should be according to ones capacity to contribute, and by no other measure.

Nathan, the food we eat the vocations we conduct and the relationships we form all serve towards one purpose ...that is sustaining us for procreation and the means to conduct safe passage of our offspring to procreation age.

But the “meaning of life” to me revolves around the fact that we share the same genetic material with all forms of life on this planet..............except our consciousness.

Every living thing has an innate anti Kamikaze chip that prevents self harm and promotes longevity. Nature itself alters the structure of the living things to accommodate environmental change....but only humans were gifted (burdened) with a consciousness that understands the concept of mortality. Someone once argued with me that Elephants grieve so they understand mortality....I qualified that they understood loss, they understand the concept of animate and in animate, but do not relate it to their own being....they push and prod the dead carcass for hours hoping for a response...only humans have the pre cognition of mortality because of our unique consciousness.

If we discover why we have this human only "consciousness" the meaning to life may be answered.....that’s the best I can come up with Nathan.

There is no such thing as meaning in and of itself. Meaning is in the relationship of a thing to a person. So if "life" has a meaning, we must ask "meaning to whom?"

"How can we change humans minds that living elements on the planet called "Earth" and surrounds do have a purpose?"

Whose purpose? Whose intention? If it is not ourselves, then we must ask if this other person, who means and intends something by our lives, has our best interests at heart. If indeed our lives have a purpose, then I truly hope that purposer is not that bloke who drowned everyone in the world aside from eight people, who human-sacrificed his own son to himself to appease his own anger.

"How do get a message out there that we was humans "are" dependent on the natural world?"

Are we? Once we start living on algae that we grow in vats, will we really need nature at all anymore? Before working on getting the message out, it might be worthwhile spending a little time making sure that the message you are trying to get out is right.

PaulMurrayCbr,

Too many humans today in countries like Australia - are so anthropocentric, seeing humans as the central or most significant species on the planet, and assess day to day issues purely through a human perspective. This has been at the expense of the natural world.

It's not that I dislike humans, it's just that our 'living' environment (like water, soil, forests, beaches and bushland) - which does have does have a purpose - is something a lot of humans in general do not connect with.

Humans were not brought up in a nest in a large gum tree, were not a koala bred in native bushland or a seal born on an Australian beach.

Now living in 2014 - there are bigger challenges to face, life wise that connect to the natural world, that humans do need to recognise. After all we as humans now life in Australia, in a changing environment where in earlier times only Australian native animals lived on this continent.

Things to consider: The protection of soils, clean and rational use of water and environmental protection - for the benefit of all animal species.

This is essential for food production for example - after all animal species do like to eat and also like clean water for drinking - and these are only two pieces of important living natural elements.

Dear Nathan,

Caring for and protecting the environment is your forte - metaphysics is not, so you could achieve so much by writing on the former and not mixing it with the latter.

That's simply nonsense, NathanJ.

>>...our 'living' environment (like water, soil, forests, beaches and bushland) - which does have does have a purpose<<

If you ask a glass of water "what is your purpose", it would only be able to answer in terms of its relationship to you. Beaches do not have a "purpose", they are simply the result of water on rock.

>>Too many humans today... assess day to day issues purely through a human perspective.<<

This is absolutely no different to your "water, soil, forests, beaches and bushland", who also assess day to day issues purely through their own perspective, and selfishly exploit their surroundings in order to survive.

None of which indicates "purpose".

(I'm actually quite chuffed that I was able to provide post number 42 on this thread.)

Pericles,

Lol!

For those who don't get it and are thinking Pericles has finally lost the plot...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrases_from_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Answer_to_the_Ultimate_Question_of_Life.2C_the_Universe.2C_and_Everything_.2842.29

You may quite rightly be chuffed at providing post number 42 on the thread, Pericles, but if you could also supply the Ultimate Question as recommended by Deep Thought:

"It would have been simpler, of course, to have known what the actual question was."

The payoff being the same as Zaphod's reasons for wanting to know it:

"Oh. Well -- partly the curiosity, partly a sense of adventure, but mostly I think it's for the fame and the money."

The question to ask at a basic level is that if something is living, does it have a purpose? It doesn't have to be a model walking down a catwalk. In terms of basic assessment of environmental matters - it is not about looking from the top down - it is a simple principle, that our natural world must be protected, regardless of any "basis" that a human may have, or want.

Protecting the natural world (even if a natural environment is seen as having limited value by some humans) we can't say our planet has lost much with forms of protection.

Scientific facts for example re the River Murray and surrounds:

"The Basin’s flat terrain, low rainfall and high evaporation rates contribute to increased salt concentration across the landscape. Land clearing and irrigation has increasingly mobilised salt (into the landscape and river systems). Compounding this has been the increasing proportion of river flows being diverted for irrigation, industrial and urban uses. There is now less flow in the river to dilute inflows of saline groundwater."

http://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/pubs/MDBA-14165-Brochure-WEB-FA.pdf

The life of the Murray Darling Basin and wetlands do in my view have a life and purpose. "Wetlands, the Basin's most productive and biologically diverse ecosystems, provide essential breeding and feeding habitats for many kinds of organisms, waterbirds, fish, invertebrates, and plants."

"Wetlands play an important role in landscape function, including cycling of carbon, water and nutrients, food and fibre production, water purification, regulation of flows, provision of habitats, and tourism and recreation services with wetlands covering approximately six to nine per cent of the Earth's surface and contain about 35 per cent of global terrestrial carbon."

http://www.mdba.gov.au/about-basin/basin-environment/ecosystems/rivers-wetlands

http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/issues-paper-role-wetlands-carbon-cycle

Too many people on this site are 'city-centric'. Our living natural world can have a value, even as simple as something to look at.

As long as there are tasty animals. Did a superb bolognaise for lunch. Our own 'toms', San Marzano and Gold, make a beautiful sauce. Roast lamb tonight with home grown herbs and vegetables. Too easy and already on. Would have liked to make a venison casserole, but none left unfortunately. Wherever did those backstraps in the chiller go? Oh, I remember now (done with pine nuts and red) and what a pleasant evening that was.

What interesting names you give your cats, onthebeach.

>>Our own 'toms', San Marzano and Gold, make a beautiful sauce.<<

Yum.

Tally, that's a bit deep isn't it, but I'll go alone with it, as long as its your next shout!

Paul, real thinking might not be in your best interests or the meaning of, which might of accidently flown the coop:) Now, you know I don't like BIG words, so please reframe?

Tally

Pericles, "What interesting names you give your cats, onthebeach"

No, you are thinking of the imported 'diversity' enhancement to restaurant cuisine (to get away from boring T-bone with chips or barra with side salad).

You are no gardener either, so I should not be telling you that I have some Patriots on stakes (ahem, I should say tied to stakes, not Vlad the Impaler style), and Ballerinas for drying. Looking forward to stuffing the Ballerinas first.

You are a very naughty boy introducing humour to this thread.

You are a very naughty boy introducing humour to this thread.

OTB..your quite right:)

Pericles, what were you thinking?

Tally

"Dear Nathan, Caring for and protecting the environment is your forte - metaphysics is not..." Yuyutsu

Excellent summation and well said.