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.