When we have reached the position that there is room for the conclusion that life is meaningless, it is about time that we leave the question "Why am I here?" behind.
Yet, the meaning of life, or better, knowing that life has a meaning, remains an interesting subject. The key issue here is the question "Where does that meaning come from?"
I mean, every morning when you wake up, you can say to yourself: the reason that I want to live this day is.......... And you are convinced about it. You know what the meaning of your actions of that day will be.
How do you know this? Where does this knowledge come from? Does this knowledge have an internal or external source?
We find in almost all cultures people that say that they were told by .... (fill in any god or the like you want here) that the purpose of their life is to .... The meaning of their life has an external source to which they are subjected.
It sometimes even is claimed that if you lack such an external source, life can't have a meaning. You are on your own, so how can you find a real meaning of life?
The most important step here is to get rid of the generalisation. Indeed, life as such has no meaning. It simply is. It makes no sense to search for a universal meaning of life.
Here we are dealing with OUR life, our individual personal life. Meaning is not coming from the outside, but is created by our mind and our intentionality.
Let me quote John Searle (1983) to explain the latter term: - QUOTE - Intentionality is that property of many mental states and events by which they are directed at or about or of objects and states of affairs in the world.
If, for example, I have a belief, it must be a belief that such and such is the case; if I have a fear, it must be a fear of something or that something will occur;
if I have a desire, it must be a desire to do something or that something should happen to be the case; if I have an intention, it must be an intention to do something. - END QUOTE -
The next step we take is we attribute a personal and sometimes a moral value to the object of your intentionality. And thus we experience the meaning of our life.
We have learned about dozens of objects of our intentionality: creating for history, beauty, love, family, self-sacrifice, wisdom, lust. nature and environment, peace....... the list can go on and on.
Everyone's answer to the question "Why am I here?" comes from inside. Even if you adhere to a radical form of nihilism that leads to the total meaninglessness of all human endeavor,
you are stilll free to listen to Albert Camus who wrote that man can still be happy by pursuing a meaning of life, whether he has formulated it himself or not.
Thank you for your attention... the floor is yours....
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
The Discussion
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes it does
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): come from inside
[13:23] herman Bergson: Take your time to digest it :-)
[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well my purpose i guess is to be happy, make others happy and also be creative
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): is my conclusion
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): who I am,
[13:24] herman Bergson: ok
[13:25] herman Bergson: This feeling can also be somewhat vague and unclear but yet meaningful
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aah
[13:26] herman Bergson: It may change during a lifetime...
[13:26] herman Bergson: but you can't escape the question
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes it can
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): more than one time
[13:27] herman Bergson: Then, this is the answer to the question "Why am I here?"
[13:28] herman Bergson: Yes Gemma...happens often...
[13:28] herman Bergson: When you are young, maybe your carreer is all you lve for....(and neglect your family)
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we try to keep up with it
[13:29] herman Bergson: Then you have your burn-out and shift focus to family life :-)
[13:29] herman Bergson: to mention an example
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:31] herman Bergson: And scince I am out of a project subject...I have to find a new meaning of SLife :-)
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ツ
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): you will find it
[13:31] herman Bergson: Friends give meaning....that still is left :-)
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:32] herman Bergson: and the huge amount of suggestions they come up with, too :-)))
[13:32] bergfrau Apfelbaum: my wish has always been to start a family and give them the same wonderful childhood i had
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:33] herman Bergson: oh wow...
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that is nice
[13:34] bergfrau Apfelbaum: as a child, i gave up my ice cream... instead, i wanted to give money to a homeless person on the side of the road... but, s a child, you don't think about the meaning of life, or?
[13:34] herman Bergson: I know you as a happy person, Bergie, so I guess you succeeded
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or think about it either much
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): you just ...are then
[13:35] herman Bergson: I dont think children reflect on such subject in an abstract sense, no
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): busy learning what life is
[13:35] herman Bergson: they follow their values
[13:36] Max Chatnoir: I'm here to learn about the world and find a place in it. And help to make a place for those that come after me.
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:36] herman Bergson: Yes, Max
[13:36] Max Chatnoir: and others around me...
[13:36] herman Bergson: Understand life and the world is my thing too
[13:37] herman Bergson: especially to reveal injustice
[13:37] bergfrau Apfelbaum: i also done a lot of "nonsensical" things :-) but i think you can only find your own meaning and live it yourself
[13:37] herman Bergson: The knowledge comes from inside, indeed Bergie
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aha yes
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:38] Max Chatnoir: But your inside sort of develops by interaction with stuff around you.
