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This article is about the philosophical concept. For other uses, see Meaning of life (disambiguation).
Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?
One of Post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin's most famous paintings.
.The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general.^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Truth has implications about the existence of any special meaning in life which in turn has implications about how we should go about living it to enjoy the experience/opportunity to the utmost.

 ^ I figured they were Frequently Asked Questions about Life, the Universe, and Everything, if not about The Meaning Of Life per se, so I tucked them in.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .This concept can be expressed through a variety of related questions, such as Why are we here?, What is life all about?, and What is the meaning of it all? It has been the subject of much philosophical, scientific, and theological speculation throughout history.^ Frequently Asked Questions about the Meaning of Life .
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Questioning the meaning of life, including "is that all there is"?

 ^ Why are we here, what is life all about?
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .There have been a large number of answers to these questions from many different cultural and ideological backgrounds.^ There are many different refuge vows .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ In the end, only research using human embryos can answer these questions and provide these techniques.

 ^ These and the other questions posed in this survey still lack conclusive answers, making the field of life's meaning tantalizingly open for substantial contributions.
  • The Meaning of Life (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC plato.stanford.edu [Source type: Original source]
.The meaning of life is deeply mixed with the philosophical and religious conceptions of existence, consciousness, and happiness, and touches on many other issues, such as symbolic meaning, ontology, value, purpose, ethics, good and evil, free will, conceptions of God, the existence of God, the soul, and the afterlife.^ God, religion, and the meaning of life .
  • God, religion, and the meaning of life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaning-of-life.info [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It means other people are also God.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ However God is also beyond Life and existence.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Scientific contributions are more indirect; by describing the empirical facts about the universe, science provides some context and sets parameters for conversations on related topics.^ Science has revealed the real extent and greatness of our world and universe more magnificent than our pre-scientific ancestors were capable of imagining.

 ^ This function two parameters: an IndexScanDesc object called scan , which describes the index to scan, the key to look for, and some other stuff, and a ScanDirection parameter to tell _bt_first() which direction to scan the index.
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC reblog.rot13.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 ^ I received a lot of inquiries over the last week from people who described some kind of existential angst or sincere concern about "midlife."

 .An alternative, human-centric, and not a cosmic/religious approach is the question "What is the meaning of my life?"^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Absence of human law for them means the absence of all law ; and life for men who recognise no law, is terrible.
  • The Meaning of the Russian Revolution - Wikisource 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC en.wikisource.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Future prospects Before proceeding to look at some questions of public policy, we need first to consider the likely future developments regarding human life in the laboratory.

 .The value of the question pertaining to the purpose of life may coincide with the achievement of ultimate reality, or a feeling of oneness, or a feeling of sacredness.^ By meditating one realizes how to be back in control of ones life and choices - instead of being a victim of ones unconscious choices.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If you feel GOD is the divine Ultimate Artist, Fair and Just then that is the one you will experience.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The dissatisfaction they (lacking all guidance for their lives) dimly feel, they attribute not to themselves, but to the badness of the existing forms of social life, which differ from the one they have invented.
  • The Meaning of the Russian Revolution - Wikisource 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC en.wikisource.org [Source type: Original source]

Contents

Questions

Philosopher in Meditation (detail) by Rembrandt
Questions about the meaning of life have been expressed in a broad variety of ways, including the following:
  • What is the origin of life? [13]
  • What is the nature of life? What is the nature of reality? [13][14][15]
  • What is the significance of life? [17]
  • What is meaningful and valuable in life?[18]
  • What is the value of life?[19]
  • What is the reason to live? What are we living for? [12][20]
.These questions have resulted in a wide range of competing answers and arguments, from scientific theories, to philosophical, theological, and spiritual explanations.^ To answer these questions, we conducted a few experiments.

 ^ The correct scientific answer to this question is "I don't know".
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ For answers to these and other questions, Click on the links below, starting with Orientation .
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

Scientific inquiry and perspectives

DNA, the substance containing the genetic instructions for the development and functioning of all known living organisms.
.Claims that descriptive science can shed light on normative issues such as the meaning of life are highly disputed within the scientific and philosophy-of-science communities.^ September 13, 2009 in Ethics and Values , Meaning of Life , Politics and Political Philosophy , Religion , Sex and Romance .

 ^ To this point we have been examining the meaning of the presence of human life in the laboratory, but we have neglected the meaning of putting it there in the first place, that is, the meaning of extracorporeal fertilization as such.

 ^ Monks would cleanse, purify themselves before even asking before asking some of the deep questions of life - such as Who Am I? What is the Meaning of Life?
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 Nevertheless, science may be able to provide some context and sets some parameters for conversations on related topics.

Psychological significance and value in life

.Science may not be able to tell us what is of essential value in life, but some studies bear on related questions: researchers in positive psychology (and, earlier and less rigorously, in humanistic psychology) study factors that lead to life satisfaction,[21] full engagement in activities,[22] making a fuller contribution by utilizing one's personal strengths,[23] and meaning based on investing in something larger than the self.^ If the means justify the ends, then you have to make some concessions in life.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Do some real research and then tell us about it.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Some beings may just be on a different path, or on a different stage on the journey that is life.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [24]
.One value system suggested by social psychologists, broadly called Terror Management Theory, states that all human meaning is derived out of a fundamental fear of death, whereby values are selected when they allow us to escape the mental reminder of death.^ That means that they also had an out-of-body experience.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ All that is or could be must find its being in and through a basic reality in which there is nothing normative, nothing of value and nothing of meaning.

 ^ Men believe in it all, and must continue to do so ; for not believing in the law of God, they must put their faith in human law.
  • The Meaning of the Russian Revolution - Wikisource 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC en.wikisource.org [Source type: Original source]
.Neuroscience has produced theories of reward, pleasure and motivation in terms of physical entities such as neurotransmitter activity, especially in the limbic system and the ventral tegmental area in particular.^ Hence the attempt to define reasoning about goal systems in such simple terms that a thought can be completely analyzed.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Or, what is the human mind such that it takes pleasure in the activity of watching sports competition?

 .If one believes that the meaning of life is to maximize pleasure, then these theories give normative predictions about how to act to achieve this.^ Isn't pleasure the meaning of life?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ By meditating one realizes how to be back in control of ones life and choices - instead of being a victim of ones unconscious choices.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ But does this say anything about God and special meaning, or something about the people believing in the sanctity of religious doctrines, and something about the people doing the hating and/or killing?
.Sociology examines value at a social level using theoretical constructs such as value theory, norms, anomie, etc.^ All 0 based offsets are added to the current values of the stack counters, the cont-> end delim_t is used to set the values of the interpreter variables, etc.
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC reblog.rot13.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 ^ I'm reasonably sure this doesn't exist except as a high-level game-theoretical abstraction embodied as an "atomic" element of social cognition.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

Origin and nature of biological life

The exact mechanisms of abiogenesis are unknown: notable theories include the RNA world hypothesis (RNA-based replicators) and the iron-sulfur world theory (metabolism without genetics). .The theory of evolution does not attempt to explain the origin of life but the process by which different lifeforms have developed throughout history via genetic mutation and natural selection.^ NATURAL SELECTION The evolutionary theory explanation for the fact that there are different species of animals is that the original, spontaneously-occurring, single-cell lifeforms were changed gradually by randomly-occurring spontaneous mutations of DNA which mutations were then selected or rejected by nature according to the survival/breeding advantages or disadvantages they conferred a process called, appropriately enough, natural selection.

 ^ The difference is so vast that it does not seem to be explicable by the natural selection of random mutations in the time involved.

 ^ We humans are interfering with the natural selection process for all sorts of unnatural motives.

 [25] .At the end of the 20th century, based upon insight gleaned from the gene-centered view of evolution, biologists George C. Williams, Richard Dawkins, David Haig, among others, conclude that if there is a primary function to life, it is the replication of DNA and the survival of one's genes.^ Any honest biologist must be impressed by these facts, and must be inclined, at least on first glance, to the view that a human life begins at fertilization.

 ^ Yet there will almost certainly be - in fact, there already are - other uses, involving third parties, to satisfy the desire to have a child of one's own in different senses of "to have" and "one's own."

 ^ So, I ask you: What are you going to do in your life and work to demonstrate that there is hope for the future, as well as to help create a “century of dialogue” in the world around you?

 [26][27]
.However, though scientists have intensively studied life on Earth, defining life in unequivocal terms is still a challenge.^ A scientist might define one's own in terms of carrying one's own genes.

 ^ Traditionally, when a man studies Jewish Mysticism, his life becomes relegated to the remembrance of hard to pronounce Hebrew terms for abstract theological associations that are difficult to remember.
  • The Divine Marriage; The Spiritual Meaning of Sex and Marriage 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC nazirene.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It has been only a few million years since we branched from our common ancestor (a mere blink of the eye in terms of the time life has existed on Earth).

 [28][29] .Physically, one may say that life "feeds on negative entropy"[30][31] which refers to the process by which living entities decrease their internal entropy at the expense of some form of energy taken in from the environment.^ Some life forms (animals) at that time lived by eating other animals.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ We only have one life to live so live it to the fullest!!!
  • Dancing with the Stars and the Meaning of Life « blog maverick 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC blogmaverick.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ One who lives life to the fullest .
  • The Meanings Behind the Symbols: Family Crests, Blazons, Coat of Arms, Personalized Crests 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.fleurdelis.com [Source type: Original source]

 [32][33] .Biologists generally agree that lifeforms are self-organizing systems regulating the internal environment as to maintain this organized state, metabolism serves to provide energy, and reproduction allows life to continue over a span of multiple generations.^ Oxford Dictionary Definition - Life - state of functional activity and continual change peculiar to organized matter - .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Typically, organisms are responsive to stimuli and genetic information tends to change from generation to generation as to allow adaptation through evolution, these characteristics optimalizing the chances of survival for the individual organism and its descendants respectively.^ The reason evolution produced these emotions is that, in the environment of evolutionary ancestry, it maximized the number of surviving grandchildren.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ To quote Tooby and Cosmides : "Individual organisms are best thought of as adaptation-executers rather than as fitness-maximizers."
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ These tall individuals get dressed in outfits with shiny colors and are glorified for the ability to hurl the sphere through the ring.

 [34][35] .Non-cellular replicating agents, notably viruses, are generally not considered to be organisms because they are incapable of "independent" reproduction or metabolism.^ These biblical verses are rarely used today because they represent concepts that would be considered extreme and fanatical from the perspective of both believers and non-believers in our modern-day culture.
  • The Divine Marriage; The Spiritual Meaning of Sex and Marriage 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC nazirene.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ This latter is an entirely non-Darwinian beauty because they have no food value therefore no survival value.

 ^ But she’s willing to grant for the time being that they do have the notion and to consider that they watch the ball-throwing fit-makers because their motions are ‘beautiful’—whatever exactly that means.

 This controversy is problematic, though, since some parasites and endosymbionts are also incapable of independent life. Astrobiology studies the possibility of different forms of life on other worlds, such as replicating structures made from materials other than DNA.

Origins and ultimate fate of the universe

The metric expansion of space. The inflationary epoch is the expansion of the metric tensor at left. (WMAP image, 2006)
.Though the Big Bang model was met with much skepticism when first introduced, partially because of a connection to the religious concept of creation, it has become well supported by several independent observations.^ As of July 2000, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence has been incorporated, and is devoted to directly creating the Singularity by programming the seed AI which will become the first Mind.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Instead, I implemented just enough to support the first 5 (of 6 total) Mozilla sample pages as well as the handful of applications shown above.
  • NB - Ajaxian » Front Page 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC newsbrane.com [Source type: General]
  • The App 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.msdesign.de [Source type: General]
  • The App 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.msdesign.de [Source type: General]
  • Gregarius » Programming 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC zzompp.hosting.mbar.fi [Source type: General]

 ^ Indeed Genesis, written about 3,400 years ago, describes in religious language the creation (evolution) of humankind, and much more, as follows.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 [36] .However, current physics can only describe the early universe from 10−43 seconds after the Big Bang (where zero time corresponds to infinite temperature), a theory of quantum gravity would be required to go further back in time.^ Until the existence of life, and then the existence of the spiritual are explained away in this universe, a multiverse only has the potential to compound the theory of meaninglessness problems.

 ^ For instance, when we had a significant number of users on Safari 1.3, we refrained from asking them to upgrade to Safari 2 as that would require them to buy a new operating system (OSX 10.4).

 ^ Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Nevertheless, many physicists have speculated about what would have preceded this limit, and how the universe came into being.^ The Eagles's "Hotel California" Althoguh many would argue that this is about the bands addictions, jail time, etc etc.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ It seems pretty clear that how we think about our obligations to another generation depends partly on which set that generation falls into.

 ^ How many people would go to a restaurant and buy a meal and eat it himself?
  • God, religion, and the meaning of life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaning-of-life.info [Source type: Original source]

 [37] .Some physicists think that the Big Bang occurred coincidentally, and when considering the anthropic principle, it is most often interpreted as implying the existence of a multiverse.^ Consider some of these principles: .

 ^ But if we consider that good times most often bring out the bad in us (decadence, greed, laziness) and bad times often bring out the good (strength, courage, generosity, compassion, great art) we can think more deeply about it.

 ^ When some of the original singularity of energy transmuted into matter it caused the Big Bang (as explosive as the reverse an atomic explosion where energy is released from matter).

 [38]
.However, no matter how the universe came into existence, humanity's fate in this universe appears to be doomed as —even if humanity would survive that long— biological life will eventually become unsustainable, be it through a Big Freeze, Big Rip or Big Crunch.^ It has the potential to become human life, but without a ‘host’ would not be able to do so.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ She meets one of the spirits that has been in heaven for no telling how long, and he explains what is happening.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ As stated above, the relative was born when this absolute singularity of energy converted/transmuted into matter causing the Big Bang.

