Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

news.ycombinator.com

51–60 of 173 posts

Re: Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

#51

“What makes life worth living? No child asks itself that question. To children, life is self-evident. Life goes without saying: whether it is good or bad makes no difference. This is because children don’t see the world, don’t observe the world, don’t contemplate the world, but are so deeply immersed in the world that they don’t distinguish between it and their own selves. Not until … a distance appears between what…

Some kids would disagree: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28861912

Re: Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

#52
I know you're asking from a philosophical standpoint, but to ignore the possibility of a religious answer to your question would be to ignore the essence of the question itself. I have found true meaning in my life and yes, I learned it from the Bible. The answer I found is here, and I have found my life to be very fulfilling as a result, despite hardship, loss, grief, and pain:

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/meaning-of-l...

Re: Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

#54

There is no point. It's up to you to decide what it is that matters to you but if you're looking for some universal direction then that will just lead to frustration. If you're lucky and you have the resources then you're in a position to choose which I understand can feel overwhelming. I would just encourage you to consider the possibility that you've been given a gift and you should cherish it.

This is what I believe too, but I take it 1 step further: life would suck if life had a point. Because that would have all sorts of implications in the goals we should strive for, and the things we should do.

Without a point we are free to pursue whatever meaning we find important.

Re: Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

#55
For me, the point (for the humanity overall) is getting ever closer to perfection, broadly defined. Every time another Bach or Newton is born we take a small step there. In my own life I hope I get to contribute in some small way, either through direct achievement in my field or indirectly through raising successful kids.

Re: Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

#56
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yes, let's create even more people to suffer through life. what a selfish thought.

Believe it or not, some people actually enjoy life.

I'm sure some do, but using your enjoyment of life as justification to have a child who has no choice in the matter and could or could not enjoy life themselves is again, selfish.

Re: Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

#57
I assume you mean human or sentient life, rather than life in general.

Me, I like to think we’re here so the universe can look at itself.

On a more pragmatic and personal level, to live, to experience, to be finite yet utterly unbounded. I deal with the nihilistic ocean over which we swim by making a point of stopping to smell the roses - to borrow from Buddha by way of Gandhi - “The Path is the Goal”. To borrow from Ferris Bueller - “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might just miss it. “

Re: Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

#58

There is no point. It's up to you to decide what it is that matters to you but if you're looking for some universal direction then that will just lead to frustration. If you're lucky and you have the resources then you're in a position to choose which I understand can feel overwhelming. I would just encourage you to consider the possibility that you've been given a gift and you should cherish it.

Excellent answer…

In a meaningless universe where you are essentially a powerless water balloon with some decision tree making abilities, the gift of “choice” and deciding what matters to you is really the only power you have.

Re: Ask HN: What's the Point of Life?

#59
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yes, let's create even more people to suffer through life. what a selfish thought.

Believe it or not, some people actually enjoy life.

Those who are lucky may think they enjoy it, for a time, until their bodies wear out and everyone they know dies. But even then their enjoyment comes at the expense of the suffering of other beings.
Post reply on HN