[13:38] herman Bergson: Definitely, Max...we still are social beings
[13:39] herman Bergson: It also is what your education taught you
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaaa yes
[13:39] Max Chatnoir: Yes, that's part of it.
[13:40] herman Bergson: And besides that we are the lucky half of mankind
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): don't put too much algebraic math into the new project please
[13:40] herman Bergson: and have the luxury to discuss the meaning of life in freedom
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:41] Max Chatnoir: I do appreciate that -- my own good fortune in having grown up with nice parents.
[13:41] herman Bergson: Thank you Gemma...at least it points in a direction :-))
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good
[13:41] herman Bergson: No math....
[13:41] Max Chatnoir: And in a democracy.
[13:42] Max Chatnoir: I have a question about economics.
[13:42] herman Bergson: by the way...also such a modern philosophy thingie....
[13:42] Max Chatnoir: You said it was part of psychology, and I get that, because it's about human interactions.
[13:42] herman Bergson: ok...you first Max
[13:42] Max Chatnoir: But in my school and all the others I've been in, Eco has been in the school of business.
[13:42] Max Chatnoir: Why is that?
[13:42] herman Bergson: As a science it was....
[13:43] herman Bergson: but thet was in the 19th century
[13:43] Max Chatnoir: Or I guess business is also about human interactions.
[13:43] Max Chatnoir: So how did it separate out?
[13:43] herman Bergson: Philsophers discussed economics...John Stualt Mill for instance
[13:44] herman Bergson: YEs...check out the hispotry of economics and you'llsee
[13:44] herman Bergson: John Adams...even JOhn Locke
[13:45] herman Bergson: About the Wealth of the NAtions...is that famous title if I am not mistaken...
[13:46] Max Chatnoir: Adam Smith?
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): think so
[13:46] herman Bergson: Yes...I confuse a few nams...
[13:46] herman Bergson: I can do a whole project on the history of economic thought.....
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ahhaaaaa
[13:47] Max Chatnoir: There you go, Herman!!
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:47] herman Bergson: That might be fun
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yay
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): max
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaaaa
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that can be an idea indeed
[13:47] herman Bergson: and no tarrifs :-)
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): what a mess
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): F ck tariffs!
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:48] herman Bergson: No infact it is quite interesting as an experiment....
[13:48] herman Bergson: This tarrif matter is old fashioned economics....
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:48] herman Bergson: I was thinking about it today...
[13:49] Max Chatnoir: It seems very artificial. Tariffs.
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but both Putin and T want to go back to the WW2 era it seems and think that they will be able to even its 2025 now
[13:49] herman Bergson: You import products and add a tax to it...for that proice it is sold in themarket...
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): u cant reverse time and things have chenged a LOT
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): for the better, and they are now destroying it
[13:49] herman Bergson: as such a normal way to do....
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aa
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the penguins wont pay they siad
[13:50] herman Bergson: this extra money of the tarrif goes to the goverment with which it pays its operations...
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): said
[13:50] herman Bergson: so...the citizens pay taxes by buying imported products....that is a possible system
[13:51] herman Bergson: in the US in 1913 they introduced income taxes....
[13:51] herman Bergson: that means....the citizens pays taxes on his own earnings of his labour
[13:51] herman Bergson: an totally diferent concept, but happens all over the world now
[13:52] herman Bergson: and Trump thinks that he can go back to a tarrof system and thus abolish income taxes (for the rich)
[13:52] herman Bergson: and THAT is not possible anymore in 2025
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aah
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed, as said u cant reverse time, things work differently now and globally
[13:53] herman Bergson: I get the feeling that he once has hear a bell ring, but that is all
[13:53] herman Bergson: but as an experiment...interesting and unfortunately destructive for the US economy
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yep,
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): for sure, very destructive
[13:54] herman Bergson: But tarrifs...taxing import....or income tax...taxing labour...are philosophical choices about how the world operates
[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i think it's going to be very interesting
[13:55] herman Bergson: Well...this is interesting...... my brain machinery is working in huigh gear already :-)
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa yes give that a try
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:55] Max Chatnoir: Do it, Herman.
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and perfect timing now
[13:56] herman Bergson: Yes, the timing is interesting too
[13:56] Max Chatnoir: yes, very relevant
[13:56] Guestboook van tipjar stand: Gemma Cleanslate donated L$100. Thank you very much, it is much appreciated!