 .It would seem that the only way to survive indefinitely would be by directing the flow of energy on a cosmic scale and altering the fate of the universe.^ When you ask why some event happened, the only true and complete answer is "The Universe", because if any part of the Universe had been different ( 22 ), things would have happened differently.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ We are to follow His directions, without ever losing faith that His way is the only way.
  • God, religion, and the meaning of life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaning-of-life.info [Source type: Original source]

 [37]

Scientific questions about the mind

.The true nature and origin of consciousness and the mind itself are also widely debated in science.^ In order to realize our true nature we need to purify ourselves / our minds - from the mind poisons - eg.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ JUST BE, BE RELAXED & ALERT- Rest in the 'clear & knowing state', rest in 'mere experience', abide in pure luminosity - true nature of mind.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It is our true inner nature - Our inner goodness, divine within, Buddha Nature, Christ Consciousness etc.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 The explanatory gap is generally equated with the hard problem of consciousness, and the question of free will is also considered to be of fundamental importance. .These subjects are mostly addressed in the fields of cognitive science, neuroscience and philosophy of mind, though some evolutionary biologists and theoretical physicists have also made several allusions to the subject.^ (The others being (A) learning to program a computer; and (B) studying high-level cognitive science such as AI and evolutionary psychology ).
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Is it even theoretically possible for the human mind to represent a specific goal that is neither arbitrary nor justified by some supergoal?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ These test subjects would be of sound mind and judgement and informed of the possible risks to their well being.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 [39][40]
Hieronymus Bosch's Ascent of the Blessed depicts a tunnel of light and spiritual figures, often described in reports of near-death experiences.
Reductionistic and eliminative materialistic approaches, for example the Multiple Drafts Model, hold that consciousness can be wholly explained by neuroscience through the workings of the brain and its neurons, thus adhering to biological naturalism.[40][41][42]
.On the other hand, some scientists, like Andrei Linde, have considered that consciousness, like spacetime, might have its own intrinsic degrees of freedom, and that one's perceptions may be as real as (or even more real than) material objects.^ I’ve had various states of awareness, some of which might be considered more dead or alive than others.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ On the other hand, the 0.1% that do more than break even can make up for a lot.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ A scientist might define one's own in terms of carrying one's own genes.

 [43] Hypotheses of consciousness and spacetime explain consciousness in describing a "space of conscious elements",[43] often encompassing a number of extra dimensions.[44] .Electromagnetic theories of consciousness solve the binding problem of consciousness in saying that the electromagnetic field generated by the brain is the actual carrier of conscious experience, there is however disagreement about the implementations of such a theory relating to other workings of the mind.^ However the chances are you have already been thinking about it (consciously or un / sub consciously), otherwise you would n't be here.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Here, again, there are questions of research priority about which there is room for disagreement, among scientists and laymen alike.

 ^ To be male or to be female derives its deepest meaning only in relation to the other, and therewith in the gender-mated prospects for generation through union.

 [45][46] Quantum mind theories use quantum theory in explaining certain properties of the mind. .Explaining the process of free will through quantum phenomena is a popular alternative to determinism, such postulations may variously relate free will to quantum fluctuations,[47] quantum amplification,[48] quantum potential[47] and quantum probability.^ We must remember that, although we may not be totally free from the various conditions or situations that confront us, we always can choose how we respond to them, at the very least through our choice of attitude .

 ^ A controller that can directly receive inputs from the user through various rich mediums such as keyboard inputs, mouse inputs, etc.
  • All about javascripts - Matoumba 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.matoumba.com [Source type: General]

 ^ This suggests more than “collective thinking,” although dialogue certainly is a determinant of such a holistic process.

 [49]
.Based on the premises of non-materialistic explanations of the mind, some have suggested the existence of a cosmic consciousness, asserting that consciousness is actually the "ground of all being".[15][48][50] Proponents of this view cite accounts of paranormal phenomena, primarily extrasensory perceptions and psychic powers, as evidence for an incorporeal higher consciousness.^ We all have Awareness / consciousness and Existence!
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It can give anyone the power to experience happiness, love, and wealth -- the natural rewards of life that are available to all human beings.
  • Secrets of Mind and Reality 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC www.mindreality.com [Source type: General]

 ^ The ideal is to become crystal clear about which filters are affecting our consciousness, which means still being inclusive of accepting all filters as a part of the whole, .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .In hopes of proving the existence of these phenomena, parapsychologists have orchestrated various experiments.^ It is not enough to demolish these t truths to prove the non-existence of T Truths.

 .Meta-analyses of these experiments indicate that the effect size (though very small) has been relatively consistent, resulting in an overall statistical significance.^ We had always planned on caching aggressively, but these results indicated just how much caching we'd have to do: lots.

 ^ One last question though, did any great benefits come from these hamster experiments?
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Only if the results were very promising - and judged also to be relatively safe in practice - should one consider trying such things in humans.

 [51][52][53] .Although some critical analysts feel that parapsychological study is scientific, they are not satisfied with its experimental results.^ Similarly, to be in the presence of some people can evoke the feeling of evil because they are dangerous, they threaten our survival.

 [54][55] .Skeptical reviewers contend that apparently successful results are more likely due to sloppy procedures, poorly trained researchers, or methodological flaws than to actual effects.^ As most of us are at least tacitly aware, more is at stake than in ordinary biomedical research or in experimenting with human subjects at risk of bodily harm.

 ^ Though (for the record), I’d like to say that I’m not opposed to stem-cell research (I do believe that there are other, more palatable avenues to pursue… but I digress).
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ One important effect of the sliding window limit is that if two Javascript functions with common substrings are separated by more than this distance, they cannot be matched.
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  • The App 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.msdesign.de [Source type: General]

 [56][57][58][59]

Western Philosophical perspectives

.The philosophical perspectives on the meaning of life are those ideologies which explain life in terms of ideals or abstractions defined by humans.^ The status of extracorporeal life The meaning of "life in the laboratory" turns in part on the nature and meaning of the human embryo, isolated in the laboratory and separate from the confines of a woman's body.

 ^ To this point we have been examining the meaning of the presence of human life in the laboratory, but we have neglected the meaning of putting it there in the first place, that is, the meaning of extracorporeal fertilization as such.

 ^ Nobody that I know of has deduced "The Meaning Of Life" by spending all day looking for it, but you can design an AI goal system to be safe, sane, stable, and self-knowing, then translate into human terms.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

Ancient Greek philosophy

Plato and Aristotle in The School of Athens fresco, by Raphael.

Platonism

Main article: Platonism
.Plato was one of the earliest, most influential philosophers to date — mostly for realism about the existence of universals.^ If there's one thing my speculations have taught me about reality, it's that it goes on and on and on.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair" I think this song is about a soldier going off to war, and the one voice (Simon's)is nostalgic, and the other voice (Garfunkel's)is the chilling reality.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ One of the keys is to realize that self-improvement is a gradual thing, opportunistic rather than abrupt; to be happy about a small improvement, rather than being guilty that it wasn't a larger one.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .In the Theory of Forms, universals do not physically exist, like objects, but exist as ghostly, heavenly forms.^ Many scientists feel that some of the sciences have been unified (like physics and chemistry for example) and even that all the sciences are on the verge of unification into a grand Theory of Everything.

 ^ Moral responsibility doesn't exist as a physical object.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 In The Republic, the Socrates character's dialogue describes the Form of the Good. The Idea of the Good is ekgonos (offspring) of the Good, the ideal, perfect nature of goodness, hence an absolute measure of justice.
.In Platonism, the meaning of life is in attaining the highest form of knowledge, which is the Idea (Form) of the Good, from which all good and just things derive utility and value.^ 'Water is the highest form of goodness'.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If put knowledge into action through regular practice you will have more good luck / karma, you will be able to manifest and attract anything your heart desires and your life will have more meaning and direction.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Human beings are duty-bound to pursue the good, but no one can succeed in that pursuit without philosophical reasoning, which allows for true knowledge.^ For human beings, primitive (reptilian) instinctive urges and behaviour are overlaid by mammalian care and affection for one's young and human care and affection for one's family, other people and community.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Hebrew form of Adam used in this sentence is 'eth ha-adam' <14> indicating that what was created were 'human-like life forms' and not just one specific human being.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Pentateuch adds to mere mechanistic and chance processes the knowledge that human beings need to behave humanely if they wish to prosper and succeed.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

Aristotelianism

Main article: Aristotelian ethics
.Aristotle, an apprentice of Plato, was another, early, most influential philosopher, who argued that ethical knowledge is not certain knowledge (like metaphysics and epistemology), but is general knowledge.^ Some thoughts retain their power to change for endless generations will the repercussions of the thoughts of Plato, Socrates and Aristotle ever end?

 ^ Indeed there is usually an underlying meaning for most songs but each person who listens to a piece of music will take what they like from it.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Also, it's about our general human characteristic of looking down on others who we consider below us, and how quickly we can find ourselves to be just like them.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 .Because it is not a theoretical discipline, a person had to study and practice in order to become 'good', thus if the person were to become virtuous, he could not simply study what virtue is, he had to be virtuous, via virtuous activities.^ To gain good karma practice the perfections / virtues / paramitas - generosity, patience, praise, silence, honesty etc.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Studies have shown that after 21 days of practicing something regularly, the exercise will soon become habit.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 To do this, Aristotle established what is virtuous:
Every skill and every inquiry, and similarly, every action and choice of action, is thought to have some good as its object. This is why the good has rightly been defined as the object of all endeavor [...]
Everything is done with a goal, and that goal is "good".
—Nicomachean Ethics 1.1
.Yet, if action A is done towards achieving goal B, then goal B also would have a goal, goal C, and goal C also would have a goal, and so would continue this pattern, until something stopped its infinite regression.^ Then, during the rebase run, when it would stop on “*** empty …” commits, I would amend the commit message with a list of files changed (a lazy fix, I’ll admit) and continue: .
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC reblog.rot13.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC mjesec.ffzg.hr [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ For the time being, I will continue to agree with Thomas Jefferson who once told a woman to judge him by his actions, not his religious beliefs that he would not reveal.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 Aristotle's solution is the Highest Good, which is desirable for its own sake, it is its own goal. .The Highest Good is not desirable for the sake of achieving some other good, and all other ‘goods’ desirable for its sake.^ Choose the right response - for the highest good of all.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ But whatever it is, it's a good guess that the Minds on the other side of Singularity have a better chance of achieving it, so the Singularity is the interim meaning of life.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ I know of at least three other designer tools like this, (we all know of Atlas of course) and some of them are planning on being open source.
  • NB - Ajaxian » Front Page 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC newsbrane.com [Source type: General]
  • Gregarius » Programming 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC zzompp.hosting.mbar.fi [Source type: General]

 This involves achieving eudaemonia, usually translated as "happiness", "well-being", "flourishing", and "excellence".
.
What is the highest good in all matters of action?^ Choose the right response - for the highest good of all.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Then you will realize you don't need to change the world but you will automatically want to - for the highest good of all, as a servant of the mysterious divine - or to end the suffering of all sentient beings.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .To the name, there is almost complete agreement; for uneducated and educated alike call it happiness, and make happiness identical with the good life and successful living.^ Live a good, honorable life.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ There is good and evil, good and beastliness, but these life forms (animals) do not know this and cannot distinguish between them.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ They also find it comforting to disbelieve that there is any good or bad, right or wrong no need for the guilt we all accumulate in the course of a life if it feels good, just do it!

 They disagree, however, about the meaning of happiness.
—Nicomachean Ethics 1.4

Cynicism

.In the Hellenistic period, the Cynic philosophers said that the purpose of life is living a life of Virtue that agrees with Nature.^ "The Meaning of Life" isn't just about knowing that our lives are having an impact; it's also about dispelling the philosophical fog.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .Happiness depends upon being self-sufficient and master of one's mental attitude; suffering is consequence of false judgments of value, which cause negative emotions and a concomitant vicious character.^ If one gives up being aware of them then pure awareness alone remains, and that is the Self.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If you choose so and intend - this page will help you, as a pointer, on the path to being happy, balanced and at peace with self and others.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ While in existence we are connected through Karma - Law of Cause & Effect how you sow shall you reap, - on physical, mental, emotional, levels.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]
.The Cynical life rejects conventional desires for wealth, power, health, and fame, by being free of the possessions acquired in pursuing the conventional.^ My Fifteen Minutes - Daniel Will-Harris My Free Wallpapers - Free Desktop Wallpapers for Your Computer My Garden My Gay, Christian Life My Health Guides My hovercraft is full of eels My Imagination Is Power My intrepid travels thru life...
  • Undefined : RSS News on 7news.ru 2009-08-29 14:56:22 MSK 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.7news.ru [Source type: News]

 [60][61] .As reasoning creatures, people could achieve happiness via rigorous training, by living in a way natural to human beings.^ These humans are being unnaturally selected and are breeding much more strongly than they would have in a natural state because of our unnatural, compassionate efforts.

 ^ But humans, being conscious agents of evolution, go beyond this natural role.

 ^ For human beings, primitive (reptilian) instinctive urges and behaviour are overlaid by mammalian care and affection for one's young and human care and affection for one's family, other people and community.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 .The world equally belongs to everyone, so suffering is caused by false judgments of what is valuable and what is worthless per the customs and conventions of society.^ For any alternative - for any action we can take in a choice - the value of that alternative equals the value of the alternative in all futures where any statement S is true, times the probability of S being true, plus the value in all futures where S is false, times the probability that S is false.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

Cyrenaicism

.Cyrenaicism, founded by Aristippus of Cyrene, was an early Socratic school that emphasised only one side of Socrates's teachings — that happiness is one of the ends of moral action and that pleasure is the supreme good; thus a hedonistic world view, wherein bodily gratification is more intense than mental pleasure.^ Right now, it's more likely to bite you than to do some actual good...
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC reblog.rot13.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC mjesec.ffzg.hr [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Jimi Hendrix's "Hay Joe" i dont know how no one else added this, i know its early than the 70,s but the song hay joe is about relationshiop problems and the wifer cheating on the husband so he ended it.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ One important effect of the sliding window limit is that if two Javascript functions with common substrings are separated by more than this distance, they cannot be matched.
  • NB - Ajaxian » Front Page 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC newsbrane.com [Source type: General]
  • The App 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.msdesign.de [Source type: General]
  • The App 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.msdesign.de [Source type: General]
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  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC mjesec.ffzg.hr [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 Cyrenaics prefer immediate gratification to the long-term gain of delayed gratification; denial is unpleasant unhappiness.[62][63]

Epicureanism

Main article: Epicureanism
Bust of Epicurus leaning against his disciple Metrodorus in the Louvre Museum.
.To Epicurus, the greatest good is in seeking modest pleasures, to attain tranquility and freedom from fear (ataraxia) via knowledge, friendship, and virtuous, temperate living; bodily pain (aponia) is absent through one's knowledge of the workings of the world and of the limits of one's desires.^ If put knowledge into action through regular practice you will have more good luck / karma, you will be able to manifest and attract anything your heart desires and your life will have more meaning and direction.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he did eat.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The word "girl" in drug culture is used for drugs that work on the brains hypothalamus region; this is the same area one feels pleasure during sexual activity.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 Combined, freedom from pain and freedom from fear are happiness in its highest form. Epicurus' lauded enjoyment of simple pleasures is quasi-ascetic abstention from sex and the appetites:
When we say . . . that pleasure is the end and aim, we do not mean the pleasures of the prodigal or the pleasures of sensuality, as we are understood to do, by some, through ignorance, prejudice or wilful misrepresentation. By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul. .It is not by an unbroken succession of drinking bouts and of revelry, not by sexual lust, nor the enjoyment of fish, and other delicacies of a luxurious table, which produce a pleasant life; it is sober reasoning, searching out the grounds of every choice and avoidance, and banishing those beliefs through which the greatest tumults take possession of the soul.^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 [64]
.The Epicurean meaning of life rejects immortality and mysticism; there is a soul, but it is as mortal as the body.^ What opportunity for special meaning does a truncated life present to any soul what opportunity for spiritual evolution, for example?

