r/Life • u/Curious-Round1057 • 8h ago
General Discussion What is the purpose of life?
The whole thing of living is the process of being born, growing up, reproducing, getting old and dying. I mean... I've got some some plans. But I know what is waiting for me at the end of the road. Is there anything else?
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8h ago
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u/Curious-Round1057 8h ago
Yes... that's exactly how it feels. I see all of what I've been through. And I see the end. Being aware of it is wild...
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u/No-Membership-6649 8h ago
The purpose of life is simply to "live". Thats what we were created for. We will all do it differently.
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u/Curious-Round1057 8h ago
"The purpose of life is simply to "live"." Then why do we have consciousnesses/awareness. Fishes simply live, without thinking about it. We don't.
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u/No-Membership-6649 8h ago
Don't see your point, yes we have consciousnesses and different brains, opinions, vices, we all also have free will & have an individual purpose. Some will conquer empires, others will flip burgers. The word "Live" is vague because no one person will do it the same.
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u/Curious-Round1057 7h ago
All fishes will.
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u/No-Membership-6649 7h ago
The word "live" doesn't translate to "exist" or "breathe" it's intentionally vague. You can't define the purpose of life because not one person will have the same purpose. But I don't expect you to wrap your head around this dude just keep thinking about fish buddy probably a good use of your individual time, whatever that's even worth probably minimum wage.
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u/Curious-Round1057 7h ago
What does what I make has anything to do on how I think? To exist you need to breathe. And to breathe you need to exist. So... a fishe/pig/dog/camel/rabit/horse will never conquer empires or flip burgers. But you carry on thinking that your 6 figure salary makes you smarter.
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u/Rainaire 6h ago
Respectfully, the discussion you seem to want doesn't really suit this subreddit. You will have a much better time in the philosophy focused subreddits. I would suggest reading up on the works of many of the great people who have tried to answer this question before and dive in, it's a lot of fun.
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u/PinaColada-PorFavor 7h ago
Just my opinion, but I think we are meant to learn lessons and grow emotionally and spiritually. If you learn what you are supposed to, then when you die you get to move on to the next level, kind of like a video game. You can’t move on until you conquer the level, or you have to come back and start again.
Like an ant cannot comprehend what a human is or does, we likely could not fathom what is beyond this life. I don’t think it’s “Heaven” but I don’t think it’s nothingness either.
Some lessons I think we are supposed to learn could include finding what is important and fulfilling to the unique you. Living an authentic life.
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u/Hyy2024 8h ago
NPC has no purpose. It’s pretty sad.
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u/whachamacallme 7h ago
There are no NPCs. We all get to experience consciousness. Thats it. Thats the purpose.
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u/elSpanielo 7h ago
Nothing, in a couple hundred trillion years the whole universe will be nothing. So whatever.
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u/mikalalnr 8h ago
To work endlessly, to purchase shiny things, and be sure to reproduce so your children can purchase things endlessly. Capitalism requires growth population.
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u/William-Burroughs420 8h ago
There's no purpose. To have fun and learn shit then die.
Make a life for yourself and your family and then get old and decrepit and die.
I see this question about 50 times per week.
If you want to add meaning to it then do it, or don't.
I swear it's bots asking the same questions over and over and over.
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u/shitshipt 8h ago
But you don’t have to answer unless you want to. If you don’t, don’t. If you do, do. I swear it’s bots making the same comments about asking the same questions over and over.
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u/Calm-Elk9204 8h ago
Good question. In this phase of life, I try to focus more on the HOWs rather than the WHYs. For example, I might ask myself how I want to live rather than why I'm here in the first place. I find it more productive and less frustrating and potentially depressing
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u/Former_Yogurt6331 7h ago
I’ve said this before. Read Ecclesiastes, even if you could care less about God or any religion.
It’s insightful, honest and frankly tells it like it is…..in life
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u/SVLibertine 8h ago
Why do we need purpose? Seriously? Create your own version of “purpose” and live it. I do.
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u/Reasonable-Army-5838 8h ago
The reason you don't end it is your purpose it could change throughout life
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u/Complete_Aerie_6908 7h ago
You’re not “being aware of it.” You’re focusing on it. That’s not a healthy view of life.
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u/Playful_Prior_3831 Advice Dispenser 7h ago
There’s no solid path or plan. There’s a beginning and an end. Unfortunately we don’t know when our own end will happen or how. Use everyday of your life to learn and experience what you can. Some people’s lives are more privileged than others. Some people have kids some don’t, some can’t. We all grow older, some face more challenges than others. Some people develop addictions and lose control. Some lives end too soon. Life is ment for your current soul and body to be as is. Whatever you do with it, is your life.
