Meaning of life

A few weeks ago I wrote some bs essay about what a 19 year old thinks the meaning of life is, there ya go:

In the song "devils dance floor" by a small band called "Flogging molly" in an absurd setting, one finds a good hint at where life points one. "Nothing ever came from a life that was a simple one" is a very close look at what the meaning of life might be. In essence, money doesn't make one happy. Having certain basic needs fulfilled is meaningful in finding happiness, yet not essential, therefor money can contribute to happiness but not be equated to it. Extremely rich people aren't more happy than the rest of society. In fact, they are overrepresented among mental illness cases.

Now, who is the happiest? Statistically it's old people and children. But those groups aren't meaningful to the analysis of what fulfills people, since they don't have very much to worry about and essentially cannot worry too much, as they don't possess the power any longer to change too much. Looking at Individuals of working age should be self evidently the most useful analysis. Among those, the happiest people are in or above the upper middle class, and work. The most fulfilled are those who have children. Women above the age of 35 who do not have children tend to become very stressed because they are biologically inclined - just as men are - to have children, while their time is running out ever faster. Men do not share the same biological clock, but those childless men in their 60s and 70s who do not have children often face a lack of belonging, and miss having a family, one they could have had, had they had children earlier in their lives.

Essentially, the biological "meaning of life" would be to spread your genes as far as possible. This obviously does not have any a priori meaning in itself, but rather is the way life works. We are, in a sense vessels our genes use to make more of themselves. Thus we are effectively genetically programmed to somehow spread our genes as far as possible, since people who did that are those whose genes make up the next generation. But obviously we aren't all sexual maniacs trying to impregnate everything that comes near us. This is, because the best way to spread our genes for the last 10 000 years wasn't to rape anything that walked on two legs. Our evolutionary fitness is just as closely related to trying to survive, which meant, hunting game and defending oneself from predators and other humans as well as the environment surrounding one. This includes illnesses and natural disasters, but since these aren't very much related to finding happiness in life, we shall dismiss those here. In the sense, that having children who are capable of surviving in our specific environments does make us happy, or at least fulfilled in a sense and we apparently are genetically predisposed to do so, since we create more of our genes that way. Further, we do get a sense of fulfillment from some work, solving some problems.

Nature probably gave us the perfect amount of difficult to solve problems, like hunting game and gathering food back in the stone age. This is evidenced by the fact, that hunters and gatherers who are confronted with technology often long for their old lives, once they have become fed up with modernity, not because modernity is worse than living as a savage, but because it is less meaningful. For example the idea of committing suicide is practically unheard of among hunter gatherers. This appears to point toward the most meaningful way to live ones life being, to solve naturally occurring problems that are neither too difficult nor to simple to solve. Knowing some way how you could possibly solve a problem, but it still being difficult usually makes solving that problem fun. These are the kind of problems that people spend days and weeks on, since they just appear meaningful, even when they really aren't. Computer games, for example are made to be just the right difficulty, so that playing it is difficult enough to keep you engaged, but easy enough to make you not give up. For players with different skill levels, there are different levels of difficulty, ranging from "far too easy" to "utterly impossible" for the average player. Playing games on a too difficult setting isn't fun, since you lose all the time, but playing them on a too easy setting isn't fun either, since you don't feel like you're accomplishing anything. In a sense, increasing the difficulty in a videogame is the easiest way to create meaning in your own home.

Obviously, videogames are nothing but a simulation, and they don't have any real meaning to them. But we can draw real solutions to practical problems like the question of the meaning of life from them, since in a sense, they are meant to simulate a fun, interesting and meaningful life. This is how any game company makes money and the ones best at making their games seem meaningful survive.

What kind of videogames sell best nowadays? First person perspective shooters, simulations of shooting others, so, defending your tribe (which is now often called a "nation"), roleplaying games, simulations of building up a successful character through a long and slow grind, often set in a greater setting of solving all the worlds problems like ending wars and the menace of "dragons". Then games that are basically high resolution strategy, like league of legends and dota2, which are based around fighting, as a group of five (or similar numbers) against five others and beating them with a strategy. All of these kind of games can be explained to be meaningful using evolutionary psychology. Since they are mostly targeted at young men, they are about fighting things with friends. Some are more about fighting other people and some are more about fighting your specific environment, but all are in essence about overcoming a difficult thing with thinking and proper movement.