 ^ Now Im not saying that there is no meaning without adversity, but I am saying that adversity definitely does not remove lifes meaning.

 ^ There is only one life so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 There is no afterlife, yet, one need not fear death, because "Death is nothing to us; for that which is dissolved, is without sensation, and that which lacks sensation is nothing to us."[65]

Stoicism

.Stoicism teaches that living according to reason and virtue is to be in harmony with the universe's divine order, entailed by one's recognition of the universal logos (reason), an essential value of all people.^ See good / divine in all people .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Universe is a really huge place, and there are very probably all kinds of interesting people in it.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ One of the things the universe teaches us is that if something can happen it will happen.

 .The meaning of life is freedom from suffering through apatheia (Gr: απαθεια), that is, being objective, having "clear judgement", not indifference.^ He refers to when the circus comes to town as meaning to his life being a circus as a child.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ The ideal is to become crystal clear about which filters are affecting our consciousness, which means still being inclusive of accepting all filters as a part of the whole, .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Well ce soir, for a change, it will all be made clear, For this is the Meaning of Life - c'est le sens de la vie - This is the Meaning of Life.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]
.Stoicism's prime directives are virtue, reason, and natural law, abided to develop personal self-control and mental fortitude as means of overcoming destructive emotions.^ Excluding humans, the development of all other animals in the spectrum is much as you would expect it to be naturally given the laws of natural selection.

 ^ "Identification means that we mentally or emotionally lose ourselves in something inside or outside of ourselves.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ After pleasure / birth comes pain /death - natural law You only suffer if you are attached to something, some action / non-action, outcome, or person.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .The Stoic does not seek to extinguish emotions, only to avoid emotional troubles, by developing clear judgement and inner calm through diligently practiced logic, reflection, and concentration.^ Just as there are disciples at varying stages of spiritual development, there are also varying of spiritual paths, and these paths reflect the type of practice which is emphasized at such levels.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ In order to do this we need to develop concentration or one-pointed-ness of mind - equanimity - calm abiding - zhine practice.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]
The Stoic ethical foundation is that good lies in the state of the soul, itself, exemplified in wisdom and self-control, thus improving one's spiritual well-being: "Virtue consists in a will which is in agreement with Nature."[65] The principle applies to one's personal relations thus: "to be free from anger, envy, and jealousy".[65]

Enlightenment philosophy

Further information: Enlightenment philosophy
The Enlightenment and the colonial era both changed the nature of European philosophy and exported it worldwide. .Devotion and subservience to God were largely replaced by notions of inalienable natural rights and the potentialities of reason, and universal ideals of love and compassion gave way to civic notions of freedom, equality, and citizenship.^ It is said our fundamental nature and our ultimate destiny / final destination / potential is Enlightenment / Self-Realisation / Nirvana / God Realization.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Right action is discovering our True Nature, when we release our thoughts, we see the World through God's eyes....
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Is Dr. Who right, and life: just natures way of keeping meat fresh?

 .The meaning of life changed as well, focussing less on humankind's relationship to God and more on the relationship between individuals and their society.^ Well tonight here's the Meaning of Life.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Isn't the meaning of life "to serve God"?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ There is only one life, so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 .This era is filled with theories that equate meaningful existence with the social order.^ Except for the first point, no, none of that prevents the existence of morality or social order and structure.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

Classical liberalism

Classical liberalism is a set of ideas that arose in the 17th and 18th centuries, out of conflicts between a growing, wealthy, propertied class and the established aristocratic and religious orders that dominated Europe. .Liberalism cast humans as beings with inalienable natural rights (including the right to retain the wealth generated by one's own work), and sought out means to balance rights across society.^ These humans are being unnaturally selected and are breeding much more strongly than they would have in a natural state because of our unnatural, compassionate efforts.

 ^ But humans, being conscious agents of evolution, go beyond this natural role.

 ^ Human beings are shown to be becoming numerous and spreading out, behaving much as before the flood.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 .Broadly speaking, it considers individual liberty to be the most important goal,[66] because only through ensured liberty are the other inherent rights protected.^ The only reason to do a thing is because it is right.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Among other reasons, if you have the talent, it's possible to contribute in this field without three doctorates and ten years of working your way up through the ranks - which is important, because you probably don't have fifteen years to spare.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Only a few special individuals in history, because of their purified karma, have been able to recognize and become enlightened in an instant; and so the introduction must always be preceded by the following preliminaries.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]
.There are many forms and derivations of liberalism, but their central conceptions of the meaning of life trace back to three main ideas.^ Until that long-hoped-for day arrives, perhaps– like James Lovelock– we can console ourselves with the idea that this pioneering work has helped broaden the meaning of life.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ "In Buddhist systems of ideas, there are many interpretations of what exactly these two levels of truth are.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Early thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Adam Smith saw humankind beginning in the state of nature, then finding meaning for existence through labour and property, and using social contracts to create an environment that supports those efforts.^ These humans are being unnaturally selected and are breeding much more strongly than they would have in a natural state because of our unnatural, compassionate efforts.

 ^ We’re using processing.js for particle rendering on canvas which is a very useful graphics library created by John Resig.

 ^ The Hebrew form of Adam used in this sentence is 'eth ha-adam' <14> indicating that what was created were 'human-like life forms' and not just one specific human being.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

Kantianism

Immanuel Kant is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the late Enlightenment.
Kantianism is a philosophy based on the ethical, epistemological, and metaphysical works of Immanuel Kant. Kant is known for his deontological theory where there is a single moral obligation, the "Categorical Imperative", derived from the concept of duty. .Kantians believe all actions are performed in accordance with some underlying maxim or principle, and for actions to be ethical, they must adhere to the categorical imperative.^ What this aphorism does imply is that life is not what men and women believe it to be, and that if we base our actions on this false sense of reality, then our actions must perforce amount to folly.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ [The others all look at Biggs after this outburst, as if they can't believe this ingratitude.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]
.Simply put, the test is that one must universalize the maxim (imagine that all people acted in this way) and then see if it would still be possible to perform the maxim in the world.^ "Imagine all the people sharing all the world" this one is self-explanatory.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ What would be nice is an automated way of finding all such assets that refer to missing template, so that you can update them to refer to a different template.
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 ^ From the likelihood that states will commit genocide to the way people treat animals, we must have been doing something right.

 .In Groundwork, Kant gives the example of a person who seeks to borrow money without intending to pay it back.^ Be aware of cults, giving away personal power, blind faith - faith without reason/ experience Be a student not a follower Don't believe anything - Experience it for yourself.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It's not a metaphor about a group of people it's a specific person who Dylan was disguisted with and went back and forth from dylan's people and warhol's people.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Don’t you think, especially if you take some time to talk to those who have been dead for awhile and brought back (for example the bypass people), it changes you?
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 .This is a contradiction because if it were a universal action, no person would lend money anymore as he knows that he will never be paid back.^ When you ask why some event happened, the only true and complete answer is "The Universe", because if any part of the Universe had been different ( 22 ), things would have happened differently.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ All good is no good at all when everybody is good because the universe is actively partial to it, nobody is good.

 ^ As for the hamsters, if I freeze to death and there is a way to bring me back, I would like to say here and now, no thank you.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 The maxim of this action, says Kant, results in a contradiction in conceivability (and thus contradicts perfect duty).
.Kant also denied that the consequences of an act in any way contribute to the moral worth of that act, his reasoning being that the physical world is outside one's full control and thus one cannot be held accountable for the events that occur in it.^ By meditating one realizes how to be back in control of ones life and choices - instead of being a victim of ones unconscious choices.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Morality, at least the way humans do it - "accountability" and so on - is an extremely high-level concept.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ I assume the majority of people in the world will also not contribute in any of the ways you listed.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

19th century philosophy

Further information: 19th century philosophy

Utilitarianism

Jeremy Bentham
.The origins of utilitarianism can be traced back as far as Epicurus, but, as a school of thought, it is credited to Jeremy Bentham,[67] who found that nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure, then, from that moral insight, deriving the Rule of Utility: that the good is whatever brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people.^ The fact that our inner experiences of pleasure and pain are in the nature of subjective mental and cognitive states is very obvious to us.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ These people have been placed under an enormous physical burden, and randomly.

 ^ Artima Weblogs People who've made the switch to dynamic languages seem much, much happier.

 He defined the meaning of life as the "greatest happiness principle".
Jeremy Bentham's foremost proponent was James Mill, a significant philosopher in his day, and father of John Stuart Mill. The younger Mill was educated per Bentham's principles, including transcribing and summarising much of his father's work.[68]

Nihilism

Nihilism rejects any authority's claims to knowledge and truth, and so explores the significance of existence without knowable truth. .Rather than insisting that values are subjective, and might be warrantless, the nihilist says: "Nothing is of value", morals are valueless, they only serve as society's false ideals.^ (The Blind Watchmaker referring to the mystery of our existence) shows desperation and a desire to goad, which only hampers a search for some light rather than heat.

 ^ Well, anyone got anything they'd rather be doing than marching up and down the square?
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ They turn the stone and look beneath it and, ironically, it says 'Peace on Earth' and nothing more.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]
.Friedrich Nietzsche characterized nihilism as emptying the world, and especially human existence, of meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, and essential value; succinctly, nihilism is the process of "the devaluing of the highest values".[69] Seeing the nihilist as a natural result of the idea that God is dead, and insisting it was something to overcome, his questioning of the nihilist's life-negating values, returned meaning to the Earth.^ The existence our truths, our gods, our meanings, our purpose does not remove Truth, God, special meaning or ultimate purpose.

 ^ But does this say anything about God and special meaning, or something about the people believing in the sanctity of religious doctrines, and something about the people doing the hating and/or killing?

 ^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 [70]
The End of the World, by John Martin.
.To Martin Heidegger, nihilism is the movement whereby "being" is forgotten, and is transformed into value, in other words, the reduction of being to exchange value.^ In other words, believing those things is most certainly not “blind faith”, rather, it’s called “not being a complete moron.” .
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Within the Nyingma tradition they are all synthesized into nine, of which Dzogchen of Ati yoga is the supreme, the others being considered as tools or adjuncts to this.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [69] Heidegger, in accordance with Nietzsche, saw in the so-called "death of God" a potential source for nihilism:
.If God, as the supra-sensory ground and goal, of all reality, is dead; if the supra-sensory world of the Ideas has suffered the loss of its obligatory, and above it, its vitalizing and up-building power, then nothing more remains to which Man can cling, and by which he can orient himself.^ I mean, conscious experiences are weird, and they seem to be really real, as real as quarks (and a lot more complex), so maybe the conscious experiences of goals are actual goals, purpose made flesh.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ No shrub of the field was yet on the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprang up; for the Lord God (God as originator) had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground; The land was barren because there was no rain and because no-one was there to work the land.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The negative argument is that the world is in a meta-unstable condition; more and more powerful technologies keep getting developed, and sooner or later we'll either blow up the world or create superintelligence.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 [71]
.The French philosopher Albert Camus asserts that the absurdity of the human condition is that people search for external values and meaning in a world which has none, and is indifferent to them.^ Philosophically, and for that matter conceptually, it seems more coherent to maintain a position that accepts the reality not only of the subjective world of the mind, but also of the external objects of the physical world."
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Camus writes of value-nihilists such as Meursault,[72] but also of values in a nihilistic world, that people can instead strive to be "heroic nihilists", living with dignity in the face of absurdity, living with "secular saintliness", fraternal solidarity, and rebelling against and transcending the world's indifference.^ Its amazing how many of the people I have mentioned as heroes of atheism have had multiple marriages and/or are living the lives of a libertine with all the guilt of betrayed families and relationships such a lifestyle entails.

 [73]

20th century philosophy

Further information: 20th century philosophy
The current era has seen radical changes in conceptions of human nature. .Modern science has effectively rewritten the relationship of humankind to the natural world, advances in medicine and technology have freed us from the limitations and ailments of previous eras, and philosophy —particularly following the linguistic turn— altered how the relationships people have with themselves and each other is conceived.^ Suffice it to say here that the God of the ancients is dead, slain at the hands of science and buried gleefully by its camp-follower, Philosophy.

 ^ He then says "imagine all the people, sharing all the world" and goes on to say how he is a dreamer.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Relationships change as people try and hold you back or don't know how to deal with you .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Questions about the meaning of life have seen equally radical changes, from attempts to reevaluate human existence in biological and scientific terms (as in pragmatism and logical positivism), to efforts to meta-theorize about meaning-making as an activity (existentialism, secular humanism).^ The Truth has implications about the existence of any special meaning in life which in turn has implications about how we should go about living it to enjoy the experience/opportunity to the utmost.

 ^ If the means justify the ends, then you have to make some concessions in life.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If killing a few mice makes life (or death, then life in this case) more bearable, then by all means proceed.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

Pragmatism

.Pragmatism, originated in the late-nineteenth-century U.S., to concern itself (mostly) with truth, positing that only in struggling with the environment do data, and derived theories, have meaning, and that consequences, like utility and practicality, also are components of truth.^ This massive addition consists mostly of two hemispheres which have, on the whole, different functions and consequently behaviour is not only determined by feelings but also by knowledge, understanding and reason.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 .Moreover, pragmatism posits that anything useful and practical is not always true, arguing that what most contributes to the most human good in the long course is true.^ Patience , which is exhibited in stressful situations, or used to sustain difficult endeavors, such as learning teachings and practicing over a long period .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Some people argue that because children and/or good people can die early and tragically, and some bad people can live long secure lives, life, ipso facto, is therefore meaningless.

