Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Amaras · 11-10-2008, 08:28 AM

Wow, great thread. I spent years delving into the "meaning of life". Here is what I came up with
(short form, and shaped by my present circumstances).

Life inherently has no meaning to the one who lived it, once it is over. Life, in the larger sense, exists only to propagate itself,
to create more life. The instinct to mate and have children is the biggest reason humanity is here to ask these types of
questions.

I cannot come up with any reason why "existence" exists. That's not to say it's unknowable, I just don't know it.

If my reason cannot justify it, I then go to feeling, or emotion, or that which lies within and defies reason and logic.
In my case, if I do not do so, I become depressed, ask my self "Why bother?", and lead an existence which "feels" dull,
useless, and painful. I spent years that way. My "logic" deemed all actions to be useless. It lead me to a hedonistic
lifestyle, selfish, and of course, empty.

After a lot of pain and numbness resulting from my addictive hedonistic ways, I recovered a certain balance, physiologically.
I've learned if I'm here anyway, I might as well enjoy my body as it is constitued. Not abuse, enjoy. It is "mere"
corporeal existence, subject to the programming of biology, of course. I'm well aware of that. Those of you who know me a bit
can imagine where I'm going next with this.

The ultimate, for me, reason is my daughter.

Nothing from outside my body can match the feeling I had Dec. 29th, 2007 at 10:52 AM when my daughter was put into
my arms. Too easy an answer to what matters?

Perhaps, or maybe it's just that easy. Maybe deep thought is not is required. Perhaps our intellect is our biggest obstacle
to living, those of us who seek a rationale for everything.

It can be argued that we are an evolved set of atoms, created in stars billions of years ago. Highly organized matter, self
aware and capable of thought. Kind of like gravity (amongst other forces) is the hand of "Mother Nature, or God".

How much is programming (subjective thought), how much is truly objective thought, as defined in philosophical academia?
That needs to clarified, or at least discussed, before any technical discussion of existence can proceed. In my humble opinion.

So do I have answers? No.
But I've evolved a thought process that allows me to step back from the abyss for the short time I am here, for otherwise
I would be Narcissus by the side of the pond staring into it.

I was very inspired by the posts you folks did. It allowed me to post this.
Thank you.

11-10-2008, 08:28 AM	#26 (permalink)
Amaras Junkie Location: At my daughter's beck and call.	Wow, great thread. I spent years delving into the "meaning of life". Here is what I came up with (short form, and shaped by my present circumstances). Life inherently has no meaning to the one who lived it, once it is over. Life, in the larger sense, exists only to propagate itself, to create more life. The instinct to mate and have children is the biggest reason humanity is here to ask these types of questions. I cannot come up with any reason why "existence" exists. That's not to say it's unknowable, I just don't know it. If my reason cannot justify it, I then go to feeling, or emotion, or that which lies within and defies reason and logic. In my case, if I do not do so, I become depressed, ask my self "Why bother?", and lead an existence which "feels" dull, useless, and painful. I spent years that way. My "logic" deemed all actions to be useless. It lead me to a hedonistic lifestyle, selfish, and of course, empty. After a lot of pain and numbness resulting from my addictive hedonistic ways, I recovered a certain balance, physiologically. I've learned if I'm here anyway, I might as well enjoy my body as it is constitued. Not abuse, enjoy. It is "mere" corporeal existence, subject to the programming of biology, of course. I'm well aware of that. Those of you who know me a bit can imagine where I'm going next with this. The ultimate, for me, reason is my daughter. Nothing from outside my body can match the feeling I had Dec. 29th, 2007 at 10:52 AM when my daughter was put into my arms. Too easy an answer to what matters? Perhaps, or maybe it's just that easy. Maybe deep thought is not is required. Perhaps our intellect is our biggest obstacle to living, those of us who seek a rationale for everything. It can be argued that we are an evolved set of atoms, created in stars billions of years ago. Highly organized matter, self aware and capable of thought. Kind of like gravity (amongst other forces) is the hand of "Mother Nature, or God". How much is programming (subjective thought), how much is truly objective thought, as defined in philosophical academia? That needs to clarified, or at least discussed, before any technical discussion of existence can proceed. In my humble opinion. So do I have answers? No. But I've evolved a thought process that allows me to step back from the abyss for the short time I am here, for otherwise I would be Narcissus by the side of the pond staring into it. I was very inspired by the posts you folks did. It allowed me to post this. Thank you. __________________ Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state. -Noam Chomsky Love is a verb, not a noun. -My Mom The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later. -Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928