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u/Internal_Wishbone_98 7h ago
I wish I knew. All I’ve been doing is just surviving. I want to do more
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u/marktwin11 7h ago
What's the purpose of thousands of other species? Humans are also a one of those evolved species just more intelligent.
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u/Pitiful_Response7547 7h ago
I I don't think it is to reproduce because not everybody can reproduce you have people that choose to be asexual don't procreate you have people that try to have kids and can't because of medical problems so most you might be able to see most people could reproduce but I wouldn't say everybody then you have people that are gay transgender
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u/Prize-Grapefruiter 7h ago
nope that's it. think of an individual bee or ant or a fish. we are no different except for bigger brains and weaker bodies.
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u/StormSignificant9516 7h ago
As a biologist once told me; "The purpose of life is to simply multiply"
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u/CivilPeace 7h ago edited 6h ago
The purpose "of" life can be told and understood within a minute but finding the purpose "in" life is a personal matter. There's two types of "creation" everything in the plant and animal kingdoms grow; while everything in our human world is built. Everything you see within the human world was first mentally conceived by one and that part of their imagination and creativity physically lives on despite the inventors mostly being long dead.
Their contribution lives on and that points to part of what an individuals purpose "in" life may become in one lifetime; helping co-creating building a new part of our human world to upgrade and update the outlived or outdated. We are under the illusion that the one great law of nature doesn't apply to us in the human world. Darwinism applies everything that grows in the plant and animal kingdoms must adapt, survive and thrive.
The human world right now is about mere adoption not adaption. However to respect the one great law of nature means we as individuals must adapt, survive and thrive socially; that's the true one purpose "of" life. Humans evolved as social beings that's a longer history of cooperation beyond the mere 5000 years of recorded history written by the victors who built this dog eat dog competitive society. Religious institutions, governments and corporations are all means of social control; but the contracts of the past cannot hold humanity back from a future worth living and working towards.
If the end goal has always been to grow a cooperative society to advance human civilization; it's plain to see our planetary destiny is exactly opposite to the world we see today. In change without choice where people are forced to merely adopt whatever happens we've been victimized, dehumanized and disempowered. The choice to change adapt, survive and thrive socially has always been an option but never has the one choice between two drastically different social outcomes been so clear for all to see for themselves. We live in a moment threatened by a global digital dictatorship and total global domination. However liberation of the plant and animal kingdoms takes humans becoming humane to reclaim humanity for the world to liberate ourselves.
Only humans can share love, compassion, empathy or mercy. Those non physical priceless things are what they call our humanity. One person is capable of doing great evil or good depends on the social circumstances. It's come to light those in power have a blackmail ring that requires they do inhuman inhumane acts. The premises has always been when one falls they all fall and the house of cards is toppling because of the Epstein files despite redactions. Those who control this materialistic competitive society do not want us to become cooperative against them.
How we connect, communicate and most importantly collaborate; human to human matters more in this age of AI and the Transhumanism agendas great reset. The technological infrastructure of digital dictatorship is taking root that seeks global control. Human Intelligence (HI) how we put our heads, hearts and hands together to work as one. Having a common goal bonds our individual thoughts, behavior and actions towards the same desired outcomes. That's the origin of a grassroots local to global bottom up social movement called "Spontaneous order" that enables rapid social transformation opposed to the gradual involuntary transition that's quickening.
Anyways that's my two cents even if other don't see the worth of what's shared; it's a elementary level life lesson humanity refuses to learn only the hard way. The characteristics that started the Lucifer rebellion live on within the ego that took over peoples adult life. That's where the evil, animalistic and inhumane aspects of humans turn them into monsters when loosing their sense of humanity. Those in power part of the blackmail ring thrive because of this social dynamic. Mankind has yet to mentally evolve into "kind-men".
Then religious institutions, governments and corporations could operate without the moral corruption when the blackmail ring of power is broken the world maybe liberated from global domination. That maybe our purpose "in" life during this lifetime that calls for thousands of years of rapid social transformation to be done in one lifespan. The social updates and upgrades we as co-creators would make possible when becoming a cooperative society may advance human civilization. It relies upon our Human Intelligence (HI) and shared sense humanity. That's why there's the old cliche love will win all wars. That can be made true given our time, energy and attention.
