The Meaning of Life? (Really)

[CaptainF]

The meaning of life as far as I can tell is to get all the sex, drugs, alcohol, hooliganism and rock and roll out of your system so that you can move on to more...things.

Or, if your one of those people who can't get the said things out of your system, than by all means stay the course.

 

[Eukaryote]

I'm a Christian and I think God put us on this Earth to gain wisdom, and to learn how to help others. But I do also belive there are people living here for special reasons, Ghandi might have been one of those people.

 

[Sidhe]

The universe is the process by which finite consciousness discovers itself to be infinite.

How does that work?

It doesn't it's philosophical arm waving, but it's poetic I'll give it that.

If you think about it carefully as with most observations of this nature, it makes no sense.

 

[Perfection]

I've long stopped trying to make sense of Birdjaguar's philosophy. I just get real stoned every saturday night, use the search function to find his OT posts and just read!

 

[Birdjaguar]

How does that work?

I'll give you a short version. I've been through this a bunch in recent months.

Consciousness: the awareness of changes in a thing's environment.

All matter has consciousness and reacts to changes in its environment, even at the sub atomic and quantum levels.

The history of the universe is the history of the evolution of consciousness into higher and higher levels in ever expanding, but limited, percieved enviroments. It has paralleled the physical evolution of life. This will continue. Awareness of the unity of all things is the destiny of matter. With it comes the end of separateness.

In Reality (cap R) separateness only exists because of our limited perception and inability to "see" clearly beyond the limits of our senses.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I've long stopped trying to make sense of Birdjaguar's philosophy. I just get real stoned every saturday night, use the search function to find his OT posts and just read!

Other than the two cows thread, a total waste of time.

 

[GarretSidzaka]

fourty-two

 

[Perfection]

I'll give you a short version. I've been through this a bunch in recent months.

Consciousness: the awareness of changes in a thing's environment.

All matter has consciousness and reacts to changes in its environment, even at the sub atomic and quantum levels.

The history of the universe is the history of the evolution of consciousness into higher and higher levels in ever expanding, but limited, percieved enviroments. It has paralleled the physical evolution of life. This will continue. Awareness of the unity of all things is the destiny of matter. With it comes the end of separateness.

In Reality (cap R) separateness only exists because of our limited perception and inability to "see" clearly beyond the limits of our senses.

I'm not sure if you can describe the universe as concious in such a way.

Conciousness in my view calls for the arrangement of complex things into simpler constructs so that one may work with them in a coherant manner. That is why I do not view the universe itself as a concious entity.

Other than the two cows thread, a total waste of time.

What about your crazy-ass poems? I like 'dem.

 

[Sidhe]

Other than the two cows thread, a total waste of time.

Bit harsh on yourself, I've always really apreciated your philosophical musings.

Maybe you should take up a deep fundemental perspective on religion and smite posters hip and thigh. It would be a refreshing change of pace if nothing else

 

[Birdjaguar]

I'm not sure if you can describe the universe as concious in such a way.

I just did.
Keep in mind that I did not attribute consciousness to the universe as a whole, but to each discrete part that can be isolated. A carbon atom has sufficient consciousness to react to other stray atoms around it or a change in temperature. An electron has sufficient conscipusness to react to what ever things make electrons change their behavior. Not all consciousness is the same among things. A chimp a dog and snail are all conscious but at different levels. They each percieve their environment differently and have a different set of available responses.

Conciousness in my view calls for the arrangement of complex things into simpler constructs so that one may work with them in a coherant manner.

You seem limit your definition to higher animals. In your opinion, what is the critter that has the mos tlimited consciousness?

What about your crazy-ass poems? I like 'dem.

They are fun to write.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Bit harsh on yourself, I've always really apreciated your philosophical musings.

Maybe you should take up a deep fundemental perspective on religion and smite posters hip and thigh. It would be a refreshing change of pace if nothing else

I have been tempted, in specific cases, from time to time, but other than some entertainment value it would not serve any purpose. Beliefs or lack of belief is serious stuff to many people. It is more intersting to pose alternative views than to try and prove someone wrong.

My verses are for entertainment.

 

[Perfection]

I just did.
Keep in mind that I did not attribute consciousness to the universe as a whole, but to each discrete part that can be isolated. A carbon atom has sufficient consciousness to react to other stray atoms around it or a change in temperature. An electron has sufficient conscipusness to react to what ever things make electrons change their behavior. Not all consciousness is the same among things. A chimp a dog and snail are all conscious but at different levels. They each percieve their environment differently and have a different set of available responses.

It's quite reaching to expand conciousness to simple stimulus/response pairing. There needs to be complex internal processing IMO.

 

[Birdjaguar]

It's quite reaching to expand conciousness to simple stimulus/response pairing. There needs to be complex internal processing IMO.

Ok, then where in the chain of life does complex internal processing begin?

 

[The Last Conformist]

As for the issue of the meaning of life, I'm broadly with Wittgenstein.

 

[Perfection]

Ok, then where in the chain of life does complex internal processing begin?

Do I look like an animal psychologist?!

 

[Birdjaguar]

Do I look like an animal psychologist?!

Post a picture and I'll answer that question.

But you do claim that there is a point where one life form has "consciousness" and another does not. I would contend that consciousness is like counting. You can always find one more step in between that blurs the demarcation line. Since you cannot identify where consciousness begins, let me ask this. Why must it involve complex internal processing?

 

[Sidhe]

As for the issue of the meaning of life, I'm broadly with Wittgenstein.

Who said... Paraphrase if you have to I'm not familliar with his works.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I actually started a thread several months ago about this. I derive my meaning of life from my religion, but without those beliefs I would have a different view of life, and I wanted to know what to call this view. The answer I got was more or less "romantic humanistic nihilism".

 

[Sidhe]

I actually started a thread several months ago about this. I derive my meaning of life from my religion, but without those beliefs I would have a different view of life, and I wanted to know what to call this view. The answer I got was more or less "romantic humanistic nihilism".

Wow sound like some very narrow minded thinkers, philosophy answers these questions in many ways, very deeply, if you don't have religion turn to philosophy not a forum obviously. At least Bird Jaguar is making the effort. Me it's early days philosophy wise I haven't read enough, which is why I asked about Wittgenstein. Still a resident philosophical expert has insinuated himself into my house, so perhaps I can steal his views or his books, here's hoping. Lifes too complicated to put meaning down to one belief system, learn about religion and philosophy is my advice, they both have a profound and spiritual message.

 

[Low Tier Hero]

Meaning? None.

This grants you the freedom to define your own meaning to your own existance.
Much like how a diagnosis of a terminal illness in a way grants you more freedom, knowing your going to die.

Once you loose the chain of thinking that things have meaning beyond objective meaning, life opens up before you =)