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Original poster

So what exactly is the point of it all then?

163 replies

Thinkingthesethoughts · 18/12/2024 15:41

Life? What are we here for?

I’m not depressed, just having a midweek musing while ill at home on the sofa.
If it’s just to reproduce and pass our genes on, how does that explain infertility?
Unless we have occupations that make a huge difference in people’s lives, or change the course of history somehow, how are we making any difference?

Why do you feel we’re here?

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PonyPatter44 · 18/12/2024 15:53

Think beyond humans -why are lions here, or icebergs, or redwood trees? If the answer is, "they just are", then that's pretty much why humans are here.

My latest cod-philosophical musing is to wonder how far away from earth you would have to be to smell it. Has Earth's smell changed in the last billion years?

Agix · 18/12/2024 15:52

I believe we are here just to experience. We're the universe experiencing itself.

Original poster
Thinkingthesethoughts · 18/12/2024 15:52

@QuickDenimDeer You’re probably right…I have all those things, but these thoughts do occasionally show themselves

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WrylyAmused · 18/12/2024 15:51

Not really here for anything.

Evolution is essentially chance as to what comes along, and then adaptation ("survival of the fittest") determines who/what thrives and gets to reproduce.

Why infertility? Same as for many diseases and differences - some errors in copying the genetic code across to the new organism.

Some of those "errors" lead to new evolution which is more successful and then replicates and spreads. Some of the "errors" are less successful and tend to die out. Some are neutral and therefore persist at a certain level in the population.

If you're having a need for meaning, maybe check out Martin Seligman and Positive Psychology - in his PERMA(H) theory, the M is for "meaning" - but even they would say that you have to create the meaning for yourself.

Otherwise religions usually claim to have the answers for "why". Google tells me there are currently ~4200 religions in the world, so there's a reasonable set to choose from...

Catza · 18/12/2024 15:51

Thinkingthesethoughts · 18/12/2024 15:48

I find it hard to believe/understand that we’d just be here by chance and for no real reason

I think we can pretty much agree that it is a scientific fact. Unless you are religious, in which case there is probably no shortage of purposes in scripture of your choosing.

Original poster
Thinkingthesethoughts · 18/12/2024 15:50

@Feelsomuchbetter But for us to then pass on that knowledge to others?

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Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 15:49

To have the experience of a human life and whatever that brings for each individual. I suppose like education for the soul. If you believe in that. I do.

Original poster
Thinkingthesethoughts · 18/12/2024 15:48

I find it hard to believe/understand that we’d just be here by chance and for no real reason

OP posts:
QuickDenimDeer · 18/12/2024 15:48

Existentialism…

not always good to overthink these things, for mental health purposes. Maybe find a reminder? A hobby you love? A loved one? If we get really cheesy, a beautiful sunset?

icecreamsundaeno5 · 18/12/2024 15:46

Our lives have no more meaning than a blade of grass. If you happen to do positive, important things then that's a happy bonus.

WhyDoesDenisNotRhymeWithPenis · 18/12/2024 15:46

Nothing. People had sex and produced offspring, to consume, exist, then die, same as other mammals.

Catza · 18/12/2024 15:45

We are here by chance and, as far as I can see it, our only purpose is to live mindfully and to our full potential. What it means will differ for every person.

Perplexed20 · 18/12/2024 15:44

Deep philosophical questions. I think we forget that we are animals that walk around with a big questionning brain. Because of that we have to make meaning about existence.

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