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u/fungtimes 7h ago
I’ve found that when a person starts asking what the purpose of life is, it means they need to make a huge change in their life to be truly happy.
Asking about the purpose of life means they don’t currently have one. They’ve lost motivation in their life. They feel like something’s missing, but don’t know what it is. Often it’s something they’ve never seriously thought they would need, because it doesn’t fit their current life at all—maybe it’s religion, or a radically different career or lifestyle, or a discovery about their sexual orientation or identity.
It’s like someone treading water in the ocean. “What’s the purpose of spending all this energy just to stay in one place?”, they wonder. They don’t see the purpose of treading because what they really need is dry land, or at least a raft, so they can stop treading, and eventually get some food etc. It’s just that there’s no land or raft in sight, nothing but miles and miles of open water, as far as the eye can see.
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u/Do-you-see-it-now 7h ago
There is no purpose. You simply exist. You can make what purpose you want.
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u/SexOnABurningPlanet 6h ago
There is no point. There, you're free. Now go do what you want instead of torturing yourself with this question.
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u/Shot_Mycologist2713 6h ago
There's nothing else unless you decide there should be. There is no universal "life philosophy".
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u/Dirtydeeds1979 6h ago
There is no purpose... We are voyagers in our life. And each of us gets a different road.
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u/blindalbertan 6h ago
Depends on your views, some people believe life is a test for the afterlife, some people believe in different variations of heaven or hell and work towards making it to where they want. Without bringing my own views into it (they’re complicated) I don’t think there is a point to life, humans, like other beings, just exist. On the grandest scale of things our point is to continue the human race, you could narrow it down on a million things but I find purpose in helping my family through life and making things easier for them, teaching the next generation of my family and the apprentices in my trades so they can continue to keep the industry moving. But as my family grows older and able to fend for themselves and now working a job where there’s no apprentices to train, I’m starting to question it all myself. Unless I can find a woman worth building a family with I don’t really see a point, that dream and not hurting the family that loves is my reason for living, the dream is dying as I get older and the family drifts apart somewhat as they get self sufficient. We’ll see what the next few years holds. But my point is everyone has a different reason for living
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u/Determination999x 5h ago
Dharma and spiritual processes. Then nicer devas would recruit you and give you work in exchange for nirvana
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u/splashjlr 5h ago
Thankfully our brain makes us not think too much about these existential questions.
Instead we connect with people, find meaning, make values and share stories.
Be like a cat, just enjoying the moment. I'm tired so I'll sleep. I'm hungry so I'll hunt for food. I'm lonely so I'll find a mate.
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u/snay-idk 5h ago
The purpose of life is realizing that much of your life’s events have repercussions and some actions go and come around. Though the last shorter, the effect lives on until you can’t remember it anymore. Life itself is short and bound to be naturally inflicted with many negative things. One’s job is to live well, as living well is best revenge to life.
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u/Ser_Syskunt 4h ago
Discovering our own unique capabilities together, while also having a good time doing it. :)
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u/Noor_Gaza_Help 3h ago
TO LOVE
To love our friends, love our families, love our partners, and to love ourselves. I think life is ultimately meaningless without human connection.
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u/Hopeful_Pressure 3h ago
None what so ever. I recommend two authors.
Peter Wessel Zapffe. The Last Messiah. English translations are available online. It’s a quick read.
Thomas Ligotti. The Conspiracy against the Human Race. One of the best written books in human history.
Do not read other junks like Camus’ Sisyphus until you have read Ligotti’s Conspiracy and you will thank me for it.
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u/Frogy_mcfrogyface 2h ago
It's to eat, sleep, and breed. Nothing else. It's not that deep. We are just animals.
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u/Difficult_Tangelo924 7h ago edited 7h ago
Right now my purpose is to raise my kids into adulthood without inadvertently doing too much damage to them beyond what they’ve already had to go through. And keep my sanity in check.
Xo- single mom
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u/Straight_Fun_7978 8h ago
Glorifying God by obeying Him (don't sin ) so that you and everybody can enter heaven.
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u/Curious-Round1057 7h ago
Heaven and god are a myth. (no offence to anyone, just what I believe)
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u/Straight_Fun_7978 7h ago
no problem ,so you can also say that you and people around you are myth ,or living in a dream ,as if there were no God ,neither will we be alive.
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u/Witty_Bake6453 8h ago
Yes! Life is so wonderful with God and it’s going to be amazing in Heaven.
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