What Is Your Point?

[Jokerman]

Perhaps you’ve had the thought that nothing really matters, because in two hundred years we’ll all be dead. This is a peculiar thought, because it’s not clear why the fact that we’ll be dead in two hundred years should imply that nothing we do now really matters.

The idea seems to be that we are in some kind of rat race, struggling to achieve our goals and make something of our lives, but that this makes sense only if those achievements will be permanent. But they won’t be. Even if you produce a great work of art which continues to be appreciated thousands of years from now, eventually the solar system will cool or the universe will wind down or collapse, and all trace of your efforts will vanish. In any case, we can’t hope for even a fraction of this sort of immortality. If there’s any point at all to what we do, we have to find it within our own lives.

Why is there any difficulty in that? You can explain the point of most of the things you do. You work to earn money to support yourself and perhaps your family. You eat because you’re hungry, sleep because you’re tired, go for a walk or call up a friend because you feel like it, read the news to find out what’s going on in the world. If you didn’t do any of those things you’d be miserable; so what’s the big problem?

 

[S O F I]

What is the point if you know the point?

 

[Chronic]

I've pretty much ran all these thoughts through my mind. Especially the part about God was like reading my own thoughts. I think I've come to the same "conclusion". I only find the notion of there not being a point depressive in light of the way the world is. I pretty much hate this world but it could've been a very different place and I wouldn't worry about a point then I think. But even now I don't really care. I'll live out my life and die and try to do some good on the way. I stop asking questions (that have no real answers to me) there.

I think this is a junction where a lot of people either become religious or reject it.

 

[Jokerman]

I've pretty much ran all these thoughts through my mind. Especially the part about God was like reading my own thoughts.

I'm tired of your pseudo-intellectual disaccordance.

 

[Preach]

I thought the Lost bashing was particularly out of place. It all sounded so well, but the Lost remark made you come off much too human again, showing that you have the same primitive ways of thinking as everybody else.

Lost is grand damnit!

 

[Euphanasia]

I just always try to look at life in the sense that far into the future or whatever, the decisions i make today won't matter. But they matter now.

Like you said, if i have children and nourish them and teach them to be noble people in this world and because of my actions, they are able to do the same for their children. Then my actions in my life are able to serve a purpose for longer than i'm alive. The same can be said about those who fought for America's independence, the end of slavery, et cetera.

But yes, eventually everything will end. The sun will fizzle, the universe will die, anything and everything will be lost.

But despite this inevitable outcome, what we do now still matters. It matters because we have the ability to make life better for others and for ourselves so that our time spent here is a happy period and not a wretched one.

 

[masta247]

I always knew that life and actually everything is pointless because of time. Time kills any reason for anything to exist.
The thing is to enjoy good moments of your life and live for them so you will simply live for the joy of living itself.
We have to learn to see life as something good, a chance for good things to happen before it all ends. Even if it won't matter in the long run because good things will be pointless they do matter now and will matter in the closest future.
Rat race only makes sense if it's a rat race to more enjoyable moments.
So to me the only point to live = enjoyable moments.
I live to collect the most of them and I know that it will be pointless then.
And I don't mean partying and stuff - I mean each of us has different interests and different things are fun to us.
It might be buying a new house for your mom or it might be something as trivial as walking on the beach/forest/mountains with your friends when the weather is beautiful - weather will change, friends/parents will die etc. but it won't matter at that very moment and you don't seem to care - it's fun and it's how you will remember that moment.
It's like playing a game even if you know that it will end at some moment.

The other thing is living for your family and kids because theoretically it's our main reason to live. Our kids will live for their kids etc.

 

[S O F I]

Look at Sofi's question (and then use it as a model of a pointless question).

hah. It's uncertainty that keeps us going as human beings, and the notion that we create our own "point" to live life because there's no absolute approach. If you knew the point, there'd be no point in living life, hence my question.

Also, you're very right about not bringing anything new to the table. Your discussion of religion and God is typical atheist thought. If you look at religion and God and ask yourself "Why is that true?", you've already missed the point of religion.

 

[Sebastian]

Its funny: SOFI is the only one here on this board i consider smart/knowledgeable who believes in God. Why is that? Explain yourself.

 

[Jokerman]

I thought the Lost bashing was particularly out of place.

It wasn't Lost bashing. I like the show enough. I just also know it has no overall grand meaning. The writers are pretty much making it up as they go, at most, a few shows ahead of time, and have said so themselves.

I also knew at least one person would come in here and pretty much only have something to say about the Lost remark, so I included it for them (you, as it turned out).

the Lost remark made you come off much too human again

Darn, and I was trying to convince people of my alien godlike origins.

 

[Jokerman]

If you knew the point, there'd be no point in living life, hence my question.

Unless the point was a good one that made sense to you. Also, I was kidding around with you.

If you look at religion and God and ask yourself "Why is that true?", you've already missed the point of religion.

I know, that it's an irrational crutch, that's the point. Typical religious thought. You've brought nothing new to the table.

 

[Bender]

The point is rather blunt!

 

[Preach]

It wasn't Lost bashing. I like the show enough. I just also know it has no overall grand meaning. The writers are pretty much making it up as they go, at most, a few shows ahead of time, and have said so themselves.

I also knew at least one person would come in here and pretty much only have something to say about the Lost remark, so I included it for them (you, as it turned out).

Darn, and I was trying to convince people of my alien godlike origins.

haha. i was mostly kidding.

and i can challenge what you say about the makers, they constantly make sure everybody's aware of how prop A from season 1 definitely has something to do with story arc B from season 3.