the meaning of life

Philosophy Forums Philosophy
21

I don’t think the issue rests so much with caring about the pleasure of others so much as causing the pain of others. Increasing the pain of someone else has the potential of causing pain to yourself, and any egoist knows that it is in his interests to have some concern for the pleasure of others.

As far as the meaning of life and the “42” joke, has anyone ever thought about the mathematical implications of the question and answer to life, the universe, and everything? (I mean, if you ever took it seriously enough to consider it a real question and answer.) The question (spoiler ahead) is “What do you get if you multiply six by nine?” Imagine having to transform one’s entire views of the universe and perception because of one mathematical fallacy. If that were correct, a new mathematical theory would emerge that would alter the way we calculate things. Our ideas based on scientific calculations using the old mathematical theories would change. It would alter our ways of construction, of logic, and of other institutions based on mathematical accuracy because there would be a new and more correct function of all these factors.

But then again, it’s just a book.

22

Skyewriter,

Well, it’s generally in a mans interest to both care (in practical terms) about the pain and the pleasure of others. However, not caring about the pain of others (espesially inflicting the pain oneself) can often have graver consequences than not caring about (or providing for) others pleasure. If that is what you meant, I agree.

That is mostly the case – if the egoist is not a thinker, he is better off just following the Golden Rule blindly. However, if the egoist is a thinker, he will find that sometimes causing pain for others will give himself pleasure and sometimes causing pleasure for others will give himself pain. The thinking egoist has the option of thinking trough specific situations and finding the best line of action. In other, more general cases, he may just follow a set of simple rules – rules that work for his advantage most of the time. Rules such as the Golden Rule.

Russiantank,

It seems we do have a few things in common :wink:

I’ll be glad to take a look at your thread.

23

any more opinions on this topic? :sunglasses:

24

Yes. We exist first then meaning comes after. We are not knife or some car.

Rami

25

Do you have anything backing up or supporting that statement?

The fact that I exist doesn’t explain why I, or anything exists. I know I’m not a knife or a car, what does that have to do with anything?

26

The car has meaning before it ‘is’, just as the knife is created with purpose in mind. We on the other hand are not. Seen as we were not created with meaning or purpose in mind.

Rami.

27

Mankind has evolved from the apes, which had a significant place and meaning in the foodchain. With our species becoming rationally intelligent, we seem to have lost that touch.

28

well, lewis caroll seemed to think so :wink:

29

Yeah I know, and although I love Alice In Wonderland, I think the frequent reoccuring of the number 42 is his writings, work and even in his life they say something off course, but however I don’t think that proves the question. There are a lot of number that have enormous symbolical meaning, but doesn’t that mean it can be nothing more than a coincident?

I mean there are people who like to think George Bush is the antichrist, also by numbers. In this case; 666.

Divide the alphabet into numbers, starting with the A being 1 and the Z being 26. Now if you add up the numbers of his name, George Walker Bush, according to the table above you get 7+5+15+18+7+5 for George, +23+1+12+11+5+18 for Walker, and +2+21+19+8 for Bush, which all adds up to a total of 177 = 1+7+7 = 15 = 1+5 = 6. That’s our first six…

Mr. Bush was born July 6, 1946. So if you add up all the digits in his date of birth you get 7+6+1+9+4+6 = 33 = 3+3 = 6. There - now we have our second six.

After losing the popular vote on November 7, 2000, the antichrist will take his next giant leap towards ruling the earth when he is inaugurated president of the United States on January 20, 2001. 1+2+0+2+0+0+1 = 6. And there’s the third one.

So there you have it folks - 666 - the number of the Beast - beyond any shadow of a doubt now. If you even looked back in Nostradamus his writings, a not so obvious connection can be made.

Read up on it. Still not convinced, here’s another one for ya; The Bush family has ties to the Nazis!

I could go on and on, but this doesn’t all mean that Bush IS the antichrist. I think it’s just a coincidence, like the case with the number 42. I can deny that it’s an amaaaaazing coincidence, but still too farfetched I think.

You know who else liked the number 42? Jack the Ripper :sunglasses:

30

no no no no no

it was ronald wilson reagan who was the left wing idiot’s anti christ!!!

ronald = 6 letters
wilson = 6 letters
reagan = 6 letters

-Imp

31

george = 6 letters
walker = 6 letters
bushjr = 6 letters

But that’s not the point!

32

I just think somebody should point out that the only jersey number retired by EVERY major league baseball team is: 42.

Coincidence?

33

probably.

Why would the meaning of life be a number?

34

Some people may have lost touch with that yes. But unless we were created by a singluar entity, we have no purpose, sure we exist because of evolution but that doesnt tell us how to live but instead ‘‘how we are here’’. If our only reason for being here because we have significance in the food chain then the carrot too has purpose, just as the rat and the rabbits have purpose. This purpose is enough for you?

35

Do you believe we have been created by a singluar entity? And if you do, where does this entity come from? Whom or what has created the entity?

On the other hand if it is true that we have no significant purpose on earth, what will our future look like? If by human action the earth is destroyed, can that be called our purpose? Or destiny, if you may be so bold?

What if mankind would have never existed? Would the planet of earth live in relative harmony? Following the right laws of nature? Darwinism?

Or is a species like ourselves bound to happen in the course of evolution? Could it be possible that on another planet the fish for example have evolved into an intelligent lifeform like us? (I know I have to be carefull applying the term ‘intelligent’ to our species, when aspects of hunger for example are still being kept artificially alive by our Western culture and society. If that were not the case all valuables, now owned by the rich West, would be divided all over the world and everybody would have the same. Like… The animals, cows, elephants, etc etc. They don’t seem to be happier when they own a bigger car than their neighbour near the water pool. We do. They don’t murder lie cheat etc etc, we do. Anywayz!) Chaos once again comes into the picture.

36

No, i do not believe in an entity created us.

37

This matter still puzzles me… I don’t believe I’m the only one :wink:

Time is ticking away for everybody and it seems such a shame to not know why and how we pass it…

Is there anyone who agrees with what I feel to be somewhat of an step in the right direction to finding an answer to this?

38

No i dont, i believe it to be a step towards ‘‘unhapiness’’ but a step towards truth. ‘‘Happy’’ people are insane, unhappy people are the sane. Does that make any sense to you?