what is the point???

I believe that no matter the realities of or universe, be it one controlled by a "god", something driven by a spiritual or metaphysical "force", or one completely devoid of any sort of structure or "intelligence", life means something. Everything we do upon this earth has actions that cause reactions, be it from other lifeforms, or the world around us. It is in these interactions that meaning is given to all of this. The point of life isn't to suffer, thrive, or move on to a separate reality upon death. The point of life is to live. And living includes everything we do and feel. Life gets meaning by who we are and what we do, not what created us or drives us to be. We exist, whether "real" in the scientific sense, or if we're a simulated reality. Our perspectives give us tangible existence. We are here, and we have free will. We are capable of driving our lives in the direction we want. That, I think, gives all the things we do, all the struggles we go through, all the people we lose, and all the happiness we might achieve, beauty.

Brenna wrote: "Life has only as much meaning as you give it"

Bravo

Brenna wrote: "Life has only as much meaning as you give it"

Too true Brenna, I will remember this one

Is anyone else hearing Alan Watts strike his meditation bell right now? Its as good of an answer as any to 'what is the point?'

As Joseph Campbell would say, the point is to experience life.

the freedom to experience a truthful life is a justified life, and the courage to be disciplined to uphold that justice for good

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So, I've got two pennies to toss in here. This is something I've thought about more sleepless nights and solemn days than I can recount.

In the end, I think what it comes down to, to me, on a societal level is to affect as many people positively as you can. The butterfly effect is the means to an end here. Make the future better through your impact on people.

However, more basically than that, our mammalian need is to... Well... Breed. Fold your young into your butterfly effect, if you choose to have to them. If we are mindful, slowly (VERY slowly) society may become a better place, people may evolve.

Maybe this is idealism. Maybe our species won't survive long enough to see the fruition of our work. But why would we try less, without knowing one way or the other?

magmon wrote: In the end, I think what it comes down to, to me, on a societal level is to affect as many people positively as you can. The butterfly effect is the means to an end here. Make the future better through your impact on people.

However, more basically than that, our mammalian need is to... Well... Breed. Fold your young into your butterfly effect, if you choose to have to them. If we are mindful, slowly (VERY slowly) society may become a better place, people may evolve

I very agree with the first penny. To the second penny, I'll add a pence. Yes, the need to breed derives from mortality and continuity of wisdom.

magmon wrote: So, I've got two pennies to toss in here. This is something I've thought about more sleepless nights and solemn days than I can recount.

In the end, I think what it comes down to, to me, on a societal level is to affect as many people positively as you can. The butterfly effect is the means to an end here. Make the future better through your impact on people.

However, more basically than that, our mammalian need is to... Well... Breed. Fold your young into your butterfly effect, if you choose to have to them. If we are mindful, slowly (VERY slowly) society may become a better place, people may evolve.

Maybe this is idealism. Maybe our species won't survive long enough to see the fruition of our work. But why would we try less, without knowing one way or the other?

I agree we should try