Purpose

[boagie]

Life cannot be said to have a purpose, look at it across the board, it is a lot of protoplasm with an urge to reproduce, that seems to be its full and only purpose, to reproduce, or to graduate from WestPoint, or both.

[paulhanke]

Originally Posted by boagie

... or both.

... maybe you're on to something there ... is "purpose" multi-layered/multi-leveled? ... what is the purpose of a living cell? ... what is the purpose of the living heart? the living brain? ... what is the purpose of a living being? ... what is the purpose of a living society? ... what is the purpose of a living planet? ... dare I go on?

[boagie]

Originally Posted by paulhanke

... maybe you're on to something there ... is "purpose" multi-layered/multi-leveled? ... what is the purpose of a living cell? ... what is the purpose of the living heart? the living brain? ... what is the purpose of a living being? ... what is the purpose of a living society? ... what is the purpose of a living planet? ... dare I go on?

paulhanke

Maintenance and reproduction! Its a lot protoplasma with an urge to reproduce. As the old Buddhist monk said to his students, what is the meaning of a FLOWER? ---------silence---------one student indicates that knows, "There is no meaning, the flower simply is", just as you yourself simply are, kind of uncomplicated isn't it.

[paulhanke]

Originally Posted by boagie

... "There is no meaning, the flower simply is", just as you yourself simply are, kind of uncomplicated isn't it.

... very autopoietic - the meaning of life is: life ...

[boagie]

Life is mean't----well perhaps not mean't, but life is to be lived, and how do we go about that, that is something I guess everyone ultimately answers for themselves.

[paulhanke]

Originally Posted by boagie

... that is something I guess everyone ultimately answers for themselves.

... some better than others - for example, if I had the ultimate answer to the purpose of my life, I wouldn't be logged into a philosophy forum viewing a thread entitled "Purpose", now would I (?) ...

[mashiaj]

Originally Posted by boagie

Life cannot be said to have a purpose, look at it across the board, it is a lot of protoplasm with an urge to reproduce, that seems to be its full and only purpose, to reproduce, or to graduate from WestPoint, or both.

sounds like nihilism, to me the purpose of life is to survive and reproduce like the other living beigns.

[boagie]

Originally Posted by mashiaj

sounds like nihilism, to me the purpose of life is to survive and reproduce like the other living beigns.

mashia,

How is that any different than what I stated? Its a lot of protoplasma with an urge to reproduce.

[mashiaj]

Originally Posted by boagie

Life cannot be said to have a purpose, look at it across the board, it is a lot of protoplasm with an urge to reproduce, that seems to be its full and only purpose, to reproduce, or to graduate from WestPoint, or both.

this is a contradiction you are saying that life has no purpose, and saying that it has. but why cannot be the survivor and reproduction a purpose in life?

[boagie]

Originally Posted by mashiaj

this is a contradiction you are saying that life has no purpose, and saying that it has. but why cannot be the survivor and reproduction a purpose in life?

mashiaj,

Mere survival and reproduction in most people's estimation is a pretty lame reason for continued existence in a world where life is struggle. Life is a lot of protoplasm with an urge to SURVIVE and REPRODUCE sound better to you?