The meaning of life.

What is the meaning of life?

Let’s get straight to the point. The question, whilst having been of sincere interest to many, even to the point of obsession, for much of human history, and having sprouted numerous often ridiculous solutions, is the wrong question to ask. Or at least it is the wrong question to ask first. An earlier question might be “is there a meaning of life” and even before that one would need to have answered “what would constitute a meaning”. By asking what would constitute a meaning one can define attributes that differentiate a meaningful meaning from a meaningless meaning and it is at that point that the entire chain of questions is undeniably subjective. Theists can claim “the meaning is god” but that’s still just their preference (or god’s if it exists – which it doesn’t) but why prefer god as a solution over for instance a potato? Both answers are equally meaningless, although at least I have good reason to believe that potatoes exist.

One of the problems with having an ultimate meaning of life is that the solution can always be followed by the question “why”. The other problem is whatever you posit as the meaning you can always ask “why not” of some alternative and that chain of questions will be infinite also.

In my opinion asking what is the meaning of life is rather like a 3 year old persistently asking why, although far less useful. Just as 3 year old eventually tire of asking endless why’s many thinkers tire of asking and just declare some nonsense reason to suppose that the meaning of life is god, love, or some other meaningless nonsense that really has absolutely no reason to be a better answer than potato.

What is the meaning of life? What’s the colour of existentialism?

Some questions are just stupid because the question means nothing. Face it. The meaning of life is subjective and therefore personal and you can choose what you want it to be. You can choose a different meaning every day if you like and there are no constraints in doing so because it is the meaning of YOUR life, for that moment and it has no greater significance than what it personally means to you. Get on with your life and enjoy finding the answers that are out there to real questions. It is a far more rewarding use of your time than head full of potato. I think that should be obvious.

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