The question is: if you had 90 days left to live, what would you do? The answer to this question is telling of a person's priorities in life and what they consider innately good, an ends in itself rather than a means to some goal to be achieved in the future. If you had 90 days left, would you stay at work? Start to learn Spanish? Start exercising more? I doubt it, because these are all means to a ends, not ends in themselves. The means are meaningless when they are divorced from their ends - in this case, through random death in 90 days. So what are the meaningful things in life? What are the things we would devote our last 90 days to? What things give our life meaning, or - what is the meaning of life?
Back to the original question, what would you do if you had 90 days to live - A couple years ago I could not have answered this question without great deliberation. But then my daughter was born and now without a second thought I would reply that I would spend the time with her. I do not think it coincidental that any parent would respond the same. Similarly, ask any parent what their proudest achievement was and the most accomplished person would reply that it was their children, the only thing that is unconditionally good and worthy of love.
If this is true and children are the only unconditionally good thing in human life, what does this portend for any examination of a singular meaning of life? I would argue that the meaning of life is self-evident and is imbued in every human being by nature. The meaning of life is to propagate and then put forth every effort to make the life of your children the best it can be. In the theoretical context of evolution this makes perfect sense, and this is something that every parent already knows - from the moment your first child is born you know that your life is no longer your own, but belongs to them.
Basically, the question "what would you do if you only had 90 days to live" is not a question of what you would do but about what you value in life, and as humans we all ultimately value the same thing - family and more particularly our offspring. So I would contend that this is the meaning of human life.
Discuss
George Jerry on January 15, 2008, 7:29 AM
For there to be a single meaning to life requires a universal condition that applies to all life and for all life to have the ability to discern that meaning. To state otherwise renders the concept of the meaning of life meaningless. Because there is a considerable difference of opinion on the meaning of life I contend that there is no one singular meaning to life. The meaning of life is the meaning that conscious creatures individually believe it to be. In short individuals give life meaning and that meaning will be as varied as the individuals that contemplate the question. Life itself is neutral on meaning.
Thuce Seven on January 15, 2008, 5:32 PM
To an extent I agree with pekuzoo, in that in a materialistic view of the universe we are all just an elaborate mistake and as such have no real meaning. However, I would argue that there IS a universal condition that applies to all life, and that we DO have the ability to discern that meaning. That universal truth that can be applied to all life is that it is subject to the laws of Darwinism and as such our congenital purpose is to care for our children and ensure their survival. Obviously different species accomplish this in different ways, which I will go into later.
Schuyler Kelley on January 16, 2008, 1:29 AM
It is equally worth noting that I may have mistaken a statement for a question. And I apologize. I hope my comment remains well, I still disagree somewhat.
Katja Grace on January 16, 2008, 6:40 AM
Darwinism means that people who think the purpose of life is to have kids will reproduce more. This has little to do with any actual meaning of anything.
Tony Bauman on January 16, 2008, 2:00 PM
If you look at animals, all they want to do is have children, protect them and teach them how to live. Are we any different? Just because we are more intelligent doesnt make our basic motive different.
Nicole Ferguson on January 16, 2008, 10:41 PM
If I were told that had “X” number of days to live, I would do exactly what I’m doing now. I wouldn’t go around trying to do things I didn’t have time to do before. I would like to live my life with so regrets and I would like to believe that I have none now. Granted, I’m only 19 so I’m young but anything can happen at any moment. I would like to think that I’ve lived every moment that I could have. Which is the meaning of life, in my opinion. It’s this: happiness. Now, what makes you happy is up for debate and different for everyone. But, my last words to the world, or whoever might be listening, would be: Live your life without any moment unlived.
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