Probably the most important question for most philosophers is what's the meaning of life. Although individuals have their own values that provide meaning to each, we don't yet have a verifiable principle or answer, at least in a generalized sense. Throughout history, philosophers, scientists, theologians, film makers, and even comedians have all speculated and claimed an answer. Nihilists claim the alternate - that there isn't any meaning to life. Does meaning precede humanity, or are we the ones who give life meaning? Could there be more than one meaning? Does it matter to you, or do you consider it a silly question?
FTA:
Philosophers and those drawn to various religions tend to be the ones to ask it, and the question can be taken on three levels. We can ask about the meaning of all life, of human life, and of the individual's life...
The question of the meaning of the lives of humans arises more or less acutely at different historical junctures. At times of great religious devoutness, the question is less pressing. Religion has an easier time than philosophy with the question of meaning. First, in religion, the question clearly has meaning; second, the question has an answer, and that answer is a resounding 'Yes.' Gods or spirits render mute the question of the meaning of human life, by folding it within a higher-than-animal purpose. We may be the ones asking the question, but the answer has always been foretold. There is actually no question about the meaning of human life.
Philosophy cannot take this way out. The question is a live one. If there is no 'foreordained' meaning to life, then what sort of meaning is there? It is not that we have the option of living in a world totally devoid of meaning; for, if that were possible, the question of meaning would not even come up. I can only worry about the possible meaninglessness of life if I suppose or hope it might have a meaning after all...
...people look for the meaning of human life, and would be glad to find it 'out there', ready made, a transcendent meaning that surpasses mere animal existence. This is to get things backwards. We are the ones who bring meanings into the world, and then, looking around, find them there.
DISCUSS!
Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Jan 8, 2011 at http://www.braincrave.com/viewblog.php?id=427
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Sep, 2017 update: Although Braincrave resulted in two confirmed marriages, the venture didn't meet financial targets. Rather than updating our outdated code base, we've removed all previous dating profiles and retained the articles that continue to generate interest. Moving to valME.io's platform supports dating profiles (which you are welcome to post) but won't allow typical date-matching functionality (e.g., location proximity, attribute similarity).
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