 ^ Of course, the other side of this is that of all the religions existing, at most one can be true.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 In practice, theoretical claims must be practically verifiable, i.e. one should be able to predict and test claims, and, that, ultimately, the needs of mankind should guide human intellectual inquiry.
.Pragmatic philosophers suggest that the practical, useful understanding of life is more important than searching for an impractical abstract truth about life.^ The Truth has implications about the existence of any special meaning in life which in turn has implications about how we should go about living it to enjoy the experience/opportunity to the utmost.

 ^ One important effect of the sliding window limit is that if two Javascript functions with common substrings are separated by more than this distance, they cannot be matched.
  • The App 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.msdesign.de [Source type: General]
  • The App 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.msdesign.de [Source type: General]
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC reblog.rot13.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC mjesec.ffzg.hr [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ For more about transhumanism, Extropy, ultratechnology, and the other things that make life fun, I most highly recommend Extropians and other Transhumans , the Anders Transhuman Page , and the transhumanist FAQ .
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 William James argued that truth could be made, but not sought.[74][75] .To a pragmatist, the meaning of life is discoverable only via experience.^ The Truth has implications about the existence of any special meaning in life which in turn has implications about how we should go about living it to enjoy the experience/opportunity to the utmost.

 ^ There is only one life so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 ^ It is only in its creativity that any special meaning of life can rest.

Existentialism

Main article: Meaning (existential)
Edvard Munch's The Scream, a representation of existential angst.
.Each man and each woman creates the essence (meaning) of his and her life; life is not determined by a supernatural god or an earthly authority, one is free.^ God created man, but man created ego.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Isn't the meaning of life "to serve God"?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It is not sufficient to demolish its god to demolish God, nor must meaninglessness rule because the Bibles meaning of life is flawed.

 As such, one's ethical prime directives are action, freedom, and decision, thus, existentialism opposes rationalism and positivism. .In seeking meaning to life, the existentialist looks to where people find meaning in life, in course of which using only reason as a source of meaning is insufficient; the insufficiency gives rise to the emotions of anxiety and dread, felt in facing one's radical freedom, and the concomitant awareness of death.^ Because it uses probabilistic reasoning, this is known as an Interim Meaning of Life.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ There is only one life so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 ^ There is only one life, so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 .To the existentialist, existence precedes essence; the (essence) of one's life arises only after one comes to existence.^ There is only one life so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 ^ Until the existence of life, and then the existence of the spiritual are explained away in this universe, a multiverse only has the potential to compound the theory of meaninglessness problems.

 ^ There is only one life, so an early death disproves meaning and God.
.Søren Kierkegaard coined the term "leap of faith", arguing that life is full of absurdity, and one must make his and her own values in an indifferent world.^ Why so much space, why were so many uninhabitable therefore meaningless worlds made just to make this one world possible for us to exist?

 ^ What proof is there that we must only have one life?

 ^ Life is what you make it; you are a co-creator of your own reality: you are where you are now because you chose to learn these lessons .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .One can live meaningfully (free of despair and anxiety) in an unconditional commitment to something finite, and devotes that meaningful life to the commitment, despite the vulnerability inherent to doing so.^ I will examine this mechanism of life more fully in Essay 3 but, for here, who could argue a meaningful life is one that would deny people the opportunity to be what they are capable of being, of doing what they are capable of doing both good and bad and coming to know it?

 ^ An essentially meaningless, libertine life has its attractions, and many of the saints and zealots of the House of Disbelief listed at the start of this essay lived such a one.

 ^ From the likelihood that states will commit genocide to the way people treat animals, we must have been doing something right.

 [76]
Arthur Schopenhauer answered: "What is the meaning of life?" by determining that one's life reflects one's will, and that the will (life) is an aimless, irrational, and painful drive. Salvation, deliverance, and escape from suffering are in aesthetic contemplation, sympathy for others, and asceticism.[77][78]
.For Friedrich Nietzsche, life is worth living only if there are goals inspiring one to live.^ The unexamined life is not worth living.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ One who lives life to the fullest .
  • The Meanings Behind the Symbols: Family Crests, Blazons, Coat of Arms, Personalized Crests 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.fleurdelis.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ What proof is there that we must only have one life?

 Accordingly, he saw nihilism ("all that happens is meaningless") as without goals. .He discredited asceticism, because it denies one's living in the world; denied that values are objective facts, that are rationally necessary, universally-binding commitments: Our evaluations are interpretations, and not reflections of the world, as it is, in itself, and, therefore, all ideations take place from a particular perspective.^ Once you know what it's about, all the pieces fall into place rather easily with this one.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ The Universe is a really huge place, and there are very probably all kinds of interesting people in it.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Havvah, that is, Life); because she was the mother of all living.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 [70]

Absurdism

Albert Camus, the French Algerian philosopher who is often associated with existentialism but enthusiastically refused the term,[79] is famous for propounding his theory of the Absurd. .According to absurdism, there is a fundamental disharmony that arises out of the co-presence of man and the universe.^ Contrary to our intuitions, it turns out that the universe needs to be the vast size it is in order for man to exist.

 ^ 'Man' learns to communicate and so to co-operate with others and there is then co-operation between male and female of the species aimed at bringing up the next generation.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 .Man has a desire for order, meaning, and purpose in life, but the universe is indifferent and meaningless; the Absurd arises out of this conflict.^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It is not sufficient to demolish its god to demolish God, nor must meaninglessness rule because the Bibles meaning of life is flawed.

 ^ Many have expressed the thought that because we are individually insignificant in comparison to the universe, so is any meaning our life may have.
.As beings looking for hope in a meaningless world, Camus says that humans have three ways of resolving the dilemma.^ And this would seem to be, in essence, what Genesis Chapters 2 and 3 say about the evolution of human beings.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ So we are here looking at the development and behaviour of human beings who know of, can distinguish between and can choose between, good and evil.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Im not saying that this is good or bad, or that we should encourage eugenics, just stating it is so just another unnatural human act in an otherwise natural world: unnatural selection.
  • Suicide: The first solution to the dilemma is simply to end one's life. .Camus rejects this choice as cowardly.
  • Religious belief in a transcendent world: Such a belief would posit the existence of a realm that is beyond the Absurd, and, as such, has meaning.^ Suffice it here to say that this immaculate programming in of creativity to our world should more necessarily lead to belief in meaning than residency in the House of Disbelief.

     ^ Monks would cleanse, purify themselves before even asking before asking some of the deep questions of life - such as Who Am I? What is the Meaning of Life?
    • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

     ^ But, as discussed above, if it did, would this make the world perfect and meaningful or would existence in paradise, whilst absolutely lovely, be relatively meaningless?

     .Camus calls this solution “philosophical suicide” and rejects it because it amounts to the destruction of reason, which in his view is as fatal as suicide of the body.
  • Accept the Absurd: According to Camus, this is the only real solution.^ The only freedom is to detach yourself from the mind / body / emotions, realize that God is the only doer, and take a step back, watching the drama of your life unfold.
    • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

     ^ The Truth is that we have an animal body because of the amount of empirical evidence available.

     ^ Philosophically, and for that matter conceptually, it seems more coherent to maintain a position that accepts the reality not only of the subjective world of the mind, but also of the external objects of the physical world."
    • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

     It is to accept and even embrace the absurdity of life and to continue living. .The Absurd is a crucial characteristic of the human condition, and the only true way to deal with this is bold acceptance of it.^ Materialists exclude themselves from grasping the entirety of the human condition because their ideology only allows the existence of the material factor in the human equation.

     Life, according to Camus, can “be lived all the better if it has no meaning.”[80]

Secular humanism

Further information: Secular Humanism and Humanism (life stance)
The "Happy Human" symbol representing Secular Humanism.
.Per secular humanism, the human race came to be by reproducing in a progression of unguided evolution as an integral part of nature, which is self-existing.^ But humans, being conscious agents of evolution, go beyond this natural role.

 ^ Although we can react violently when our animal survival and/or self esteem is threatened, humanity is not by nature a wolf to fellow humanity.

 ^ Be aware that you will uncover many parts of yourself that you didn't know existed and /or tried to hide from self and others.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [81][82] .Knowledge does not come from supernatural sources, but from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis (the scientific method): the nature of the universe is what people discern it to be.^ The human emotion of resentment and rebellion evolved over the course of millions of years; it's a complex functional adaptation that simply does not appear in source code out of nowhere.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ We have a vision of the universe and humanitys possible place in it that was not visible to our pre-scientific ancestors who constructed our present g gods in their own image.

 ^ Humans are also working on ways of breaking from the universes natural, random, physical violence.

 [81] .Like-wise, "values and realities" are determined "by means of intelligent inquiry"[81] and "are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience", that is, by critical intelligence.^ I mean like really really dead.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ I mean, conscious experiences are weird, and they seem to be really real, as real as quarks (and a lot more complex), so maybe the conscious experiences of goals are actual goals, purpose made flesh.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 [83][84] "As far as we know, the total personality is [a function] of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context."[82]
.People determine human purpose, without supernatural influence; it is the human personality (general sense) that is the purpose of a human being's life; humanism seeks to develop and fulfill:[81] "Humanism affirms our ability, and responsibility, to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity".[83] Humanists promote enlightened self-interest and the common good for all people.^ Eve <21> was the mother of all living human beings.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ See good / divine in all people .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ "Imagine all the people, living life in peace".
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 .The happiness of the individual person is inextricably linked to the well-being of humanity, as a whole, in part, because we are social animals, who find meaning in personal relations, and because cultural progress benefits everybody living in the culture.^ To understand the meaning of something, you have to first relate back to who made it (in this case, the writers).
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Animals are one thing….but what do you think about willing human participants being used in testing to possibly benefit the rest of mankind?
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ YarrPirates 22 July 2007 at 11:16 pm Animals are one thing….but what do you think about willing human participants being used in testing to possibly benefit the rest of mankind?” .
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 [82][83]
.The philosophical sub-genres posthumanism and transhumanism (sometimes used synonymously) are extensions of humanistic values.^ It could also be a reference to the '60s TV show, "Lost in Space," whose title was sometimes used as a synonym for someone who was rather high.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 One should seek the advancement of humanity and of all life to the greatest degree feasible, to reconcile Renaissance humanism with the twenty-first century's technoscientific culture, thus, every living creature has the right to determine its personal and social "meaning of life".[85]
.From a humanistic-psychotherapeutic point of view, the question of the meaning of life could also be reinterpreted as "What is the meaning of my life?"^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Rush's "The Trees" My personal belief is that The Trees by Rush is an soulfully deep meaning of life and death...
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ I figured they were Frequently Asked Questions about Life, the Universe, and Everything, if not about The Meaning Of Life per se, so I tucked them in.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 [86] .Instead of becoming bogged down in cosmic or religious question about overarching purpose, this approach suggests that the question is intensely personal.^ Instead of closing God down to a smaller and smaller god of the gaps we are opening, in the new mysteries, grander ideas of what a G God might be (and the meaning and purpose of life).

 .There are many therapeutic responses to this question, for example Viktor Frankl argues for "Dereflection", which largely translates as ceasing to endlessly reflect on the self, instead of engaging in life.^ That said, there are some scientists of known competence, physicists and neurologists, arguing in favor of weird-physics neurology - Penrose and Hameroff, for example.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ There are so many NDE’s recorded now days, I do not see how the question of “more after this” can continue to be asked.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It has been speculated many times by those reviewing life that: Love is all there is.

 .On the whole, the therapeutic response is that the question of meaning of life evaporates if one is fully engaged in life.^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ There is only one life so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 ^ I figured they were Frequently Asked Questions about Life, the Universe, and Everything, if not about The Meaning Of Life per se, so I tucked them in.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .The question then morphs into more specific worries such as "What delusions am I under?", "What is blocking my ability to enjoy things?", "Why do I neglect loved-ones?". See also Existential Therapy, Irvin Yalom.^ But once immediate why do we have such a strong drive to risk it all to fulfil a deeper human need to be loved by others and especially our self?

 ^ Drugs offer an insight into the simpler and more complex things in life and i believe that is something the Floyd were getting at here.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ If there's one thing my speculations have taught me about reality, it's that it goes on and on and on.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

Logical positivism

.Logical positivists ask: What is the meaning of life? and What is the meaning in asking?[87][88] If there are no objective values, then, is life meaningless?[89] Ludwig Wittgenstein and the logical positivists said:[citation needed] "Expressed in language, the question is meaningless"; because, in life the statement the "meaning of x", usually denotes the consequences of x, or the significance of x, or what is notable about x, et cetera, thus, when the meaning of life concept equals "x", in the statement the "meaning of x", the statement becomes recursive, and, therefore, nonsensical, or it might refer to the fact that biological life is essential to having a meaning in life.^ He wondered if “life” might have a broader meaning.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Frequently Asked Questions about the Meaning of Life .
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ There is no God, and life has no special meaning or ultimate purpose because :- .
.The things (people, events) in the life of a person can have meaning (importance) as parts of a whole, but a discrete meaning of (the) life, itself, aside from those things, cannot be discerned.^ The ideal is to become crystal clear about which filters are affecting our consciousness, which means still being inclusive of accepting all filters as a part of the whole, .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Third fish: Personally I very much doubt if they're going to say anything about the Meaning of Life at all.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .A person's life has meaning (for himself, others) as the life events resulting from his achievements, legacy, family, et cetera, but, to say that life, itself, has meaning, is a misuse of language, since any note of significance, or of consequence, is relevant only in life (to the living), so rendering the statement erroneous.^ Since nihilism has absolutely nothing to say, only the "meaning hypothesis" is relevant.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Some life forms (animals) at that time lived by eating other animals.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 Bertrand Russell wrote that although he found that his distaste for torture was not like his distaste for broccoli, he found no satisfactory, empirical method of proving this:[65]
.When we try to be definite, as to what we mean when we say that this or that is "the Good," we find ourselves involved in very great difficulties.^ Benevolence in Laws definition, like the Oxford definition of goodness, is taken to necessarily mean making life on Earth heaven.

 ^ The big problem is with the fuzzy definition of “life” and how, when we try to define it more strictly, we find exceptions that disprove the rule.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Now Im not saying that there is no meaning without adversity, but I am saying that adversity definitely does not remove lifes meaning.

 Bentham's creed, that pleasure is the Good, roused furious opposition, and was said to be a pig's philosophy. Neither he nor his opponents could advance any argument. .In a scientific question, evidence can be adduced on both sides, and, in the end, one side is seen to have the better case — or, if this does not happen, the question is left undecided.^ A good example of this point is the case of Galileo, seen as one of the classic clashes between science and God.

