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/lit/ - Literature

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2991420 No.2991420[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

What is the meaning of life, /lit/?
What should we spend our life pursuing?

>> No.2991428

I dunno.
Death.

>> No.2991435
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2991435

There is no meaning.

>> No.2991436

sexy horny women and fame.

just like me.

>> No.2991455

>>2991420
>What should we spend our life pursuing?

You should be trying to find out which bar serves the best cognac, and if blondes are better in bed than brunettes (by means of extensive testing).

>> No.2991459

>>2991436
you're a famous sexy horny woman. congrats.

>> No.2991462

No meaning to life.
Spend time trying to forget this.

>> No.2991487

>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435
>>2991435

>> No.2991498

>What is the meaning of life, /lit/?
there is none
>What should we spend our life pursuing?
any suggestions?

>> No.2991503

The only meaning of life is life itself.

GO OUTSIDE AND LIVE, OP! DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!

>> No.2991510

>>2991503
>GO OUTSIDE AND LIVE
>implying the living that is done outside is inherently better than the living done inside

>> No.2991515

>>2991503
but why does something make me happy and other things don't?I'm not a fucking monkey anymore, I have to know

>> No.2991518

>>2991510
Feel free to stay inside and live if you want, but there is far more to do outside. Inside you've got what? TV, internet, books and games. Outside there is everything else.

Think about it you fucking neckbeard.

>> No.2991520

>>2991515
Just forget about things like that. Thinking is great and sets you apart from the heard, but over-thinking is pointless and self-abusive.

>> No.2991521

>>2991518

Not if you're an eskimo. Outside is freezing death and polar bears eating you.

>> No.2991524

>>2991521
>hurr durr look how clever I am
You're not though.

>> No.2991528

>>2991524

I'm cleverer than you are.

>> No.2991530

>>2991528
lel

>> No.2991531

>>2991521
>lel saw randum

>> No.2991533

>>2991518
Outside is where I suffer from panic attacks, shortness of breath and traumatizing social anxiety. Inside is safety, consistency, and calm.

>> No.2991534

>>2991531
Not only is he so random, but he's also a genius. >>2991528

>> No.2991536

>>2991533
Grow the fuck up.

>> No.2991537
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2991537

>2012
>still living in the need of meanings or goals
>still thinking that the lack of them means despair

>> No.2991542

>>2991537
Yeah, it's babbys first existential crisis, and I can't imagine anyone in this thread is older than 16 if they're honestly still dealing with this shit.

>>2991528
This post is pretty telling of someone who is underage as fuck.

>> No.2991544

>>2991518
Not if you're an astronaut. Outside is the freezing void of space and the vacuum sucking the nitrogen out of your blood.

>> No.2991545

The meaning of life is a philosophical question concerning the significance of life (protip: life has no significance) or existence in general. It can also be expressed in different forms, such as "Why are we here?", "What is life all about?", and "What is the purpose of existence?"

>"Why are we here?"
Evolution etc. Note that evolution has no teleos.

>"What is life all about?"
Nothing etc

>"What is the purpose of existence?"
Reality/life is devoid of intrinsic purpose

>What should we spend our life pursuing?
>should
>"ought"

There is no "ought", idiot.

>> No.2991546

>>2991544
LE XD SO RANDUMB

>> No.2991549

>>2991536
Do you think that I wouldn't if I could? Do you think that being rude over the internet is going to help change my mental state?

No, you're just being a dick. Shut the fuck up please.

>> No.2991550

>>2991533
quit being a bitch

>> No.2991553

>>2991545
welp, that doesn't mean we don't have responsability for our actions right?
right?

>> No.2991558

>>2991518
Not if you're a deep-sea diver. Outside is crushing pressure and giant sharks eating you.

>> No.2991561

>>2991558
Gets funnier every time.

>> No.2991563

>>2991518
Not if you're a tank operator. Outside is gunfire and soldiers killing you.

>> No.2991566

>>2991518
Not if you're Sadam Hussein. Outside is rebels raping shit and US Marines searching for you.

>> No.2991567

>>2991537
>not needing to set goals for yourself
fuck off.

>>2991542
>I can't imagine anyone in this thread is older than 16 if they're honestly still dealing with this shit.
How can you ever really stop dealing with it? You never reflect on why you're doing things?