This effectively is meaning:
Doing things that we inherently are fit to do as humans, which we are capable, but not too capable of doing and seem more meaningful than the thing in itself to us.

Let's break it down.
We need to be capable of solving the problems we are facing, or at least we need to believe, that we are capable of doing so. Being Sisyphus isn't fun. Rolling a rock that doesn't stay on top of the mountain to the top of a mountain for eternity isn't fun. Solving unsolvable problems isn't fun.

We need to be fit to do the specific problems. Programming is only fun to a person who really is into numbers and code. The average person could be trained to code some basic functions, but probably would never find it fun to do. Some people have Asperger syndrome and thus are genetically predisposed to find such abstract problems more interesting. As we would expect, people genetically more fit to solve such problems (autists) are overrepresented in the part of the population (programmers) who solve such problems. Most people on the other hand like sports. They don't think about why they enjoy kicking around a ball, but they do it and find it fun. Some people don't enjoy football, but most do enjoy some kind of sport. Those who don't usually don't, because they are unfit to do sports, i.e. modernity has made them unfit to participate in activities closer to our natural state of being, hunting and gathering, or they don't find it meaningful enough, and sometimes play videogames instead, which are less healthy, but closer to our natural state of "having exciting fun" like hunting and fighting. On a different note, a lot of coalworkers who work in countries with decent safety requirements feel very meaningful about their work. It is heavy physical duty, so, in a sense, very close to our natural challenges.

Now the last part of the "meaning of work" is meaning in itself, which might seem redundant, but is a very specific thing, that needs to be pointed out. Doing things to benefit something that feels greater than yourself makes doing this thing better, even if doing this thing is bad in itself. Working a subjectively boring blue collar job might be very interesting to you, not because the job in itself is interesting, but you use the job to feed a family, i.e. something that feels greater than yourself. Some people go as far as killing themselves to achieve some greater good, like Islamists blowing themselves up to spread the word of Allah. In essence, believing, that your work is meaningful makes it more meaningful to you.

So, let's combine it all, shall we? The most meaningful life you can live is one in which you work a job you enjoy doing, because you take an inherent interest in it, one that you are capable, but not too capable at doing and one, that you do, to further the interests of a family you love and perhaps created, in a community you love, in a state you love in a country you love, for a humanity (or perhaps other sentient or non-sentient beings) you love.

This is obviously only true as long as your basic bodily and psychological needs are fulfilled. Having someone to talk to, having food and being healthy can be more important at times, but once these needs are sufficiently fulfilled, meaning is derived from doing the things I outlined. At least that is what I believe, having listened to a lot of old people talking about life, while I myself am very unexperienced at this thing, at the age of 19.

Jordan Bee Peterson showed me that I must wash my penis to truly understand the meaning of life.

Napísal boywind2, 02.01.2019 at 17:41

Jordan Bee Peterson showed me that I must wash my penis to truly understand the meaning of life.

42

Gard style 10/10

Meaning of life is doing big bizniz.
Only cash i dont believe in bitcoin.

Napísal avatar, 02.01.2019 at 22:28

Gard style 10/10

Meaning of life is doing big bizniz.
Only cash i dont believe in bitcoin.

Yeaaaah silver certificate! Fuck that federal reserve system.

Napísal Dave, 03.01.2019 at 00:13

Napísal avatar, 02.01.2019 at 22:28

Gard style 10/10

Meaning of life is doing big bizniz.
Only cash i dont believe in bitcoin.

Yeaaaah silver certificate! Fuck that federal reserve system.

I like you more and more each time you post

Tldr but i guess it has a meaning behind it

Our maker created a single anomaly known to us as the big bang which has been spreading and creating since the beginning of time. Everything is made of elements, which when combined for various forms of matter, therefor since we are litterally created from the dust of exsistence from that original anomaly our purpose is to create. Our happiness is built from our creations in this world, whether it be a family, a business, or a product. Our purpose is to continue our creators expansion of the universe.

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:55

Our maker created a single anomaly known to us as the big bang which has been spreading and creating since the beginning of time. Everything made of elements, which when combined for various forms of matter, therefor since we are litterally created from the dust of exsistence from that original anomaly our purpose is to create. Our happiness is built from our creations in this world, whether it be a family, a business, or a product. Our purpose is to continue our creators expansion of the universe.

