Purpose of Life

Discussion in 'About the Members' started by Hermann, Sep 14, 2005.

  1. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    It is possible for something to have a purpose without it knowing its purpose or even knowing what a purpose is.
     
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  3. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    Perhaps just think of purpose in a simple and personal application context.
    As in my purpose is to be kind and peaceful or my purpose is to be a great singer...treat the word as a stand in for "goal" or even "plan for my life".
    At a scientific level there is no purpose because there is no paper or model to make a comment...all we can ask is does science hint at a purpose and well if it did or did not would be addressed in a hypothisis then a model built observations trials predictions and tested etc.
    Alex
     
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  5. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Yes, when you treat the word as you define it it requires sentience. But there are several more definitions which do not require sentience, but merely utility.
     
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  7. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    That doesn't seem to be what the OP intended.
     
  8. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    That doesn't seem to be what the OP intended.
     
  9. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    No, because the OP apparently wishes to assign intelligent and motivated intention to the phenomenon of Life and living systems, ignoring the possibility of a pseudo-intelligent mathematical condition which operates on the principle of probability.

    Do watch this excellent presentation; Chance, Necessity, and the Origins of Life,...Robert Hazen, ...Carnegie Institute for Science.
    Start the clip @ 25:15 (to avoid a lengthy introduction)
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2018
  10. river

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    The purpose of life is for each person to experience period(s) of material life and non-living , community , individuality , thought , understanding and growth , communication , enjoyment , horror , fear , to inform the soul .
     
  11. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    To say that part of the purpose of life is to experience non-life (death) seems a stretch to me.
    IMO, the purpose of life is avoid death (not living) by all possible means. It is fundamental to the evolutionary and natural selection processes.

    Moreover, you seem to completely overlook all other life (both simple and complex) except human life. Do simpler forms of life possess a soul? How about more complex forms other than humans?
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2018
  12. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    Granted, I was simply poking a hole in the suggestion that purpose is involved with consciousness of the life in-question.

    In context of the OP's contributions, I would say that the type of purpose that comes from an individual's consciousness is also not what he intended.
     
  13. river

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    To experience non-life ? Eh...where did I say this ?

    All life has any energy and all life mutates to live , do they have a soul maybe .

    Do you remember or do recall the movie about two male Lions . That hunted Humans while a railroad was being built , in Africa that had Michael Douglas in it as one of the hunters of these two Lions . True story . Ghost and the Darkness

    Never forgot this movie . For me evidence of animal intelligence , evolved and soul .
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2018
  14. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Here.
    I have seen the movie several times, but other than superb hunting skills I saw no exraordinary abstract thinking abilities.

    You want to see a truly intelligent animal, check out the octopus. It does not need an opposing thumb, it has 8 tentacles each separately controlled by an autonomous brain and capable of extremely fine motor control, in addition to a central brain. It is the closest thing to an intelligent alien other world creature on earth.
    and
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2018
  15. river

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    Check out the intelligence of a crow and raven .
     
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  16. naturallygorg Registered Member

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    The purpose of life is simply to live and set goals by working hard in achieving them.
     
  17. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    There is no abstract purpose to life ie from virus upwards to us "life" does not hvha purpose

    If you wish to set goals etc to give your slice of life meaning and purpose OK

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
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  18. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    Nope, life has no purpose. Everyone misunderstands the question, apparently.
     
  19. origin Heading towards oblivion Valued Senior Member

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    I agree there is no purpose of life anymore than there is a purpose for minerals. People seem to be answering the question, "what is the meaning of life". The meaning of life is whatever you personally assign to it.
     
  20. sweetpea Valued Senior Member

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    Chemical reactions finding their states of equilibrium. A by-product of which is something we call life? So, if that makes sense, just chill, there's no purpose (I think).
     
  21. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Perhaps not, but then what is the philosophical universal imperative of "movement in the direction of greatest satisfaction" all about? There is your tendency to find a pattern of "equilibrium".

    This does not require sentience, yet seems to be a inherent need of all things.
    OTOH, in humans it is the foundation for "greed" or disturbing equilibrium
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2018
  22. river

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    Life in the Universe exists . Not as concept .

    But as a real living breathing being .

    Non-living in and of it self does not evolve into more than what it will ever be , a thing .

    Which never is aware , thinks , has a brain , body , nervous system , etc .
     
  23. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Yes, non-living things can and do form living things. Robert Hazen explains how and why in this lecture at Carnegie Institute for Science. Start this excellent presentation @ 25:10
     

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