>> No.2991570

>tfw you want to be a saint but are an atheist
>tfw the best you can be is some shitty humanitarian
>tfw it's not worth the effort

>> No.2991574

>>2991518
not if you're self absorbed faggot who can't risk a fragile ego

>> No.2991575

>>2991542

>This post is pretty telling of someone who is underage as fuck.

You're such a good judge of character.

Not really, you're a stupid cunt.

I'm 39 years old

>> No.2991580
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2991580

>>2991567
are you serious?

>> No.2991581
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2991581

>tfw your doctor tells you you have a personality disorder because of your worldview
>tfw I actually got diagnosed with nihilism

>> No.2991582

>>2991567
I reflect on it, yes. But I don't let it consume me, I don't think "there is no objective meaning of life" and decide that it's all pointless and break down and cry. I used to do that, but I realised that it's all relative, and that my reality is the only reality that truly matters and so I act accordingly.

You'll get there.

>> No.2991586

>>2991575
Christ alive, you poor sod.

>> No.2991590

baww baww I need goals and a purpose

a bloo bloo without a purpose or goal I'm forced to sit back and actually see how pointless, empty and full of suffering it all is

baww god is ded ;_;

>> No.2991600

>What should we spend our life pursuing?

Critiquing philosophy, literature, film and art.

It's where the big bucks are.

>> No.2991601

>>2991590
I agree with you, and I would add: a bloo bloo bloo my parents never loved me and so my vast and fragile ego can't deal with any sort of failure and as a result I sit inside and whine about existential bullshit which is really just an excuse for me to sit on my ass all day and be a lazy fucking cunt and never grow up a bloo boo

boo hoo boo ;_;

>> No.2991603

>>2991586

I'm far from poor, and sodomy it not my thing. The physical status of Christ is outside my area of expertise.

>> No.2991604

it does not matter that nothing matters

if everything is insignificant then "everything is insignificant" is an insignificant statement

>> No.2991607

I spend my life searching for the ability to not be afraid of death when it comes.

I know I can't avoid it, I just want to be able to accept it when it happens.

>> No.2991610

>>2991603
>I am cleverer than everyone else look how clever I am I am 39 and I go on an internet imageboard and I tell people I have never met how clever I am because I am so clever that I have developed the ability to read minds like someone out of the fucking x-men

>> No.2991612

>>2991582
>But I don't let it consume me, I don't think "there is no objective meaning of life" and decide that it's all pointless and break down and cry
I didn't say you nor i did.

>>2991580
yes, maybe not 'need' to set goals, but it's a good thing to do.

>> No.2991616

>>2991612
That was hyperbole, but I'm sure you see my point.

>> No.2991618
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2991618

>>2991612
>but it's a good thing to do

And when you accomplish your goal you realize that you never wanted it in the first place.
Do you even life?

>> No.2991624

>>2991618
Exactly. This was point originally, when I said go out and live: don't live for arbitrary goals, or choose not to live at all because it's pointless, just live for the sake of living.

Don't any of you see what a wonderful thing you've been given?

>> No.2991626

>>2991581
http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/medical/nihilistic_delusion.htm

>> No.2991633

>>2991618
>never having felt enjoyment in trying to reach goals
It's not about the reward, it's about the struggle.

>> No.2991637
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2991637

>>2991624
>Don't any of you see what a wonderful thing you've been given?

jehovah witnesses on /lit/

>> No.2991639

>>2991637
You're an idiot.

>> No.2991642

>>2991633
I can have that struggle without even having a goal.

>> No.2991651
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2991651

>>2991624
>Don't any of you see what a wonderful thing you've been given?

>> No.2991653

seriously faggots why argue and fight on the internet when it's meaningless in the end
go read "The Stranger" and then come bacl

>> No.2991658

>>2991618
"I'll be happy when I reach my goal"

"I'll be happy when I'm married, I'll be happy when I'm a father, I'll be happy when I get that that promotion, I'll be happy when I reitre, I'll be hap-dead"

Only to find you withered away the very time with which you were waiting to enjoy

>> No.2991663
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2991663

>>2991624
Let me guess, you just started listening to Alan Watts?

>> No.2991664

>>2991624
> just live for the sake of living.