 ^ He heads home to get his gun "the only thing papa had left him" while Andy is making his way home, wondering what is going to happen now that he lost one of his only friends.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Well, if you have ever seen a terminal patient die (I spent 4 years working in geriatrics, I have seen it and heard it and its not something you want to happen to you) the morphine does nothing for them.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 .But in a question, as to whether this, or that, is the ultimate Good, there is no evidence, either way; each disputant can only appeal to his own emotions, and employ such rhetorical devices as shall rouse similar emotions in others .^ There's no such thing as science.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Understanding this we will see that there is no conflict, no contradiction, no divergence, only astonishing awe-inspiring agreement, between what is stated in Genesis and what we now know.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The serpent, itself a predator struggling to survive against other predators, is saying to the female mammal which has some feelings and appreciation of care and affection for her own offspring, whether God (creator of what is good) has told her not to eat from any tree.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 . . .Questions as to "values" — that is to say, as to what is good or bad on its own account, independently of its effects — lie outside the domain of science, as the defenders of religion emphatically assert.^ When people lose God and meaning because bad things are happening to good people and good things happening to bad people, they are saying in effect that for life to have meaning it should be, at one and the same time, heaven for good people and hell for bad people to have a metaphysical override.

 ^ Im not saying that this is good or bad, or that we should encourage eugenics, just stating it is so just another unnatural human act in an otherwise natural world: unnatural selection.

 ^ It is a song about one side singing to the other.......The bad side is calling to the good side saying how i wish, how i wish you were here.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 I think that, in this, they are right, but, I draw the further conclusion, which they do not draw, that questions as to "values" lie wholly outside the domain of knowledge. .That is to say, when we assert that this, or that, has "value", we are giving expression to our own emotions, not to a fact, which would still be true if our personal feelings were different.^ The last line gives up hope and hopelessness in that we are trapped of our own will.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ To conclude, even though we have our own t truths which are relative the universe is of the absolute, and has T Truths which are absolutely true.

 ^ When you ask why some event happened, the only true and complete answer is "The Universe", because if any part of the Universe had been different ( 22 ), things would have happened differently.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 [90]

Postmodernism

Further information: Postmodernism
.Postmodernist thought - broadly speaking - sees human nature as constructed by language, or by structures and institutions of human society.^ Right action is discovering our True Nature, when we release our thoughts, we see the World through God's eyes....
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ How about tall-poppy lopping we all enjoy it doesnt that speak of an evil need in humans to see misfortune befall others?

 .Unlike other forms of philosophy, postmodernism rarely seeks out a priori or innate meanings in human existence, but instead focuses on analyzing or critiquing given meanings in order to rationalize or reconstruct them.^ However, it is invariably forgotten that these statements are about the credibility of religion its g god and purpose not about the possible existence of any rational God and special meaning.

 ^ But before we draw conclusions about the human race, the existence of, and/or nature of, God or the possibility of special meaning, it should always be remembered that the Nazis were beaten by humans.

 .Anything resembling a 'meaning of life', in postmodernist terms, can only be understood within a social and linguistic framework, and must be pursued as an escape from the power structures that are already embedded in all forms of speech and interaction.^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It is not sufficient to demolish its god to demolish God, nor must meaninglessness rule because the Bibles meaning of life is flawed.

 ^ Third fish: Personally I very much doubt if they're going to say anything about the Meaning of Life at all.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .As a rule, postmodernists see awareness of the constraints of language as necessary to escaping those constraints, but different theorists take different views on the nature of this process: from radical reconstruction of meaning by individuals (as in deconstructionism) to theories in which individuals are primarily extensions of language and society, without real autonomy (as in poststructuralism).^ They are aware of the difference between good and evil, are human beings (See Gen 5: 1-3 at the beginning of the immediately following chapter).
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The radiance of consciousness-bliss, in form of one awareness shining equally within and without, is the supreme and blissful primal reality.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The fittest human individuals those who have climbed by their natural abilities to the top of the human food chain are dropping their birthrate.

 .In general, postmodernism seeks meaning by looking at the underlying structures that create or impose meaning, rather than the epiphenomenal appearances of the world.^ Suffice it here to say that this immaculate programming in of creativity to our world should more necessarily lead to belief in meaning than residency in the House of Disbelief.

 ^ I found out about the Singularity in stages, and became a programmer in stages; but in general, my dedication to programming has followed my realization that programming is important, rather than vice versa.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ We have examined the House of God and found its denizens to be seeking comfort rather than the Truth are the denizens of the House of Disbelief similarly engaged?

Instinctivism, Social Darwinism and Evolutionary Psychology

.According to Instinctivism, the ultimate meaning of life is to seek the fulfillment of the human instincts.^ The possibility does exist that the conscious experience of pleasure is in fact the True Ultimate External Meaning of Life.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ There is no God, and life has no special meaning or ultimate purpose because :- .

 ^ Rather than cease to believe in God and meaning in life because some humans can do murderous, evil things we should rather be afraid that God may cease to believe in us?

 .Instinctists believes that all actions in life are results of instincts and in particular reproductive needs.^ They also find it comforting to disbelieve that there is any good or bad, right or wrong no need for the guilt we all accumulate in the course of a life if it feels good, just do it!

 ^ What this aphorism does imply is that life is not what men and women believe it to be, and that if we base our actions on this false sense of reality, then our actions must perforce amount to folly.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ No, neo-Darwinians have not proven their claims that all of life appears to be the result of total mechanistic causality, completely explained by Evolutionary Theory.

 .Instinctivism demonstrates how the existence of human individual being the result of reproduction instinctly lead human to achieve the reproduction goal in a cycle.^ For human beings, primitive (reptilian) instinctive urges and behaviour are overlaid by mammalian care and affection for one's young and human care and affection for one's family, other people and community.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Now, is there a Truth about how to achieve lasting happiness for humanity?

 ^ When we came to understand how our animal bodies evolved to their present state of being, much of educated humanity came to think that to invoke a God at all, was unnecessary.

 .Instantism emphasizes that when people think critically, they shall realize the ultimate goal for every actions they do is to attract the opposite sex.^ I mean, conscious experiences are weird, and they seem to be really real, as real as quarks (and a lot more complex), so maybe the conscious experiences of goals are actual goals, purpose made flesh.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ I'm flattered you think I've gotten so close to the ultimate reality that God just has to be in there somewhere or the theory is wrong.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ All of these people are mad, bad and dishonest they are either really atheists or extremely stupid.

 Instinctivism's central idea can be followed in this way:
As it is accepted that people are taught to learn in school. Why study hard? To receive good grades. Why receive good grades? To be able to go to college. Why go to college? To have a good occupation. Why a good occupation? To have wealth. Why wealth? To buy nice cars; To buy nice house; To buy nice products. .Why all the nice things to make one look good?^ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he did eat.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ One of the main belifs of this era was the sence that nature was an "all pervading goodness", and society was corrupt.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ The only thing that doesn't make sense is the title line, "On the bloddy morning after, one tin soldier rides away."
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 Ultimately to attract the opposite sex, to fufill the basic need of reproduction and the continuence of the human race.
.Common arguments used by instictivismists that all of humanities action can be explained by our goal of procreation are the following: Why are people so opposed to homosexual marriage?^ But once immediate why do we have such a strong drive to risk it all to fulfil a deeper human need to be loved by others and especially our self?

 ^ Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ They all had one thing in common; they couldn’t explain what it was, but felt something had “changed” after the surgery.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 Because homosexual couples can not reproduce. .Why do people love each other?^ But once immediate why do we have such a strong drive to risk it all to fulfil a deeper human need to be loved by others and especially our self?

 .Because love leads to sexual intercourse, which contributes to the population of the human species.^ Mr Blackitt: Because every time they have sexual intercourse they have to have a baby.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .Why do mothers love babies before they are even born?^ I'm a Roman Catholic, And have been since before I was born, And the one thing they say about Catholics, Is they'll take you as soon as you're warm...
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ They were just awaiting a Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention concert to be held before the recording could begin.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 Because it contributes to the maintenance and increase of the population of the human species. .Why are so many people against abortion?^ Why do so many intelligent people lose a belief in God with greater scientific understanding?

 Because it is a deterrent to procreation. .Why are there so many doctors and so much medicine?^ There is much heroism in a life of physical challenge, many victories others will never know many opportunities for growth of self and special meaning in life is not demolished.

 ^ Why so much space, why were so many uninhabitable therefore meaningless worlds made just to make this one world possible for us to exist?

 ^ This is the first-cause question made much of in Bertrand Russells polemic Why I am not a Christian , and a question that continues to vex many.

 To maintain the population of the human species. Why is murder such a big crime? Because it decreases the population of the human species.
.
Many of these approaches often consider the goal of life to be "maximizing reproductive fitness", arguing that adherents of approaches which do not do so are doomed to die out.^ It was considering the question of AI goal systems that got me into the meaning-of-life biz in the first place.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .The view becomes somewhat less reductionist - albeit at the expense of increased ambiguity -with the introduction of the concept of a meme.^ It is often useful to view these culturally transmitted ideas as memes - a term which refers to the concept that ideas, themselves, can evolve ( 13 ).
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 (cf. Dawkins Selfish Gene)

Naturalistic pantheism

.According to naturalistic pantheism, the meaning of life is to care for and look after nature and the environment.^ If you don’t think that your life means anything, then surely you don’t care about personal repuation.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

Religious perspectives

.The religious perspectives on the meaning of life are those ideologies which explain life in terms of an implicit purpose not defined by humans.^ What we have at the beginning of Genesis is a description of how life developed on this planet, in religious terms.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Nobody that I know of has deduced "The Meaning Of Life" by spending all day looking for it, but you can design an AI goal system to be safe, sane, stable, and self-knowing, then translate into human terms.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Essay 3 calls for us to emerge from our Houses to examine unideologically the evidence life presents for any spiritual factors in the human equation, and what they mean for the philosophy of meaning and purpose.

Western and Middle Eastern religions

Symbols of the three main Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Further information: Abrahamic religion and Iranian philosophy

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy named after its prophet Zoroaster, which influenced the beliefs of Judaism and its descendant religions. .Zoroastrians believe in a universe created by a transcendental God, Ahura Mazda, to whom all worship is ultimately directed.^ God as creator, as creator of all that is good.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ God is here referred to as God (creator), the creator of all that is good, as in Genesis Chapter 1.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Creation completed, God ceases from all further work like that done before and rests.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 Azhura Mazda's creation is asha, truth and order, and it is in conflict with its antithesis, druj, falsehood and disorder. (See also Zoroastrian eschatology).
.Since humanity possesses free will, people must be responsible for their moral choices.^ "Free will" is a cognitive element representing the basic game-theoretical unit of moral responsibility.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Moral responsibility - the idea that choosing evil causes you to deserve pain - is fundamentally a human idea that we've all adopted for convenience's sake.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The human conception of causality itself, like our conception of moral responsibility and free will, goes away if you look at it too closely.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .By using free will, people must take active role to play in the universal conflict, with good thoughts, good words and good deeds to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.^ Take responsibility for actions, thoughts & words .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Why is the word spoiled universally used of such people?

 ^ All good is no good at all when everybody is good because the universe is actively partial to it, nobody is good.

Judaism

.Judaism's most important feature is the worshiping of a single, omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent, transcendent God, who created the universe and governs it.^ God who creates, Creating God .
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ In this way we are told that the change (creation) recorded in this chapter of Genesis is a most important move away from the evil of 'survival of the most vicious' and towards that which is 'Good'.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Also consider that a creator-God could possibly just instil suitable universes with the necessary ingredients for life which universes may have indeed been accidental and self-occurring just as this one may have been.

 Per traditional Judaism, God established a covenant with the Jewish people, at Mount Sinai, revealing his laws and commandments in the Torah. .In Rabbinic Judaism, the Torah comprises the written Pentateuch (Torah) and the oral law tradition (later transcribed as sacred writing).^ When the Pentateuch (Torah, Five Books of Moses) was written about 3,400 years ago, people had but little knowledge about science or evolution compared with what is known today.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]
.In the Judaic world view, the meaning of life is to serve the one true God and to prepare for the world to come.^ Isn't the meaning of life "to serve God"?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ He refers to when the circus comes to town as meaning to his life being a circus as a child.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ It is not sufficient to demolish its god to demolish God, nor must meaninglessness rule because the Bibles meaning of life is flawed.

 [91][92] .The "Olam Haba"[93] thought is about elevating oneself spiritually, connecting to God in preparing for "Olam Haba"; Jewish thought is to use "Olam Hazeh" (this world) to elevate oneself.^ Ajaxian As preparation for an upcoming tech talk about Placemaker I thought it would be good to take a bit of the pain out of the geolocation service by making an interface for it.

 ^ The Eagles's "Hotel California" After listening to the song, the first time around, I thought it was about the heavy drug use in the 70's.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ It is not about the bands drug use or a father lost in World War 2.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 [94] "Al shlosha devarim," a well-known song which is often chanted at the point of a shabbat service when the torah is marched around the sanctuary, describes that "the world stands on three things: on torah, on worship, and on acts of lovingkindness." This concept further explains the Jewish mentality towards the meaning of it all.

Christianity

Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro is symbolic of Christianity,[95] illustrating the concept of seeking redemption through Jesus Christ.
.Though Christianity has its roots in Judaism, and shares much of the latter faith's ontology, its central beliefs derive from the teachings of Jesus Christ, as presented in the New Testament.^ Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” In the New Testament book of Mark is another interesting statment by Jesus on one’s soul.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Tyndale was not murdered by God but because he threatened the established power of religion much as Jesus revolutionary new understandings threatened the power of the religion of his day.

 ^ The word “soul” is used throughout the Christian Bible, 109 times in the Old Testament and 21 times in the New Testament.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Life's purpose in Christianity is to seek divine salvation through the grace of God and intercession of Christ.^ There is no God, and life has no special meaning or ultimate purpose because :- .

 ^ Instead of closing God down to a smaller and smaller god of the gaps we are opening, in the new mysteries, grander ideas of what a G God might be (and the meaning and purpose of life).

 ^ Essay 1 examined the Christian House of God and found its model for the meaning of life, and its god, incredible.

