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Ask HN: What is the purpose of Life?

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Re: Ask HN: What is the purpose of Life?

#3
Purpose is a teleological term and life is the ultimate end, an end in itself. So, as the saying goes, asking what is the purpose of life is tantamount to asking what is North of the North pole, i.e. it is an invalid question. In your terms, expressed as a tautology; the purpose of life is life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/ultimate_value.html

Re: Ask HN: What is the purpose of Life?

#6
“Purpose” is a construct that us humans have created. As far as I know no other animal has the concept of “purpose” in the way that you’re referring to.

Ultimately we attach purpose to ourselves because it feels good, or alternatively avoids the pain of existence.

If my purpose is to teach the next generation about science then it gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning. It’s a thing that is greater than myself.

Some people refer to their purpose as their “immortality project”.

If your actions through your life make changes to the world that those changes still exist after you die, in a way you’ve become immortal.

I’d say the purpose of life is to understand the world and try to push it a little bit forward in your own way. It doesn’t have to be big, it just has to matter to you.

If you’re a bit lost with life, don’t stress about it too much. The best thing you can probably do is be okay with being lost. It’ll either pass or you’ll get curious enough to start looking for answers.

However if you’re asking why are people and animals alive I don’t really know. I think it’s just because sex feels good and then babies happen? Then those babies grow up and the cycle repeats for millions of years.

So the purpose of life is sex I guess.

Re: Ask HN: What is the purpose of Life?

#9
Everyone should have his or her own purpose. But overall I would say it´s to evolve. You grow, you learn a language and go to school, you do a job which should have his own purpose and you can learn from emotional and social circumstances. You can learn from mistakes and from a broken heart and at the end, you changed the world in some smaller or bigger ways. So I think learning is a big part of your life.
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