I dislike using the word purpose like that, because it implies a 'point' to things. In my mind, the reason we do what we do, is because we're like slaves to our own social norms, and our instincts (such as to avoid pain, or negative experience). I go to work, because if I didn't, I would lose my income, and therefore my life would become much less pleasant. My developed mind recognizes this potential issue, so I'm motivated to continue going to work, despite my acceptance of it all being pointless.MaxerJ said:This. Also I laugh at the fact that sometimes even the most relativistic moralist can't get over the belief that the universe has a purpose, or has a purpose for us. I strongly don't beleive anything has a purpose. But this is what Nietzsche was trying to tell everyone: So what if there is no purpose to life? That's fantastic! Thats the best thing that could possibly happen, because it means we make our own purpose.GLo Jones said:Existential and Moral Nihilism, along with Stoicism.
Humanity and life in general is the consequence of a series of inevitable coincidences, therefore, we have no point, and nothing we ever achieve will be anything of value.
There is also no such thing as a true 'right' or 'wrong'. Because they're subjective human concepts, they are meaningless outside of our own cultural rules. Ultimately, there is no good or bad.
This philosophy has helped me on countless occasions to be a very unbiased judge on issues surrounding those I care about. It also helps to give a clear head when it's necessary, and, if you realize that fear is merely a pointless natural response, and that even death is not actually a bad thing, you can overcome any kind of fear, or negative emotion.
In short, we can't make a purpose for ourselves, we'll always be subject to our mental conditioned behaviours, instincts, and social pressures. Just following the orders set to us by external factors created through coincidence.
But yeh, people often seem to get stuck on a concept because they dislike the alternative. I remember learning about some Freudian theories in college, and some of the main weaknesses to them, were how controversial they were, for example: "people dislike the thought of having sexual feelings for their parents". When I questioned how this was actually a weakness to the theory I was effectively just ignored. Just because people don't like what you're saying, it doesn't mean it might not be true.
People often ask me, "why do you carry on with life you miserable fuck?" to which I explain that it's just as pointless to die, or give up on life. It's just that, for me, giving up on life is harder, so I just get on with things. The only thing my philosophy applies to my life, is to aid my stoicism.
I'd also like to point out that I actively avoid bringing this up in everyday life with friends/family, I'd seem very depressing.