If I shit in the woods, is that pile of shit making me happy because I made it?

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 10:56

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:55

Our maker created a single anomaly known to us as the big bang which has been spreading and creating since the beginning of time. Everything made of elements, which when combined for various forms of matter, therefor since we are litterally created from the dust of exsistence from that original anomaly our purpose is to create. Our happiness is built from our creations in this world, whether it be a family, a business, or a product. Our purpose is to continue our creators expansion of the universe.

If I shit in the woods, is that pile of shit making me happy because I made it?

It might make a bear happy cause he marked his territory.

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:57

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 10:56

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:55

Our maker created a single anomaly known to us as the big bang which has been spreading and creating since the beginning of time. Everything made of elements, which when combined for various forms of matter, therefor since we are litterally created from the dust of exsistence from that original anomaly our purpose is to create. Our happiness is built from our creations in this world, whether it be a family, a business, or a product. Our purpose is to continue our creators expansion of the universe.

If I shit in the woods, is that pile of shit making me happy because I made it?

It might make a bear happy cause he marked his territory.

That was a serious question. What do you mean by creating? If creating is supposed to make me happy, why is it, that I hate certain things one could classify as "creating"?

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 10:58

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:57

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 10:56

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:55

Our maker created a single anomaly known to us as the big bang which has been spreading and creating since the beginning of time. Everything made of elements, which when combined for various forms of matter, therefor since we are litterally created from the dust of exsistence from that original anomaly our purpose is to create. Our happiness is built from our creations in this world, whether it be a family, a business, or a product. Our purpose is to continue our creators expansion of the universe.

If I shit in the woods, is that pile of shit making me happy because I made it?

It might make a bear happy cause he marked his territory.

That was a serious question. What do you mean by creating? If creating is supposed to make me happy, why is it, that I hate certain things one could classify as "creating"?

We are special, the only species we know of to understand context of our reality, therefor we are capable to pick and choose which things we enjoy doing but in the end, those who find true happiness find it in the thought that they have created a lasting monument to there exsistence. Whether it be material possessions accumulated, the passing of there genetic makeup to a new generations, there deeds written about in history, or the culmination of their decisions in life. Everything is a form of creation in one way or another. I'm creating a discussion by stating my view point right now

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 12:27

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 10:58

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:57

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 10:56

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:55

Our maker created a single anomaly known to us as the big bang which has been spreading and creating since the beginning of time. Everything made of elements, which when combined for various forms of matter, therefor since we are litterally created from the dust of exsistence from that original anomaly our purpose is to create. Our happiness is built from our creations in this world, whether it be a family, a business, or a product. Our purpose is to continue our creators expansion of the universe.

If I shit in the woods, is that pile of shit making me happy because I made it?

It might make a bear happy cause he marked his territory.

That was a serious question. What do you mean by creating? If creating is supposed to make me happy, why is it, that I hate certain things one could classify as "creating"?

We are special, the only species we know of to understand context of our reality, therefor we are capable to pick and choose which things we enjoy doing but in the end, those who find true happiness find it in the thought that they have created a lasting monument to there exsistence. Whether it be material possessions accumulated, the passing of there genetic makeup to a new generations, there deeds written about in history, or the culmination of their decisions in life. Everything is a form of creation in one way or another. I'm creating a discussion by ing my view point right now

how do you know that humans are the only species capable of understanding the contextour reality?

Napísal boywind2, 03.01.2019 at 14:06

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 12:27

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 10:58

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:57

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 10:56

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 10:55

Our maker created a single anomaly known to us as the big bang which has been spreading and creating since the beginning of time. Everything made of elements, which when combined for various forms of matter, therefor since we are litterally created from the dust of exsistence from that original anomaly our purpose is to create. Our happiness is built from our creations in this world, whether it be a family, a business, or a product. Our purpose is to continue our creators expansion of the universe.

If I shit in the woods, is that pile of shit making me happy because I made it?

It might make a bear happy cause he marked his territory.

That was a serious question. What do you mean by creating? If creating is supposed to make me happy, why is it, that I hate certain things one could classify as "creating"?