 (cf. .Gospel of John 11:26) The New Testament speaks of God wanting to have a relationship with humans both in this life and the life to come, which can happen only if one's sins are forgiven (John 3:16-21), (2 Peter 3:9).^ He was just an idealist, and a phony one at that (and God only knows we have enough idealist morons around these days).
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” In the New Testament book of Mark is another interesting statment by Jesus on one’s soul.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Dangerously, we have atomic weapons but only a primitive notion of God and what He wants from us.
.In the Christian view, humankind was made in the image of God and perfect, but the Fall of Man caused the progeny of the first Parents to inherit Original Sin.^ We are made in the image of God.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ No shrub of the field was yet on the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprang up; for the Lord God (God as originator) had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground; The land was barren because there was no rain and because no-one was there to work the land.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ And man (male and female) are there recorded as having been created only in God's image, alike to God only in appearance.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 The sacrifice of Christ's passion, death and resurrection provide the means for transcending that impure state (Romans 6:23). .The means for doing so varies between different groups of Christians, but all rely on belief in Jesus, his work on the cross and his resurrection as the fundamental starting point for a relationship with God.^ But does this say anything about God and special meaning, or something about the people believing in the sanctity of religious doctrines, and something about the people doing the hating and/or killing?

 ^ A good example of this point is the case of Galileo, seen as one of the classic clashes between science and God.

 ^ We have seen that the name used for referring to God clearly points to the meaning of the text.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 Under the Christian view, people are justified by belief in the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross. .The Gospel maintains that through this belief, the barrier that sin has created between man and God is destroyed, and allows God to change people and instill in them a new heart after His own will, and the ability to do it.^ God created man, but man created ego.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It is not even fatal to a belief in a G God, only fatal to the ancient everything-created-in-6-days-6000-years-ago g god of the Bible written by our pre-scientific ancestors.

 ^ As mammals evolved from reptiles, there evolved the ability for storing new experiences as they happen and so creating a store of experience-based memories.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 This is what the term 'reborn' or 'saved' almost always refers to. .This places Christianity in stark contrast to other religions which claim that believers are justified with God through adherence to guidelines or law given to us by God.^ Many believe that to demolish religions god is to demolish God.

 ^ Excluding humans, the development of all other animals in the spectrum is much as you would expect it to be naturally given the laws of natural selection.

 ^ Why did God create all the other religions, or permit their creation?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]
In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the first question is: What is the chief end of Man?, that is, What is Man's main purpose?. .The answer is: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever.^ And the 'Lord God' (originator) took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ And the Lord God (originator) said: 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him .
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; .
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 .God requires one to obey the revealed moral law saying: love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.^ But once immediate why do we have such a strong drive to risk it all to fulfil a deeper human need to be loved by others and especially our self?

 ^ Our individual highest awareness is always one with GOD awareness .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ We need to let God into our hearts.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [96] The Baltimore Catechism answers the question "Why did God make you?" by saying "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven."[97]
.The Apostle Paul also answers this question in his speech on the Areopagus in Athens: "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.^ Thomas More and John Fisher reserved for themselves and men like them the luxury of debating niceties of scripture, but in the prospect of each one man to be a church alone they saw the collapse of all theological authority; a time when every man or woman, no matter how ignorant, would be presumptuous enough to judge doctrine for themselves.

 ^ No need for hope, because one is whole / healed / holy / full-filled - Manifesting & Anchoring Heaven on Earth.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Biggs: Yes, well I think this is hardly the time or place for a goodbye speech...
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."^ First Man: No-one who has ever had their liver taken out by us has survived...
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Taylor did meet Suzanne during one of his stays at Austin Riggs mental institution (though it is unclear which).
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ But the valley people were stupid (like God said the men of the earth would be) and did not understand the meaning of the letter.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 [98]
.In Mormon theology (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) the purpose of life is to become more like God.^ Now the reason they had to give this song an 'innocent' excuse, was because earlier they said they were more popular than Jesus Christ.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ What is described in this chapter (Gen 4) about the descendants of Cain is the behaviour of a mammalian human-like life form whose behaviour is more beast-like than human.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Tyndale was not murdered by God but because he threatened the established power of religion much as Jesus revolutionary new understandings threatened the power of the religion of his day.

Islam

.In Islam, Man's ultimate life objective is to serve Allah (the Arabic equivalent for "God") by abiding by the Divine guidelines revealed in the Qur'an and the Tradition of the Prophet.^ Isn't the meaning of life "to serve God"?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If you feel GOD is the divine Ultimate Artist, Fair and Just then that is the one you will experience.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Bible is supposedly the work of divine inspiration (every dot and iota the word of God) but it bears mans unmistakable stamp.

 Earthly life is merely a test, determining one's afterlife, either in Jannat (paradise) or in Jahannum (Hell).
.For the pleasure of Allah, via the Qur'an, all Muslims must believe in God, his revelations, his angels, his messengers, and in the "Day of Judgment".[99] Qur'an describes the purpose of creation as follows: "Blessed be he in whose hand is the kingdom, he is powerful over all things,who created death and life that he might examine which of you is best in deeds, and he is the almighty, the forgiving" (Qur'an67:1-2)and "'And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).^ He them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ God as creator, as creator of all that is good.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ God who creates, Creating God .
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 " (Qur'an 51:56). .Worship testifies to the oneness of God in his lordship, his names, and his attributes.^ Does God have to be worshipped under a particular name?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .Terrenal life is a test; how one acts (behaves) determines whether one's soul goes to Jannat (Heaven) or to Jahannam (Hell).^ By meditating one realizes how to be back in control of ones life and choices - instead of being a victim of ones unconscious choices.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ She meets one of the spirits that has been in heaven for no telling how long, and he explains what is happening.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” In the New Testament book of Mark is another interesting statment by Jesus on one’s soul.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]
The Five Pillars of Islam are duties incumbent to every Muslim; they are: Shahadah (profession of faith); Salah (ritual prayer); Zakah (charity); Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).[100] They derive from the Hadith works, notably of Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Beliefs differ among the Kalam. .The Sunni concept of pre-destination is divine decree;[101] like-wise, the Shi'a concept of pre-destination is divine justice; in the esoteric view of the Sufis, the universe exists only for God's pleasure; Creation is a grand game, wherein Allah is the greatest prize.^ It is not even fatal to a belief in a G God, only fatal to the ancient everything-created-in-6-days-6000-years-ago g god of the Bible written by our pre-scientific ancestors.

 ^ Also consider that a creator-God could possibly just instil suitable universes with the necessary ingredients for life which universes may have indeed been accidental and self-occurring just as this one may have been.

 ^ We have a vision of the universe and humanitys possible place in it that was not visible to our pre-scientific ancestors who constructed our present g gods in their own image.

 [102][102]

Bahá'í Faith

The Bahá'í Faith emphasizes the unity of humanity.[103] .To Bahá'ís, the purpose of life is focused on spiritual growth and service to humanity.^ Humans since they have had consciousness have had a sense of the numinous in life, and an understanding of the spiritual in the human condition.

 ^ Other animals may also have spirituality, but for the purpose of the exercise represented by these essays it is enough to establish that the spiritual exists at all in this case that humans are spiritual beings.

 ^ Essay 3 calls for us to emerge from our Houses to examine unideologically the evidence life presents for any spiritual factors in the human equation, and what they mean for the philosophy of meaning and purpose.

 .Human beings are viewed as intrinsically spiritual beings.^ Other animals may also have spirituality, but for the purpose of the exercise represented by these essays it is enough to establish that the spiritual exists at all in this case that humans are spiritual beings.

 ^ Being humans (I will argue the human equation is to be spiritual beings with animal bodies) we will always attempt to approach the source of our spirituality God.

 .People's lives in this material world provide extended opportunities to grow, to develop divine qualities and virtues, and the prophets were sent by God to facilitate this.^ The Bible is a parochial document placing one group of tribes at the centre of the world as Gods chosen people, and the world at the centre of the universe.

 ^ In particular, it is through the moral exercise of our divinely conferred free will that opportunities are provided for spiritual advancement.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ People the world over are always seeking secret or mystical spiritual techniques, hoping they will provide a short cut to enlightenment.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [104][105]

South Asian religions

Further information: Indian religions and Indian philosophy

Hindu philosophies

Further information: Hinduism, Hindu philosophy, and Dharma
A golden Aum written in Devanagari. The Aum is sacred in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religions.
Hinduism is a religious category including many beliefs and traditions. .Since Hinduism was the way of expressed meaningful living for quite a long time immemorial, when there was no need for naming this as a separate religion, Hindu doctrines are supplementary and complementary in nature, generally non-exclusive, suggestive and tolerant in content.^ Since you are awareness there is no need to attain or cultivate it.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ But havent there been times that are purely about evil, that show our need of evil or our evil nature (original sin)?

 ^ SQL NULL is peculiar in a number of ways, and the general excuse for this is that there is a need to represent “missing information” — which may be true.
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC reblog.rot13.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC mjesec.ffzg.hr [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 [106] .Most believe that the ātman (spirit, soul) — the person's true self — is eternal.^ I believe the mountain could most likely represent heaven, or more likely, Christians, (of the true kind) since the song also spoke about the "people of the mountain".
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ But, as I will argue in Essay 3, the mind is of the animal body not the self/soul/spirit.

 ^ Your True Self does not consist of name, body, money, home, career, or your personal beliefs.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [107] In part, this stems from Hindu beliefs that spiritual development occurs across many lifetimes, and goals should match the state of development of the individual. There are four possible aims to human life, known as the purusharthas (ordered from least to greatest): Kāma (wish, desire, love and sensual pleasure), Artha (wealth, prosperity, glory), Dharma (righteousness, duty, morality, virtue, ethics, encompassing notions such as ahimsa (non-violence) and satya (truth)) and Moksha (liberation, i.e. liberation from Saṃsāra, the cycle of reincarnation).[108][109][110]
.In all schools of Hinduism, the meaning of life is tied up in the concepts of karma (causal action), samsara (the cycle of birth and rebirth), and moksha (liberation).^ So remember when you're feeling very small and insecure How amazingly unlikely is your birth And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space Because there' bugger all down here on earth.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If put knowledge into action through regular practice you will have more good luck / karma, you will be able to manifest and attract anything your heart desires and your life will have more meaning and direction.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Third fish: Personally I very much doubt if they're going to say anything about the Meaning of Life at all.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 Existence is conceived as the progression of the ātman (similar to the western concept of a soul) across numerous lifetimes, and its ultimate progression towards liberation from karma. .Particular goals for life are generally subsumed under broader yogas (practices) or dharma (correct living) which are intended to create more favorable reincarnations, though they are generally positive acts in this life as well.^ The Meaning of Life: I had a practical use for the answer, to wit: Designing an AI goal system.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The more intelligent you are, the better your chance of discovering the true meaning of life, the more power you have to achieve it, and the greater your probability of acting on it ( 16 ).
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Living in Harmony with Others Mother Theresa on Living Life More Quotes, Tips & Truths So What Now?
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 Traditional schools of Hinduism often worship Devas which are manifestations of Ishvara (a personal or chosen God); these Devas are taken as ideal forms to be identified with, as a form of spiritual improvement.
Advaita and Dvaita Hinduism
Further information: Advaita Vedanta and Dvaita
.Later schools reinterpreted the vedas to focus on Brahman, "The One Without a Second",[111] as a central God-like figure.^ With low-frequency timers — timers with a delay of one second or more — we could create many timers without significantly degrading performance on either device.
.In monist Advaita Vedanta, atman is ultimately indistinguishable from brahman, and the goal of life is to know or realize that one's atman (soul) is identical to Brahman.^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ (Yes, I know real life is more complicated.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ June 2007 at 07:41 pm This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 [112] .To the Upanishads, whoever becomes fully aware of the ātman, as one's core of self, realises identity with Brahman, and, thereby, achieves Moksha (liberation, freedom).^ THE WAY OUT IS IN! (through internalizing focus -becoming aware of your own mind / reactions /self) .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If one gives up being aware of them then pure awareness alone remains, and that is the Self.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Dance / Live / Act / Be fully - lose your 'self-conscious' feeling and inhibitions in the music / beat / rhythm / drumming - be as if the only one on the dance floor!
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [107][113][114]
Dualist Dvaita Vedanta and other bhakti schools have a dualist interpretation. Brahman is seen as a supreme being with a personality and manifest qualities. .The ātman depends upon brahman for its existence; the meaning of life is achieving Moksha through love of God and upon his grace.^ However God is also beyond Life and existence.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Isn't the meaning of life "to serve God"?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It is not sufficient to demolish its god to demolish God, nor must meaninglessness rule because the Bibles meaning of life is flawed.

 [113]
Vaishnavism
Another branch of Hinduism is Vaishnavism, where Vishnu is the principal deity. .Not all schools of Vaishnavism teach a meaning to life, but Gaudiya Vaishnavism, for example, teaches Achintya Bheda Abheda meaning worship of a separate and single true God KRISHNA while all the living entities are eternal parts and parcels of Supreme Personality of God Head KRISHNA. The constitutional position of a living entity is to serve the Lord with love and devotion.^ Love self, 'Love all, Serve all!'
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Isn't the meaning of life "to serve God"?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 Uninterrupted, unmotivated voluntary service to KRISHNA and His devotees is the purpose of life in liberated as well as conditioned state of life. .We were in spiritual world serving KRISHNA blissfully in full knowledge as we are the eternal spirit souls.^ We are not our bodies, but our selves, souls, spiritual beings and we appear to be here on spiritual business and our world is perfect for it however many lives it takes.

 .Because of our aversion to KRISHNA and due ot the desire to enjoy separate from KRISHNA we are in this material world undergoing the repeated cyle of birth, disease, old age and death in the acquired bodies of 8.4 million species of life, transmigrating from one body ot another according to our karma and desire.^ Our constant grasping, desiring, clinging, fearing - stops us from pausing, just for a few seconds and observing and experiencing the beautiful miracle that is Life!!
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Truth has implications about the existence of any special meaning in life which in turn has implications about how we should go about living it to enjoy the experience/opportunity to the utmost.

 ^ Einsteins point is that the quest for insight into the human condition is best tackled together because if we look honestly at our condition, we can see that we are of body and soul, not body or soul.

 .The purpose of human life especially is to think beyond the animalistic way of eating, sleeping, mating and defending and engage the higher intellingence to revive the lost relationship with KRISHNA, our eternal Father, from whom everything came, who is the sustainer and annihilator.^ It would in fact be heaven, not life and lifes amazing creativity would be lost especially its creativity of Self (an idea I will just introduce here and explore in Essay 3).

 ^ But once immediate why do we have such a strong drive to risk it all to fulfil a deeper human need to be loved by others and especially our self?