I heard Oprah calling you to present "How to live for the sake of living" NYT bestseller
Can you be more generic?

>> No.2991670

>>2991653
>hurr go read this random book then get back to me I've read the book so I'm more intelligent than you are read the book faggot get on my fucking level

The stranger sucked. White guy randomly shoots a sand-nig then almost prays to jebus but doesn't.

Woopty fucking shit.

>> No.2991672

>>2991651
>>2991637
I appreciate how nuts that sounds, but surely you can appreciate my meaning? You have a life, you have about a 100 years to do whatever the fuck you want, to think and live and fall in love, and watch the world grow older and morph and change and advance slowly and surely in myriad ways. But you can't see the value of life if you don't want to, if you dismiss it as pointless.

I probably sound like a religious nut, but I'm not. I'm just someone who went through a 10 year period of terrible depression revolving around a sense of nihilism, and who came out the other side a better man and appreciative of how utterly wonderful the world can be.

I'm sorry if that upsets you.

>> No.2991676

>>2991663
I've never even heard of him.

>> No.2991681

>>2991664
What would you rather do? Sit on the internet and throw a hissy-fit at strangers on /lit/ because you hate your life?

Grow up faggot.

>> No.2991683
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2991683

>>2991670
>hurr go read this random book then get back to me I've read the book so I'm more intelligent than you are read the book faggot get on my fucking level

>> No.2991685

>>2991670
>3deep5u

go join a sect and live like a drone for your leaders cock if materialism and it's philosphy aren't enough for you

>> No.2991686

Procreation is the meaning of life.

Because of this, I am not suprised that so many people commit suicide.

>> No.2991692

>>2991686
>Procreation is the meaning of life.

No it isn't you idiot cunt. Evolution is devoid of a teleos.

Get the fuck out.

>> No.2991696

>>2991420
The good is that which is pursued for it's own sake: Pleasure.

>> No.2991700

>>2991672
>You have a life, you have about a 100 years to do whatever the fuck you want, to think and live and fall in love, and watch the world grow older and morph and change and advance slowly and surely in myriad ways.

Poetic hipster garbage.

Get the fuck out.

>> No.2991704

>>2991642
>I can have that struggle without even having a goal.
But can you enjoy it as much?

>> No.2991709

Life is to be lived.
Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your god.

>> No.2991712

>>2991672
>But you can't see the value of life if you don't want to, if you dismiss it as pointless.

there is no point, except to create your own point. i'm not depressed or a nihilist, the world is cool but you're not spewing anything new here at all. we get it.

>> No.2991715

>>2991681
>Sit on the internet and throw a hissy-fit at strangers on /lit/ because you hate your life?

I don't wanna live for the sake of living, I don't want to drown my mind with bullshit slogans designed to make you feel good like YOLO, live for the sake of living, carpe diem
these are just phrases everyone spouts from their mind to stop it's doubt and live it's empty life

>> No.2991718

>>2991700
Jesus, I've been the one person agreeing with you up until this point.

Hipster garbage or no, it's true. I phrased it in a pretentious, hipster way, but that was to make it easier for the countless edgy nihilistic teens in this thread to understand You just live your allotted time in the best way that you see fit, in whatever way brings you the most pleasure, or whatever it is that you want.

>> No.2991722

>>2991712
I know I'm not spewing anything new, but a large amount of people in this thread seem to have no idea what they're fucking talking about. They just go "THERE IS NO POINT TO ANYTHING I SHOULD JUST DO NOTHING FOREVER OR KILL MYSELF"

>> No.2991723

someone here mind if/how free will relates to the absurdist/existentialist belief

>> No.2991726

>>2991718
>muh feelings

you have to agree what you wrote is pretty pathetic

>> No.2991732

>>2991715
You are so dumb. You are really fucking dumb.

>these are just phrases everyone spouts from their mind
As opposed to what, spouting from their fucking elbows?
>to stop it's
It is what?
>doubt and live it's empty life
It is what? And what are you doing so differently? How are you living a 'full'l life?

>> No.2991738

>>2991726
Oh yeah, I know that. I knew it when I wrote it. I was being melodramatic and childish. But no worse than any of the budding teen suicides in this thread.

>> No.2991742

>>2991712
>there's no point
>not a nihilist

>> No.2991746

>>2991732
>It is what? And what are you doing so differently? How are you living a 'full'l life?

