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Asked by louieharpa to Claire, Kate, Matt, Rob, Sam on 20 Jun 2013.
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Robert Woolfson answered on 20 Jun 2013:
Short answer – 42.
Long answer – No-one known. If you ever read the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams you’ll find out why it might be 42.
One a more serious note, there is an argument from some scientists that the purpose of life is to reproduce. Richard Dawkins wrote in great detail about this in The Selfish Gene.
The meaning of life has been argued about for 3000 years (as long as we have records) and will probably continue to be discussed until the day we all go extinct.
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Kate Husband answered on 20 Jun 2013:
I don’t think there is a right answer to this. For me, my aim in life is to be happy. Hence why I am doing a job that I enjoy.
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Claire Lee answered on 20 Jun 2013:
Incorrect, Robert! He asked what is the meaning of life, not what is the meaning of life, the universe and everything. So the correct answer is:
42 – the universe – everything.😛
Personally I think it’s to feel. The point of life I guess is to continue it, as Rob says, but what gives your life it’s meaning? I think it’s feelings. Why do people climb mountains, or leap from balloons in the stratosphere, or dive 100m underwater on a single breath, or study the craziest things, or give up everything to help others? Why do people pushing themselves in whatever way they can? Because we CAN! These things aren’t necessary for us to do, but we do them anyway. Why?
Passion. To feel that rush of adrenaline when you know you’re close to something great, and that fantastic feeling when you have succeeded. Passion for something gives life its meaning.
Unfortunately, too many people go through life just feeling numb. Don’t be numb. Be passionate.
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Sam Geen answered on 20 Jun 2013:
There’s no absolute meaning of life that everyone knows about. Everyone has to choose their own meaning. My way of thinking about it is this – what gives your life purpose? Is it the people around you who you care about? Is it the things you love doing, like music or art or sports or learning? Is it your way of living, your philosophy or your religion? If you believe in God, this question isn’t any easier because although you believe God gave meaning to life, it’s up to you to figure out what that is (I don’t believe in God, by the way, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t). Meaning is something that humans make to understand the world around them – and understanding the world is part of being human.
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Matthew Pankhurst answered on 21 Jun 2013:
Oooh this is a classic! I studied philosophy as well as science so if you want my honest opinion here it is: I think the meaning of life is to experience it. Non-living things don’t have experiences, but living things do. The purpose of life is to continue life, and the best way to do that is to have a happy and healthy one 🙂
Also – part of a happy healthy life is reading Douglas Adams – essential 🙂
Comments
wizzyg12 commented on :
The book is brilliant (The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy) You should read it 🙂