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What is the point of life? (atheists only please)

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Why does something have to be unlimited to have worth? It's like saying going on holiday is pointless as you have to return. If that was true then tourism would be a non existent industry.

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Just because it doesn't have to be doesn't mean it can't be.
I don't think life on earth is the same as a holiday

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Reply 621

Jebedee

Original post by Anonymous263

Just because it doesn't have to be doesn't mean it can't be.
I don't think life on earth is the same as a holiday

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No, but it is still a relevant analogy.

Reply 622

Okorange

Original post by lazzarus

If you believe there is no god, then presumably you believe there is no heaven... what then is the point of life? If there is no moral reason to do or not do anything, and most desires are instincts to perpetuate this seemingly pointless phenomenon, why then do we bother?

I have no clue, and that is probably why i'm depressed. I see people doing the same things everyday. What is really the point honestly of doing anything. The reality is you are replaceable and everything anyone does with the exception of a limited number of people in this world has been done millions of times before. I sort of just keep doing things because I'm afraid of killing myself or maybe theres just not enough reason to do so, but this sort of attitude towards life also makes me less afraid of dying.

I find it difficult to believe in God and i'm agnostic not atheist.

Also i don't think i'm the only one who thinks this way. Its a pessimistic way to live but I can't seem to get out of it. I'm not suicidal at all but it all seems pointless. All the "goals" in life like getting married, having kids, going to travel someplace, they've all been done before by someone who probably looks like you, has the same job as you even. Its not interesting.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 623

Remedium

There is no point to life.

Reply 624

lukasthepoet

There is absolutely no such thing as a "point of life".
The purpose of life is not to reproduce as that would lead to a problem of infinite regression (what is the purpose of reproducing etc).

The problem here is not an inability to ascertain the purpose of life, but believing that the concept of 'life's purpose' even exists.

Life is life. It is its own justification.

Read into the philosophy of Absurdism.

Reply 625

Double Agent

Original post by LostGear

Welcome back.

Thanks

Reply 626

ThatNorthernLad

In our society, the point of life is to prepare for work in childhood, work as slaves until we're worn down as adults, and rot in a forgotten home as elderly.

I envy religious people in a way, the prospect of eternal heaven and paradise after death must keep them blissfully sane during all of this.

Reply 627

Dr Alcoholic

There is no point. We are matter that has evolved to point where we developed reason and any notion of "meaning" is merely a logical evaluation that we made up. Meaning came after consciousness not before, hence how can there be meaning to life if conciousness is a product of the beginning.

Reply 628

Good Call

Original post by ThatNorthernLad

In our society, the point of life is to prepare for work in childhood, work as slaves until we're worn down as adults, and rot in a forgotten home as elderly.

It's actually possible to become financially independent quite early in life. It's our consumer culture that makes so many people unhealthy, unhappy and retire later.

Reply 629

The Dictator

Original post by Sarahl89

Does there have to be a point? We're all here whether theres a point or not - lets make the best of it.. enjoy life, and make the world a nice place for others to enjoy aswell.. as for morals, i don't see what on earth they even have to do with religion or there being a point to life, you can be an atheist AND a good person aswell! shock horror! so i don't believe in God or heaven or hell, i still want to enjoy my life, still love my friends & family and appreciate the natural beauty and how amazingly and cleverly evolved the world is and do what i can to help other people on the planet.. i don't see why anyone would need the incentive of a nice cushy cloud to sit on after they die to do any of that..

I do not want to be a "good" person. I want to be a noble person.

Reply 630

The Dictator

Nihilism is alright for some, but for others, like me, it degrades and makes petty life. We must learn to say a great Yes to life, to choose our own values and not assume that the great hand of rational objectivity will hand over to us some precious tablets with a law code inscribed. We must come armed, armed with a sword to cut down the father figure who imposes values, who defines values, who IS all thoughts and all values, and who decries thinking itself as a mortal sin. We must come out from under the shadow of the almighty, omnipresent, omnibenevolent father, out of the care and nurture of an over-protective mother, and face this life's dangerous, trials and tribulations, embracing them all as part of a world experience, and not seeking to project our sorrows and bitterness onto a metaphysical being, for that will provide us with no release other than the release found in servitude and in pessimism.