I never said I was living this superduper wonderfull exciting life
better sober than delusioned

if you are so calm and happy and living for the sake of living why do you resort to childish things like calling me dumb?not even mad

>> No.2991749

I think the more interesting question is

Why do people get so mad when they are exposed to a nihilistic world view? Is it really that threatening to you that you?

>> No.2991752

>>2991709
>god

>>2991712
>there is no point, except to create your own point.

Get the fuck out. Existentialism can suck my pointless cock.

>>2991715
I agree with this guy

>>2991718
>it's true.
No it isn't. when you think of life as an "it", aren't you treating this experience as an object? As if you're abstracting yourself away from this right now and nestling it within a larger 'narrative'. Even though that (experienced) idea of a narrative is part of this experiencing.

Or in other words, it's impossible for this, this experiencing or feeling or 'happening' to sit within or be a part of something greater or larger, as 'something greater or larger' is an experienced idea which is-itself part of this.

We can represent your 'truth' like this:

birth-------me at 10-----------me at 20--------->--ME NOW-->---------me when I'm 40----------me when I'm 80-----death?

And that me now travels along it's life like a little train carriage chugging along an already laid out track. What a fucking joke. Get the fuck out.

>> No.2991757

>>2991746
I called you dumb because you are really fucking dumb, which usually I wouldn't pay any heed to, but you seem to be under the impression that you're smarter than everyone else for being aware that everything is objectively pointless.

>> No.2991766
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2991766

I love you /lit/.

>> No.2991767

There's either faith or nihilism. Choose.

>> No.2991774

THREAD CLOSED. THIS THREAD IS UTTERLY POINTLESS just like life ;_; AND IS CREATING NO INTELLECTUAL STIMULUS OR ENCOURAGING SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

END OF RINE
-----------------------------------------------------------

>> No.2991777
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2991777

>> No.2991784
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2991784

>>2991752
>between the ages 20 and 40
>yelling at people on the internet

>> No.2991787
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2991787

>mfw this terrible terrible fucking thread

>> No.2991792
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2991792

>>2991787
It gave me laughs.

>> No.2991788

>>2991757
smartass or not, I don't use vague phrases like "live for the sake of living" to hide the fact that I don't have anything important or interesting to say but I want to get myself in the discution anyway
how do you live for the sake of living?

>> No.2991800

there hasn't been this amount of pure primal buttmad rage in a while on /lit/
it's like all the edgy teenagers shouting at each others in class

>> No.2991801

>>2991788
Nobody ever called you a smartass.

>> No.2991809

>>2991800
We need to set up a synchtube playing non-stop My Chemical Romance for these sad fucking people.

>> No.2991822

>>2991801
look dude, you seem a pretty chill guy, the kind that gives money for people in Somalia, recycles his toothpicks, and gives a like whenever he cries at a video
I'm glad you found your hapiness, no matter how you did it, let's just end it

>> No.2991824

I think the meaning is to love each other, since we're here alone.

>> No.2991836

>>2991788
Just like I fuck for the sake of fucking. Because I like the thing in itself and don't need to justify it.

>> No.2991840
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2991840

>>2991824
well that gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside

>> No.2991843

>>2991822
I'm nothing like that. I'm as nihilistic as any of the edgy teen faggots in this thread, but I'm also clever enough to realise that nihilism is just as irrelevant a belief as any other.

This can go two ways: you grow up, or you kill yourself.

Best of luck

>> No.2991850

I think, not because it's the case that coming into existence is neither worse nor better rather because coming into existence is, in fact, worse than not having to come into existence and therefore ceasing to exist is better than existing. Notice I don't begin by claiming that not existing is worse or better than existing, only that coming into existence is worse than existing and ceasing to exist is better than existing and therefore that coming into existence is worse than ceasing to exist (or ceasing to exist is better than coming into existence). Why? In order to clarify the terms for these four modalities I define them with respect to the sine qua non condition or experience of existance -- suffering -- which it's uncontroversial, I think, to assign a negative value. That said, I interpret these modalities as follows:

Not existing entails not suffering. (0)

i. Coming into existence begins suffering. (0 --> -S: worse than existing)

ii. Existing consists in suffering. (-S)

iii. Ceasing to exist ends suffering. (-S --> 0: better than existing)

Not existing entails not suffering. (0)

>> No.2991851

I have read this in a thread yesterday:
"Consider yourself as a corpse on vacation"

>> No.2991852

>>2991850
Ergo (1): existing (-S) is less/worse than not existing (0).

