…then why exist?
What is the principle reason for an existence such as this, and how can one live a fulfilling life on such a diet of only fun and games?
my name says it all
I, myself, am the curious sort: more than the wondering sort - I enjoy seeking out the subversive/hidden side of life: I want/need to know what society does. Some expeditions have been disappointing: while others have been shocking in their revelation to me!
You?
i wonder…
Care to expand on that? just curious (I told you I was) as to why you wonder/what it has revealed to you thus far?
There is a reason for everything / things are never just so, especially in sentient beings: we are wired certain ways for certain reasons…
well who can deny that fun and games ( I’m assuming by games you fun games otherwise " life games " can be a very serious indeed ) are worth living. its full of joy and pleasure
some people don’t care about learning or teaching really
but enjoy the fun and games of existing
For the better part of our adolescent life we learn. Our younger siblings learn from our unintentional example. Our parents learn from our interactions in their life. This existence we have consists of this give and take situation. People who do not follow this norm will stand still in their growth and their development in most aspects of life if they don’t allow themselves grow.
I would like to think participating in this discussion board helps everyone learn and teach. There is a broad range of thought here…some enlightening, some innocuous, while others are off the chart in thinking depending on your point of view. Utilizing some of those thoughts so they benefit us is the crux of the participation here. We all need to teach and learn the whole of our lives if possible.
The principle reason for existence is to fulfill the biological imperative. Teaching/learning is a tool used to accomplish that goal.
I don’t think people live to teach or learn but rather to seek happiness. You may personally seek to learn and teach because it makes you or brings you happiness but tell me this. Would you want to teach and learn if you gained no happiness from it? I doubt you would, and so I must say that I fall within the belief of Aristotle Freud and many others: that man lives to seek/achieve happiness.
The real question is: what is the right way to gain happiness? And more importantly, if your not here to gain happiness then why exist?
I think happiness is bullshit to be quite honest? Who really cares about happiness? It’s a sedative that gets us from one day to the next until the day we die…
The subject at hand here is meaning.
Why exist in the first place? Are you sure that it’s to teach or learn? And if it is, then teach and learn what in particular?
Skipping some assumptions, I’ll answer this question.
There is no reason for an existence that does not ‘teach’ or ‘learn’, because consciousness requires teaching and learning together. If a conscious being chooses not to teach or learn, then it is no longer reasoning as well. As such, its existence is not based on reasons.
I’m not sure if you didn’t understand what I meant or your trying to be rhetorical here but by happiness I don’t necessarily mean joy. Happiness as the end for all human actions is what I’m referring to. Many philosophers and thinkers such as Aristotle and Freud have found this to be so: that all man’s actions are aimed toward the ultimate goal of happiness.
When you say that it’s “meaning” what exactly do you mean? Why do we want meaning? Does it not bring happiness when we find meaning in life? I would think so.
Name me one thing a rational and average person does as an end which does not ultimately lead to their need to be happy and you’ll convince me.
ps. Please try to spare the nihilistic rhetoric next time 
What’s the point of being happy in your life? Meaning does not necessarily preclude happiness from my point of view.
Perhaps you should not be as rhetorical either.
And I can’t be any less nihilistic than I am–it’s a part of who I am, my philosophy, and how I type/respond on this forum.
Ok i’ll try to skip the rhetoric as well, but I ask you this:
Do you believe that people do things in life for a reason?
If so then we can have a debate, if not then I think our foundations for starting a debate on whether happiness is the aim of life is too different and nothing constructive will happen.
Also, didn’t Schopenhauer say that the only way to escape the suffering in life is through an ascetic lifestyle? But why would you want to escape life’s suffering? Hmm how bout to gain happiness? 
Seems to me, whether someone admits it or not, we’re all here to teach and to learn, and to have fun and games.
Yes, very precise reasons in fact.
Ok and what is that reason? Also do you personally do things in life for a reason? If so what is it?
Anywho, off for the night so sorry if I take a while to respond
I live for exactly the same reason that other living beings live–to survive.
I honestly cannot think of a statement that could be more false.
Explain.