 ^ I don't think anyone would dispute that something smarter (or otherwise higher) than human might evolve, or be created, in a few million years.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .The revealed scriptures like Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam teach the Sambandha (Who am I? Who is God?^ Maybe because the God they prayed to let them down some time in the past, or they think life would be like this if there is a God.......who knows?
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .What is my relationship with God) and Abhideya (the process of re-establishing that lost connection with the Lord through the 9 processes of Bhakti - Devotional Service) and Prayojana - the result - attaining the love of Godhead.^ Attain Nirvana = End of suffering = Truth shall set you free = Light is the Way = The Way is Love = Love is God = God is life .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ True happiness comes from service to others / God / life /spirit and from realization of Truth and being / expressing that Truth - and from being able to cope with situations and relationships.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 The simplest process is to chant the maha mantra - "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare - Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" in the association of Lord's devotees. .While the purpose of life is to revive the lost relationship with the all loving Lord, the purpose of material creation is to utilize the resources to go back home back to Godhead, the eternal spiritual world Goloka Vrindavana - the kingdom of Godhead.^ This tightrope begins to feel like home as the wind comes rising from the distant storm and all I know is that tonight I might let go the line.."
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ It is quite possible that the speaker has missed his mother before she died, is making his way home and all his memories of her come flooding back to him, teardrop in his eye.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Other animals may also have spirituality, but for the purpose of the exercise represented by these essays it is enough to establish that the spiritual exists at all in this case that humans are spiritual beings.

Jainism

The Jainist Vow of Ahimsa. The dharmacakra (wheel) is the resolve to halt the cycle of reincarnation via truth and non-violence.
Further information: Jainism and Jain philosophy
Jainism is a religion originating in ancient India, its ethical system promotes self-discipline above all else. Through following the ascetic teachings of Jina, a human achieves enlightenment (perfect knowledge). Jainism divides the universe into living and non-living beings. .Only when the non-living become attached to the living does suffering result.^ After pleasure / birth comes pain /death - natural law You only suffer if you are attached to something, some action / non-action, outcome, or person.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 Therefore, happiness is the result of self-conquest and freedom from external objects. .The meaning of life may then be said to be to use the physical body to achieve self-realization and bliss.^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ But the reality is, I would much rather have them test on a monkey or kitty or hamster than on me or my family if it means coming up with cures for diseases they may suffer from later in life.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Also consider that a creator-God could possibly just instil suitable universes with the necessary ingredients for life which universes may have indeed been accidental and self-occurring just as this one may have been.

 [115]
.Jains believe that every human is responsible for his or her actions and all living beings have an eternal soul, jiva.^ Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Moral responsibility - the idea that choosing evil causes you to deserve pain - is fundamentally a human idea that we've all adopted for convenience's sake.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Other animals may also have spirituality, but for the purpose of the exercise represented by these essays it is enough to establish that the spiritual exists at all in this case that humans are spiritual beings.

 .Jains believe all souls are equal because they all possess the potential of being liberated and attaining Moksha.^ These humans are being unnaturally selected and are breeding much more strongly than they would have in a natural state because of our unnatural, compassionate efforts.

 ^ Nobody is better or worse than anybody else - we are all have equal potential for good.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ For any alternative - for any action we can take in a choice - the value of that alternative equals the value of the alternative in all futures where any statement S is true, times the probability of S being true, plus the value in all futures where S is false, times the probability that S is false.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .The Jain view of karma is that every action, every word, every thought produces, besides its visible, an invisible, transcendental effect on the soul.^ Take responsibility for actions, thoughts & words .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Karma and a relates to your thoughts, actions, words, feelings and even thoughts!
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Be aware moment to moment of your thoughts, feelings, actions, words.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]
Jainism includes strict adherence to ahimsa (or ahinsā), a form of nonviolence that goes far beyond vegetarianism. Jains refuse food obtained with unnecessary cruelty. .Many practice a lifestyle similar to veganism due to the violence of modern dairy farms, and others exclude root vegetables from their diets in order to preserve the lives of the plants from which they eat.^ If stem cells are living beings and a fetus is a living being….then so is sperm and eggs, then we can take it one farther, plants are ‘living’, so we shouldn’t eat them.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 [116]

Buddhism

Early Buddhism
.Buddhism is a nondual doctrine, in which subject, object, and action are all seen as illusory.^ This states that all phenomena, both subjective experiences and external objects, come into existence in dependence upon causes and conditions; nothing comes into existence uncaused.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 Buddhists believe that life is inherent with suffering or frustration. .Which does not mean that there is no pleasure in life, but this pleasure does not cause everlasting happiness.^ Isn't pleasure the meaning of life?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ What opportunity for special meaning does a truncated life present to any soul what opportunity for spiritual evolution, for example?

 ^ There’s no need to worry about that, little swimmers only have half the potential needed to create a life.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 .The suffering is caused by attachment to objects material or non-material which in turn causes one to be born again and again in the cycle of existence.^ The attachment to ego , the separate sense of 'I' and other , causes so much suffering - This separation is an illusion.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ This states that all phenomena, both subjective experiences and external objects, come into existence in dependence upon causes and conditions; nothing comes into existence uncaused.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ We suffer because of our attachment to the cycle of karma / rebirth - Birth / Death, Pleasure & Pain - Duality & Polarity.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .The Buddhist sūtras and tantras do not speak about "the meaning of life" or "the purpose of life", but about the potential of human life to end suffering through detaching oneself from cravings and conceptual attachments.^ It has the potential to become human life, but without a ‘host’ would not be able to do so.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Truth has implications about the existence of any special meaning in life which in turn has implications about how we should go about living it to enjoy the experience/opportunity to the utmost.

 ^ If the means justify the ends, then you have to make some concessions in life.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 Suffering can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels that ultimately results in the state of Nirvana. Nirvana means freedom from both suffering and rebirth.[117]
The eight-spoked Dharmacakra
Theravada Buddhism is generally considered to be close to the early Buddhist practice. .It promotes the concept of Vibhajjavada (Pali), literally "Teaching of Analysis", which says that insight must come from the aspirant's experience, critical investigation, and reasoning instead of by blind faith.^ Be aware of cults, giving away personal power, blind faith - faith without reason/ experience Be a student not a follower Don't believe anything - Experience it for yourself.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Wishful thinking and blind faith seems to be the reasons why, and those are pretty poor reasons.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 .However, the Theravadin tradition also emphasizes heeding the advice of the wise, considering such advice and evaluation of one's own experiences to be the two tests by which practices should be judged.^ The point is made even clearer on others cuts off the album such as "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", parts one and two.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ However the site is not promoting any one particular tradition, sect, dogma etc.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 The Theravadin goal is liberation (or freedom) from suffering, according to the Four Noble Truths. .This is attained in the achievement of Nirvana, or Unbinding which also ends the repeated cycle of birth, old age, sickness and death.^ It would mean an end to old age.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Attain Nirvana = End of suffering = Truth shall set you free = Light is the Way = The Way is Love = Love is God = God is life .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ We suffer because of our attachment to the cycle of karma / rebirth - Birth / Death, Pleasure & Pain - Duality & Polarity.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]
Mahayana Buddhism
Further information: Mahayana
Mahayana Buddhist schools de-emphasize the traditional view (still practiced in Theravada) of the release from individual Suffering (Dukkha) and attainment of Awakening (Nirvana). In Mahayana, the Buddha is seen as an eternal, immutable, inconceivable, omnipresent being. .The fundamental principles of Mahayana doctrine are based around the possibility of universal liberation from suffering for all beings, and the existence of the transcendent Buddha-nature, which is the eternal Buddha essence present, but hidden and unrecognised, in all living beings.^ The Principle of Mentalism - "The all is mind: the universe is mental."
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Some may have been allowed to live out their natural lives just to see how long they would live after such an event, but all were dissected in the end.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ We have a vision of the universe and humanitys possible place in it that was not visible to our pre-scientific ancestors who constructed our present g gods in their own image.

 [citation needed]
.Philosophical schools of Mahayana Buddhism, such as Chan/Zen and the vajrayana Tibetan and Shingon schools, explicitly teach that boddhisattvas should refrain from full liberation, allowing themselves to be reincarnated into the world until all beings achieve enlightenment.^ Dedicate merit, accumulated through practicing the 6 / 10 paramitas /virtues - towards your enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ High Virtues to - union with the Divine / non being / Void - leaving the wheel of Karma, gaining status of 'Never Returner' or as you can choose to stay until all sentient beings are enlightened - Bodhisattva's .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Within the Nyingma tradition they are all synthesized into nine, of which Dzogchen of Ati yoga is the supreme, the others being considered as tools or adjuncts to this.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Devotional schools such as Pure Land buddhism seek the aid of celestial buddhas - individuals who have spent lifetimes[citation needed] accumulating positive karma, and use that accumulation to aid all.^ Surely such a thing as the spiritual cannot exist except in human imagination if all is animal, the spiritual is better described in purely bodily terms such as psychological and emotional.

 ^ "What do you use to search across multiple data items such as news, reviews, articles and display them all on one page?"

 ^ I didn't use all the techniques he details but he pointed me in the right direction for what I needed to do.
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC reblog.rot13.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC mjesec.ffzg.hr [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

Sikhism

The Khanda, an important symbol of Sikhism.
.The monotheistic Sikh religion was founded by Guru Nanak Dev, the term "sikh" means student, which denotes that followers will lead their lives forever learning.^ The following is a summary of 'The Meaning of Life' - followed by tips for harmonious living .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. .The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture entitled the Gurū Granth Sāhib, which includes selected works of many philosophers from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds.^ Many modern philosophers believe Schopenhauer to be correct postmodern pessimism is well stated by philosopher Julian Young: .

 ^ Skepticism and Disbelief are, as I have mentioned previously, often in reaction to a family background of religious fundamentalism or orthodoxy that many leading sceptics have experienced.
.The Sikh Gurus tell us that salvation can be obtained by following various spiritual paths, so Sikhs do not have a monopoly on salvation: "The Lord dwells in every heart, and every heart has its own way to reach Him."^ According to the myth, the song tells the story of Taylor's girlfriend, Suzanne, being killed in an airplane crash on her way to meet him at a concert.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Since God hasn't told us, doesn't it follow that anyone who did figure it out would refuse to tell anyone?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Just as there are disciples at varying stages of spiritual development, there are also varying of spiritual paths, and these paths reflect the type of practice which is emphasized at such levels.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [118] .Sikhs believe that all people are equally important before God.^ But does this say anything about God and special meaning, or something about the people believing in the sanctity of religious doctrines, and something about the people doing the hating and/or killing?

 ^ Many believe that science has, if not killed all possibility of a G God, reduced God to insignificance at best a god-of-the-gaps ever diminishing as science closes the gaps.

 ^ From the above analogy it is clear to see that life is not at all what most people believe it to be.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [119] .Sikhs balance their moral and spiritual values with the quest for knowledge, and they aim to promote a life of peace and equality but also of positive action.^ Humans since they have had consciousness have had a sense of the numinous in life, and an understanding of the spiritual in the human condition.

 ^ Some of our ethical conservation actions do come from a selfish, Darwinian understanding that bio-diversity will be good for our own survival, but some come equally or wholly from an understanding of the moral responsibilities that the peak position in the animal world brings.

 ^ For any alternative - for any action we can take in a choice - the value of that alternative equals the value of the alternative in all futures where any statement S is true, times the probability of S being true, plus the value in all futures where S is false, times the probability that S is false.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 [120]
.A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself (pantheism).^ Also consider that a creator-God could possibly just instil suitable universes with the necessary ingredients for life which universes may have indeed been accidental and self-occurring just as this one may have been.

 ^ The Bible is a parochial document placing one group of tribes at the centre of the world as Gods chosen people, and the world at the centre of the universe.

 .Sikhism thus sees life as an opportunity to understand this God as well as to discover the divinity which lies in each individual.^ Right action is discovering our True Nature, when we release our thoughts, we see the World through God's eyes....
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The failures of the House of God to install a credible Divine or meaning of life do not bolster the House of Disbelief.

 ^ Or perhaps, we're just one of God's little jokes, Well ca c'est the Meaning of Life.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .While a full understanding of God is beyond human beings,[121] Nanak described God as not wholly unknowable, and stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye", or the "heart", of a human being: devotees must meditate to progress towards enlightenment.^ But humans, being conscious agents of evolution, go beyond this natural role.

 ^ Dedicate merit, accumulated through practicing the 6 / 10 paramitas /virtues - towards your enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ When we came to understand how our animal bodies evolved to their present state of being, much of educated humanity came to think that to invoke a God at all, was unnecessary.

 .Nanak emphasized the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings.^ Unlimited by space/time - being touched through meditation .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ But before we draw conclusions about the human race, the existence of, and/or nature of, God or the possibility of special meaning, it should always be remembered that the Nazis were beaten by humans.

 ^ When we came to understand how our animal bodies evolved to their present state of being, much of educated humanity came to think that to invoke a God at all, was unnecessary.

 [121]

Far Eastern religions

Further information: Chinese philosophy and Japanese philosophy

Shinto

Shinto torii, a traditional Japanese gate
Shinto is the native religion of Japan. .Shinto means "the path of the kami", but more specifically, it can be taken to mean "the divine crossroad where the kami chooses his way". The 'divine' crossroad signifies that all the universe is divine spirit.^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ But perhaps the best way to counter dangerous religions may be to find a more rational Divine, meaning and purpose rather than getting some sport from killing and re-killing a stone-age god?

 ^ This argument against meaning is being heard more frequently as we discover the vast scale of our universe.

 .This foundation of free will, choosing one's way, means that life is a creative process.^ There is only one life so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 ^ Does this amazing evolutionary process give our life greater or lesser meaning?

 ^ It is only in its creativity that any special meaning of life can rest.
.Shinto wants life to live, not to die.^ Some people argue that because children and/or good people can die early and tragically, and some bad people can live long secure lives, life, ipso facto, is therefore meaningless.

 .Shinto sees death as pollution and regards life as the realm where the divine spirit seeks to purify itself by rightful self-development.^ Lonely men all over the world will be convicted of manslaughter when all their little swimming ‘potentials for life’ go swimming right down the shower drain to their death.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Lonely men all over the world will be convicted of manslaughter when all their little swimming ‘potentials for life’ go swimming right down the shower drain to their death.” .
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Such random disadvantage makes any special meaning in life or intimations of a Divine difficult to see.

 .Shinto wants individual human life to be prolonged forever on earth as a victory of the divine spirit in preserving its objective personality in its highest forms.^ GOD's Divine Plan cannot be completed unless each and every single person on planet Earth fulfills their puzzle piece as GOD would have it be!"
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ And consider the further implications: if all matter and energy is God (or of God) and humans are of matter and have life energy (and I will argue, a spiritual individuation of the Divine) then people are as close to God as we can come this side of the relative/absolute divide.