We are special, the only species we know of to understand context of our reality, therefor we are capable to pick and choose which things we enjoy doing but in the end, those who find true happiness find it in the thought that they have created a lasting monument to there exsistence. Whether it be material possessions accumulated, the passing of there genetic makeup to a new generations, there deeds written about in history, or the culmination of their decisions in life. Everything is a form of creation in one way or another. I'm creating a discussion by ing my view point right now

how do you know that humans are the only species capable of understanding the contextour reality?

"That "We" Know of" as in we have no proof but I doubt we are alone.

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 12:27

We are special, the only species we know of to understand context of our reality, therefor we are capable to pick and choose which things we enjoy doing but in the end, those who find true happiness find it in the thought that they have created a lasting monument to there exsistence. Whether it be material possessions accumulated, the passing of there genetic makeup to a new generations, there deeds written about in history, or the culmination of their decisions in life. Everything is a form of creation in one way or another. I'm creating a discussion by stating my view point right now

This is going to boil down to "it's all subjective" and "creating a lasting monument" doesn't mean anything. Let's say there was a great spy. He never gets caught, has a life he finds meaningful but is forgotten as fast as any normal person is. Did this man now not have a meaningful life, because he was forgotten?

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 15:21

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 12:27

We are special, the only species we know of to understand context of our reality, therefor we are capable to pick and choose which things we enjoy doing but in the end, those who find true happiness find it in the thought that they have created a lasting monument to there exsistence. Whether it be material possessions accumulated, the passing of there genetic makeup to a new generations, there deeds written about in history, or the culmination of their decisions in life. Everything is a form of creation in one way or another. I'm creating a discussion by stating my view point right now

This is going to boil down to "it's all subjective" and "creating a lasting monument" doesn't mean anything. Let's say there was a great spy. He never gets caught, has a life he finds meaningful but is forgotten as fast as any normal person is. Did this man now not have a meaningful life, because he was forgotten?

He created the person he became and was proud of his accomplishments, recognition is a form of endearment for what you created in your life but it's hardly the only way.

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 15:25

He created the person he became and was proud of his accomplishments, recognition is a form of endearment for what you created in your life but it's hardly the only way.

As I said, "creating a lasting monument" is so general, that what you are saying is basically "doing something you subjectively find meaningful is meaningful".

Napísal Tirpitz406, 03.01.2019 at 15:39

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 15:25

He created the person he became and was proud of his accomplishments, recognition is a form of endearment for what you created in your life but it's hardly the only way.

As I said, "creating a lasting monument" is so general, that what you are saying is basically "doing something you subjectively find meaningful is meaningful".

Like I said that's only one of infinite things that might bring meaning to somones life. Happiness is creating something larger then the sum of your own person.

Napísal Helly, 03.01.2019 at 15:43

Like I said that's only one of infinite things that might bring meaning to somones life. Happiness is creating something larger then the sum of your own person.

This is all just subjectively percieved. But I guess in a sense it's aligned with what I wrote in the first place.

What's " meaningful " in the context of a short-lived self absorbed ( generally ) plague of a species is,quite simply,
we take / destroy / eradicate / abuse what's available without regard for any beings future.
forget the psuedo-intellectual witterings they are when all's said and done irrellevent.

Napísal Ludditez, 03.01.2019 at 16:49

What's " meaningful " in the context of a short-lived self absorbed ( generally ) plague of a species is,quite simply,
we take / destroy / eradicate / abuse what's available without regard for any beings future.
forget the psuedo-intellectual witterings they are when all's said and done irrellevent.

Enlightened Anarcho-primitivism.

Yes very funny,
more psuedo-intellectualism ?
my statement is simply clear fact nothing more nothing less.

Napísal Ludditez, 03.01.2019 at 16:59

Yes very funny,
more psuedo-intellectualism ?
my statement is simply clear fact nothing more nothing less.

All morals are subjective. I don't value plants as much as I value humans. Killing plants to maintain humanity is good.

You are taking the piss and boring me.
do not try to flamewar this is atwar

Then give me a thumbs up !
having read the opening post it appears rambling cliched & espoused by a "19 yr old" who lives in virtual world.
comparing hunter gatherers to "fun modern take on survival".
simple problem solving as oppossed to life or death requirements takes more than sitting behind a desk & eulogizing.millions of years of Evolution,failure,near extinction
+ multitudes of other factors have resulted in us being a plague upon this earth.
we take what we can,
we replace as little as we are willing or able,
we have less.
our futures are less.
we are meaningless.