You people always with your simple "one size fits all" answers to everything. Don't you ever get tired of that?
You believe one thing, then you try to shove it down everyone's throats. I am asking you to kindly not post if such is your inclination. This question, with just about any other philosophical question, does not have an answer with only one size, face, form, color, smell, texture, or anything. The answer to this question cannot be experienced in only one way.
The definitions of purpose that we are looking at are:
1.) The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal: “And ever those, who would enjoyment gain/Must find it in the purpose they pursue” (Sarah Josepha Hale).
2.) A result or effect that is intended or desired; an intention.
-(
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=purpose)
The first definition itself is a
clear indication that each individual human being has a different purpose, based soley on definition. Imagine that! This automatically means that every biased answer that has been posted thus far is wrong
This, of course, is only one way to tackle this issue.
The second definition states that purpose is intention. This can mean that if there is such a thing as God, then he has a plan for us all. If you don't buy into faith, then this definition of purpose simply alludes back to the first definition.
Another take that I personally have on this issue is that purpose is so dynamic that attempting to classify purpose is the same thing as trying to find an electron's location and velocity at the same time. As far as I know, this isn't possible (I apologize to all the quantum physicists/gurus out there. Please condone my ignorance and simply correct me without flamming, thanks
) For one tiny instance of time, a fork may be serving the purpose of feeding someone. For another tiny instance of time, it may be serving the purpose of stabbing someone in the fact. For yet another tiny instance of time it may be serving the purpose of assisting in the cutting of a piece of meat. The way I see it, purpose is relative and circumstantial. If you are yelling at someone right now, that currently is your purpose. If you are loafing around right now, then that is your purpose at that given moment. Every millisecond of your life you are serving a purpose. It may not be the same purpose at the previous millisecond of your life, but still a purpose. This, of course, is
my biased answer, but please note that I'm not trying to shove this belief down anyone's throat
I'm simply stating that which
I have observed.