 .The presence of evil in the world, as conceived by Shinto, does not stultify the divine nature by imposing on divinity responsibility for being able to relieve human suffering while refusing to do so.^ Are the consequences natural or divinely imposed?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ To consider this lets examine a time in human affairs of considerable evil: the Second World War and the Holocaust.

 ^ Evil is not a natural thing of this world, you will never see evil done naturally by an animal.

 .The sufferings of life are the sufferings of the divine spirit in search of progress in the objective world.^ Then you will realize you don't need to change the world but you will automatically want to - for the highest good of all, as a servant of the mysterious divine - or to end the suffering of all sentient beings.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [122]

Taoism

Taijitu symbolizes the unity of opposites between yin and yang.
.The Taoists' cosmogony emphasizes the need for all sentient beings and all man to return to the primordial or to rejoin with the Oneness of the Universe by way of self cultivation and self realization.^ In reality all these are One.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Universe is a really huge place, and there are very probably all kinds of interesting people in it.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 All adherents should understand and be in tune with the ultimate truth.
.They believe all things were originally from Taiji and Tao, and the meaning in life for the adherents is to realise the temporal nature of the existence.^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The Truth has implications about the existence of any special meaning in life which in turn has implications about how we should go about living it to enjoy the experience/opportunity to the utmost.

 ^ Third fish: Personally I very much doubt if they're going to say anything about the Meaning of Life at all.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ."Only introspection can then help us to find our innermost reasons for living...the simple answer is here within ourselves."^ Also, it's about our general human characteristic of looking down on others who we consider below us, and how quickly we can find ourselves to be just like them.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ We realize that reality, happiness, bliss, love is available here now - and it is only our thoughts / ego that are stopping us from experiencing bliss.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Coincidences happen for a reason - to help us on a path - evolution - destiny .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 [123]

Confucianism

Confucianism recognizes human nature in accordance with the need for discipline and education. .Because mankind is driven by both positive and negative influences, Confucianists see a goal in achieving the good nature through strong relationships and reasoning as well as minimizing the negative energy.^ Right action is discovering our True Nature, when we release our thoughts, we see the World through God's eyes....
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If prayer / positive intention is proven to work then it stands to reason that negative intention will also effect other people.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ But, more recently as our spiritual evolution advanced, we have called some animals good and protected them for non natural-selection reasons i.e.

 This emphasis on normal living is seen in the Confucianist scholar Tu Wei-Ming's quote, "we can realize the ultimate meaning of life in ordinary human existence."[124]

New religions

.There are many new religious movements in East Asia, and some with millions of followers: Chondogyo, Tenrikyo, Cao Đài, and Seicho-No-Ie.^ Yet this has all been said before - there are no new teachings here, nothing new can be added.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ But for a hypothetical index scanned 100 times, there's no way to know how many of those 100 scans used all the columns of the index, or, for instance, just the first column.
  • : Published items (items 1 to 50) 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC reblog.rot13.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 .New religions typically have unique explanations for the meaning of life.^ Religions proceed as if life is a game like football a vast game to be won by converting the greater number to your side a game to be won by any means.

 ^ It has certainly marginalised religion whenever religion has ventured into science and proffered its crude explanations of the hows of life for instance Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

 ^ Instead of closing God down to a smaller and smaller god of the gaps we are opening, in the new mysteries, grander ideas of what a G God might be (and the meaning and purpose of life).

 .For example, in Tenrikyo, one is expected to live a Joyous Life by participating in practices that create happiness for oneself and others.^ In it is, however, the story of a great man with the secret for a happy life: Thou shalt love one another; Turn the other cheek; Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; Love your enemies for anyone can love their friends.

 ^ Also consider that a creator-God could possibly just instil suitable universes with the necessary ingredients for life which universes may have indeed been accidental and self-occurring just as this one may have been.

 ^ Living from one perspective only, unaware and no respect or understanding for the other perspectives.
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

In popular culture

.The mystery of life and its meaning is an often recurring subject in popular culture, featured in entertainment media and various forms of art.^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ This book and its sequel Media Sexploitation where pop culture icons in the early 70's The book talks about various songs and there hidden messages.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Instead of closing God down to a smaller and smaller god of the gaps we are opening, in the new mysteries, grander ideas of what a G God might be (and the meaning and purpose of life).
Charles Allan Gilbert's All is Vanity, an example of vanitas, depicts a young woman gazing at her reflection in a mirror, but all is positioned in such a way as to make the image of a skull appear.
.In Douglas Adams' popular comedy book series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything has the numeric solution of 42, which was derived over seven and a half million years by a giant supercomputer called Deep Thought.^ Douglas Adams wrote a book called The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy .
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .After much confusion from the descendants of his creators, Deep Thought explains that the problem is that they do not know the Ultimate Question, and they would have to build an even more powerful computer to determine what that is.^ It’s true that animals die, but without any natural predators (killed so that we can expand our population centers ever farther), they would have a much more painful death awaiting them.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ These humans are being unnaturally selected and are breeding much more strongly than they would have in a natural state because of our unnatural, compassionate efforts.

 ^ This phenomena has been seen more recently, and well catalogued, in the psychological problems of Vietnam veterans these are men of my generation, and I know quite a few.

 .This computer is revealed to be Earth, which, after 10 million years of calculating, is destroyed to make way for a galactic bypass five minutes before it finishes calculations.^ To put it another way: As of 2000, computing power has doubled every two years, like clockwork, for the past fifty-five years.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Most people would be willing to accept the proposition that, over the course of millions of years, any race will either transcend itself or destroy itself.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ For example, by detecting asteroids which may hit the Earth (and make severe changes to lifeforms, as it did to the dinosaurs) by destroying or diverting them.

 [5][7][11][125] .In Life, the Universe and Everything, it is confirmed that 42 is indeed the Ultimate Answer, and that it is impossible for both the Ultimate Answer and the Ultimate Question to be known about in the same universe, as they will cancel each other out and take the universe with them, to be replaced by something even more bizarre, (one character, Prak, suggests that this may have already happened).^ I couldn't take one more step."
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ God, in the end ultimately gives and takes life, and even though some of us seemingly "take up all the light" it is all for not, for as the trees, from dust we came, and to dust we shall return.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 [126] .Subsequently, in the hopes that his subconscious holds the question, Arthur Dent guesses at a question, coming up with "What do you get when you multiply six by nine?", probably an incorrect guess, as the arrival of the Golgafrinchans on prehistoric Earth would have disrupted the computation process.^ Of course, you'd probably go nuts from sensory deprivation - your body would only send you half a minute's worth of sensory information every year.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It's not only knowing exactly why you got up in the morning; it's knowing the rules you used to make the decision, where the rules come from, and why the rules are correct.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Of course if you found yourself doing this often you're probably better off writing a dedicated WGDev plugin to wrap up the functionality.
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 [127] However, Dent, Fenchurch, and a dying Marvin did see God's final message to his creation: "We apologise for the inconvenience".[128]
Hamlet with Yorick's skull
.In Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, there are several allusions to the meaning of life.^ The other interesting "Meaning of Life" site on the 'Net is The Meaning of Life by Diogenes , which has reasonably intelligent answers to several other questions that are often meant by people who ask "What is the meaning of life?"
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Now Im not saying that there is no meaning without adversity, but I am saying that adversity definitely does not remove lifes meaning.

 ^ There is only one life so an early death disproves meaning and God.

 .In "Part VI B: The Meaning of Life" a cleaning lady explains "Life's a game, you sometimes win or lose" and later a waiter describes his personal philosophy "The world is a beautiful place.^ The world is a beautiful place.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ If the means justify the ends, then you have to make some concessions in life.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Third fish: Personally I very much doubt if they're going to say anything about the Meaning of Life at all.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 .You must go into it, and love everyone, not hate people.^ Hate You Love one another...
  • Undefined : RSS News on 7news.ru 2009-08-29 14:56:22 MSK 20 September 2009 9:48 UTC www.7news.ru [Source type: News]

 ^ You must go into it, and love everyone, not hate people.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ I am not calling for another religion, another segregation of people into competing groups rather an advance in the understanding of our Divine unity which must remove the need for competition.

 .You must try and make everyone happy, and bring peace and contentment everywhere you go."^ You must try and make everyone happy, and bring peace and contentment everywhere you go.'
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ You must go into it, and love everyone, not hate people.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Later on in the song, it says that these people who waste their lives can try to make up their wasted youth but you can't.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 [129] .At the end of the film, we can see Michael Palin being handed an envelope, he opens it, and provides the viewers with 'the meaning of life': "Well, it's nothing very special.^ Well tonight here's the Meaning of Life.
  • The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC inflow.corky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ He refers to when the circus comes to town as meaning to his life being a circus as a child.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ The Truth has implications about the existence of any special meaning in life which in turn has implications about how we should go about living it to enjoy the experience/opportunity to the utmost.

 .Uh, try to be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations."^ See good / divine in all people .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ "Imagine all the people, living life in peace".
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Some of the animals lived by eating others.
  • The Meaning of Genesis: Creation, Evolution and the Origin of Evil 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.solhaam.org [Source type: Original source]

 [129][130][131]
.In The Simpsons episode "Homer the Heretic", a representation of God agrees to tell Homer what the meaning of life is, but the show's credits begin to roll just as he starts to say what it is.^ Isn't the meaning of life "to serve God"?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Iveriniel 05 July 2007 at 08:28 pm “huerndy says: This is nonsense, we all know that the real meaning to life, the universe, and everything is 42!
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It is not sufficient to demolish its god to demolish God, nor must meaninglessness rule because the Bibles meaning of life is flawed.

 .Earlier in the episode, Homer founds his own religion, in which he tries to worship God in his own way, later pointing out to Moe that it has no hell and no kneeling.^ Not that religion is unimportant, but any discussion about it in cyber-space turns out the same way, with the same sides clearly defined.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ THE WAY OUT IS IN! (through internalizing focus -becoming aware of your own mind / reactions /self) .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Some things that are, are for a reason; and I see no point in trying to overly humanize or dehumanize them.
  • Damn Interesting • Reanimated Rodents and The Meaning of Life 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.damninteresting.com [Source type: Original source]

 .However, Homer quickly abandons his self-indulgent personal religion after his house almost burns down, taking the fire as a sign of divine retribution, and exclaiming "O Spiteful One, show me who to smite, and he shall be smoten."^ "The wealthiest person is the one who needs the least" Lao Tse .
  • Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.meaningoflife.i12.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Often the only way that people who feel they have been personal failures can fulfil the human need for self-love is through the successes of their country (also through their successful sporting teams or membership of dominant racial groups or religions).

 ^ The One Tin Soldier represents the single and only person who stood up for what was right.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 .Ned assures Homer that the fire was not God's vengeance and Lovejoy explains that God was "working in the hearts of your friends and neighbors when they came to your aid."^ James Taylor's "Fire & Rain" The line about Susanne- she was Susanne Schnerr of Greenwich Village, NYC. Friends, don't think they were "involved".
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 [132]
.At the end of The Matrix Revolutions, Smith concludes that "the purpose of life is to end" and is determined to move that purpose along.^ We will explore for rational special meaning and ultimate purpose even for a D Divine along The Road to Truth which is life.

 [133] .The Matrix series also presents the idea of "living in a simulated reality" and the associated question whether such an existence should be considered meaningless, in a way that may be compared to Plato's allegory of the cave and how certain belief systems view reality, like Buddhism or Gnosticism.^ How can I live my present life in such a way as to promote the Singularity?
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ I don't think such questions have real answers; or rather, the answer is whatever you decide it is.
  • Yudkowsky - FAQ about the Meaning of Life 16 September 2009 0:57 UTC yudkowsky.net [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" Fat Bottomed Girls, written by Brian May, was, as the author himself put it, a way to have fun with writing, and pull away from his serious side.
  • in the 70s - Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the Seventies 28 January 2010 0:26 UTC www.inthe70s.com [Source type: General]

 [134]

See also

Personal life portal
Philosophy portal
Spirituality portal

Origin and nature of life and reality

Value of life

Purpose of life

Miscellaneous

References

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  120. ^ The Sikh Coalition
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  123. ^ Ming-Dao Deng (1990). Scholar Warrior: An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life. HarperCollins. 
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  126. ^ Douglas Adams (1982). Life, the Universe and Everything. London: Pan. ISBN 0-330-26738-8. 
  127. ^ Douglas Adams (1 January 1980). The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-39181-0. 
  128. ^ Douglas Adams (1985). So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish. London: Pan. ISBN 0-330-28700-1. 
  129. ^ a b Monty Python's Completely Useless Web Site: Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life: Complete Script
  130. ^ Terry Burnham (2005). Mean Markets and Lizard Brains: How to Profit from the New Science of Irrationality. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 0471716952. 
  131. ^ Yolanda Fernandez (2002). In Their Shoes: Examining the Issue of Empathy and Its Place in the Treatment of Offenders. Wood 'N' Barnes Publishing. ISBN 1885473486. 
  132. ^ Mark I. Pinsky (2001). The Gospel According To The Simpsons: The Spiritual Life Of The World's Most Animated Family. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 0664224199. 
  133. ^ Matt Lawrence (2004). Like a Splinter in Your Mind: The Philosophy Behind the Matrix Trilogy. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 1405125241. 
  134. ^ Christopher Grau (2005). Philosophers Explore the Matrix.The meaning of life is nothing. Oxford University Press.

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Many religions, ways of thinking, and creative artists have tried to find the Meaning of Life. Some people say that we will never know what the meaning of life is. Many religions claim to offer some answers. There are also ways of thinking called philosophies which claim to answer this large question. There are also artists who paint pictures or create sculptures to attempt to explain the meaning of life.As well, there are musicians who write and play music and songs, and writers who write novels and stories to try to explain the meaning of life.

Many people from different religions or countries have different opinions on what the meaning of life is. Life is like a big test and we are the students trying to prepare for the exam. Some think it is all about the relationships that one holds throughout their lives. Some people say that human nature is full of violence, but on the other hand, there are some people who say that life is full of happiness and peace. Still other minds say that the meaning of life is to achieve goals you set throughout your existence. According to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the ultimate answer to the question is 42. The biological answer is to have children, which is to continue the survival of your genes. Others say the meaning of life is simply to enjoy life, and to enjoy every day.

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Up to date as of December 20, 2010

Here are sentences from other pages on Meaning of life, which are similar to those in the above article.








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