this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2023
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94
Is the purpose of life to be happy? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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When I’m unhappy, I feel like I’m doing life wrong. I’d rather be happy. But is happiness the point of life, or is there more to it? If I pursue happiness, mine first then for those around me, is that selfish? But if there’s a bigger purpose, then what about people with Alzheimer’s or dementia who can’t recall recent experiences or make plans?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No. Happiness is nice, when you have it, but you have to create meaning in life.

And purpose? You can have a purpose but Life in general does not.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Okay, this is an interesting idea. I said purpose, but you said meaning. Aren’t those the same? Imagine I’m pursuing something pointless, like hedonistic pleasure. Why isn’t that meaningful? How can I determine if my actions are meaningful?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Determine is an ambiguous word, here, so I'm going to break it into two parts:

  • You might discover that your actions are meaningful to others. Hedonic pleasure probably won't be, but everyone is into something.

  • You decide if something is meaningful to yourself.

Something doesn't have to have a purpose to b meaningful; and something doesn't have to be meaningful to have a purpose, or at least, not meaningful outside of that purpose. I can appreciate the buffing leaves on a tree in spring without needing those specific leaves o that tree for anything. I have several wooden spoons that serve me well in the kitchen but if they disappeared tomorrow I wouldn't notice or care.

To be clear: Meaning is internal, but purpose is some sort of external function, utility, or goal.