It is only in the fertile breeding grounds of nihilism that ideas like pessimism and socialism can sprout. When humanity looks back on how far it has come, we assume we are at a tipping point, an "end of history" as it were. We look back on the prosperity and comfort we have achieved over the years and think, what is the use in striving? What is the point in searching for MORE? We have reached the end, let us at least take the strife and the adventure out of life. And so we set out to do just that. We become Last Men, seeking only pleasure, comfort, protection from danger. With this comes the rise of the state, the expansion of government, the officiousness of politicians who claim they are only doing what is best for us, only acceding to our demands for maximum protection from the world, from poverty, from want, from need.

And so life becomes one, dull slog. There is no need to strive. Great men are seen as evil - noble men as seen as coarse. Better, far better, to make life so EASY for as many people as possible. Without a noble caste, without a cliche of "great men" who strive, there is no need for the rest of humanity to strive, and so all of humanity becomes mediocre and unassuming. The balance of our human stock becomes, in effect, worthless.

Reply 631

Venatal

Nobody know's everyone has their own interpretation, to me I believe there is no point at all, at one point everything will come to an end so everything we did leading to it was pointless.

Reply 632

JUSTASTATISTIC

Life is a tight rope for the majority of us, we have a job go to work pay the mortgage/rent. If we lose our job we suddenly fall of the tightrope. Do we all have enough money in the bank to cover the costs?

The benefit system makes no allowance for those that have paid in all their lives, and those that have contributed sweet FA.

IF we make it retirement age without a hitch, will our pension be worth anything? Bear in mind the tax man has his cut! (born free taxed to death) If we are lucky enough to own our own home, we will need to sell it fund our nursing home care.

So I question what is the point?

I don't have kids, and to be honest I would not bring children into this unforgiving world.

............................................just my opinion!!

Reply 633

username1214455

To survive to the age of reproduction, pass on beneficial genes, then aid the survival of the species.

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Reply 634

RayApparently

Original post by lazzarus

You also must admit that this is no substitute to an after life, are the happiest people not the religious?

Seriously?

Reply 635

EXTREMEninja

The point of life is whatever we want it to be. You could say that our purpose is to reproduce and thus continue the species. However, since we have a higher level of intelligence than animals, we can choose to reject that purpose and substitute something different. For example, I love learning new things, (about certain subjects) so I can continue to do this, and it makes me happy.

Reply 636

Astronomical

Original post by Dr Alcoholic

On an objective level, I agree with this view. Life is essentially a fluke, and with respect to the wider universe, serves no purpose at all. Our presence is irrelevant.

However, given we exist, I think we can to an extent define some sort of 'goal' or 'point' for the human race. Naturally, as a physicist, I'd be inclined for that ambition to be the pursuit of knowledge pertaining to the universe that we find ourselves in, if only to preserve our essentially insignificant existence for a while longer.

Reply 637

The Dictator

Something. Anything. Find SOMETHING to give meaning to your life. Nihilism is not an option. There are millions upon millions of people who are six foot beneath the ground as of now, and deserve life much more than you ever would if you are going to waste it.

Reply 638

QuantumSuicide

Original post by The Dictator

I wish i could trade with them people that are 6 foot under tbh.

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Reply 639

Win Butler's Son

People seem to have trouble with the idea that there is no really point to life. After all would you ask what the purpose of a mountain is? Or the purpose of the sea? They just exist, just as we do. The problem with this is when we live our lives we feel as though they should mean something, as though we should have some ultimate purpose, something to work for and to. Some framework for us to direct our lives. For this reason I think religion is so attractive to people because it gives people an easy way out. However, in order to really deal with this I think we each have to make hard decisions about what we want our lives to be for. Do we want to live them purely for pleasure? If so what kind? Do we want to live them to leave some lasting legacy, or improve the lives of other? All of these are equally valid I think, and the fact that there is no universal reason which points to one or another seems to make people uncomfortable. Instead, the only way forward is to confront these problems, and despite the difficulties try and decide what exactly it is you want to make your life about.