Caveat: though existing (-S) is less/worse than not existing (0) implies in reverse not existing (0) is more/better than existing (-S), the latter makes no sense in terms of experience since non-experience (i.e. non-suffering), which is entailed by not existing, cannot be experienced (i.e. suffered) in order to be compared to any (other) experience (i.e. suffering) as you point out above. In other words, not existing (0) is more/better than existing (-S) only in thought but not in life; and thought devoid of or contrary to life is ... pathological: suicide, for instance, happens at the razor's edge of sanity.

Ergo (2): bringing someone into existence is less/worse for that someone than not bringing her into existence.

>> No.2991858

From years of pondering to myself this question, I have come to the conclusion that, if there is one, then it is:

1. Discovering (if not then settling for) your passion.
2. Devoting yourself completely, and excelling in your chosen art or craft, so as to eventually gain the ability to enter a state of effortless expression, of complete transparency. You will hear classical pianists and painters describe this and refer to it as "flow". In such a state, there is no need for meaning: You will only feel. Through individual expression, arguably the fundamental human trait, you will enjoy a catharsis that will seem out of this world.
3. And eventually, although optional, becoming recognized, out of the billions comprising your species, for your ability to express homo sapien.

That or you can take the hedonistic route, which is no different that being an animal. In which case: drink as much beer, smoke as much weed, eat as much food, and consume as much entertainment as your health permits.

>> No.2991865

>>2991850
>>2991852
well how can we know bringing someone into existence is less/worse for that someone than not bringing her into existence if we don't know how it's like not to exist(a gauss)

you imply we exist even if we don't have a body and that by not getting a body we are feeling worse?
OP read some Rudolf Steiner just for the laughs

>> No.2991872

>>2991858
I cringed

>> No.2991876

>>2991858
you forgot having a devoted wife to give you sex whenever you think about nietzsche or the myth of Sisyph

>> No.2991881
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2991881

So, all other boards on 4chan think that we are intellectuals?

>> No.2991883

>>2991881
/lit/ is like /r9k/+/phil/

>> No.2991884

>>2991881
Try asking this question on /sci/ and you'll know why.

>> No.2991885

I figure this is as good of a place to ask as any. I can't stick to anything. I pick things up quickly and then just quit. I don't have any real accomplishments because I can't get myself to focus on any one thing for any amount of time. How do you overcome this?

>> No.2991887

>>2991881
OP asks some teenagers that masturbate to Lolita the meaning of life
go figure

>> No.2991889
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2991889

>>2991883
>/phil/

>> No.2991891

>this thread has received 1 of 4 requests needed to trigger archival.

>> No.2991892

>>2991885
Cut your internet connection. Eliminate as many distractions as possible.

>> No.2991895

>>2991891
link

>> No.2991899

>>2991895
http://chanarchive.org/request_votes

>> No.2991902

I can offer two meanings:
>There is no meaning other than what you make of it.
The reason it's such so impossible to answer it "correctly" is because there is no correct answer. It's subjective. The way you view life determines how much or how little meaning you find in it.
>The meaning of life is to live
Why sit around and do nothing except sulk over postmodern philosophy? Why don't you actually do something or at least try? Regardless of what meaning you find in life, you an absolute failure if you choose to do little or nothing.

>> No.2991932

>>2991420
I havent the slightest idea.
Whatever you want.

>> No.2991936

OH MY GOD JUST LIVE
whether its for small goals, big goals, or goals at all, you dont need anyone elses permission to fucking be a person. if life doesnt matter, than the fact that life doesnt matter doesnt matter. Do what you want. dont be all "i so ronery because everyone else doesnt see that they shouldnt be having happy-fun times they should all be sad because life means nothing"
all these YOLO idiots are retarded, and probably have about a 50% chance of surviving the day, but obviously theyve got something right, cuz theyre having a helluva lot more life than someone spending their days sitting in an existential depression

>> No.2991957

antinatalism is the only valid option