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.