[13:56] herman Bergson: OK...we have a deal.... :-)
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yay
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yay
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yay
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)
[13:56] Guestboook van tipjar stand: Max Chatnoir donated L$100. Thank you very much, it is much appreciated!
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (tax evades the deal)
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): all set
[13:56] Guestboook van tipjar stand: bergfrau Apfelbaum donated L$100. Thank you very much, it is much appreciated!
[13:56] herman Bergson: Yet I gonna try my experimetn first because this new subject needs research
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah ok
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaaa
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): short one??
[13:57] Max Chatnoir: are we going to be guinea pigs?
[13:57] Max Chatnoir: :-)
[13:57] herman Bergson: yesw...till summer vacation....
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): looks like
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh wow
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well almost 2 months
[13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): paying no BTW at the Jumbo?
[13:57] herman Bergson: Oh...must tell you the funniest thing....
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): happy May Day
[13:58] herman Bergson: This Howard Ludick...secretary of Trade or something....
[13:58] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): as an experiment?
[13:58] herman Bergson: in an interview....
[13:58] herman Bergson: He said YE....WE HAVE A DEAL...DEALS WITH MANY COUNTRIES....
[13:58] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh right'
[13:58] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): more lies
[13:59] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): guuh
[13:59] Max Chatnoir: what kinds of deals?
[13:59] herman Bergson: and then he added...it only has to pass parlements of those countries still :-)
[13:59] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:59] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:59] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ask him
[13:59] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol
[13:59] herman Bergson: I really had to laugh
[13:59] Max Chatnoir: Oops
[13:59] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well penguins said no
[13:59] herman Bergson: Fox Funniest
[13:59] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): they voted
[14:00] herman Bergson: Even CAnadians did, Gemma
[14:00] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sure did
[14:00] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and other countries look ready to follow
[14:00] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and china is out there wooing countries come with me
[14:00] herman Bergson: I sometimes really wonder....how long can T keep this up? Physically I mean
[14:01] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wonders too
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[14:01] herman Bergson: It is not normal
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): when will he realize...
[14:01] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but gd forbid he cant
[14:01] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the vp is worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): never probably, ha is to stubborn, greedy and evil tocate
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): care
[14:01] herman Bergson: He and Vance have offended China so deeply that it rather dies than exchange a word with those two
[14:02] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[14:02] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and japan also
[14:02] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Vance is really scarier
[14:02] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the entire world is agains him vance and his other bullies including Musk
[14:02] herman Bergson: China, an economy three times larger than the US
[14:02] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yep!
[14:03] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Vance is really nasty indeed
[14:03] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Musk will be partly leaving
[14:03] herman Bergson: China will crush the US eventually and become the leading power
[14:03] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): looks like it might
[14:03] Max Chatnoir: That doesn't sound hopeful.
[14:03] herman Bergson: Thanks to Trump, don't forget
[14:03] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as noone will evenr buy a tesla again 8hopefully) chila will dominate the electric car market
[14:03] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I have to poof
[14:03] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): gaaa cant type
[14:03] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): can't the people og the US send Trump away?
[14:04] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): im sluggish i think
[14:04] herman Bergson: No....
[14:04] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hop eto make it Tuesday
[14:04] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed why is he allowed to go on
[14:04] herman Bergson: He onlycan be impeached by congress...
[14:04] Max Chatnoir: The problem is if he goes, we get Vance.
[14:04] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): guuuh
[14:04] herman Bergson: Yes and that is even worse
[14:04] Max Chatnoir: could be
[14:04] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and then the evil just continues
[14:05] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[14:05] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cant he be stopped
[14:05] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): when I look at a picture of vance I see icecold eyes
[14:05] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): I see Hitler 2.0 in him
[14:05] herman Bergson: impeachment is the only tool available or the 25th amandement
[14:06] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shudders)
[14:06] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): btw...Trump said he would be the next pope....
[14:06] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
[14:06] Max Chatnoir: No! Really?
[14:06] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): seriously
[14:06] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes
[14:06] herman Bergson: ohh..sure
[14:06] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well nothing amazes me any longer
[14:06] Max Chatnoir: He must have been joking. He isn't even catholic, is he?
[14:07] Max Chatnoir: don't you have t be a cardinal?
[14:07] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he calls himself a god
[14:07] herman Bergson: he isnt even religious, Max
[14:07] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Trump is no god, if anything he is Satan!
[14:07] herman Bergson: yes Maex
