No, 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, but it isn't the *point* of life. The *point* of life was what Q showed Picard in All Good Things.. It's where life started.

That's debatable since 42 is the meaning of life, but it's not the answer that's important but the question itself.

My question is, why do people who say that there's no point so frequently behave as if there's a point?

I think the meaning of life involves eating just one thin mint wafer...

How about the point in 42.00?

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.

Happiness. Everything you do, you subconsciously look for happiness. It is IMPOSSIBLE to make a rational decision without subconsciously searching for happiness as well.

To write down the Nine Billion Names of God, which will fulfil His purpose and thus cause the universe to end.

http://maggiemcneill.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/the-nine-billion-names-of-god.pdf

@Onar - That is what's *best* in.life, but not the point of life. The fact that few stood against many is a better point. It is at least what matters. And if Krom won't hear our prayers, then to *hell* with him.

@ Slyguy, whats your question ?
you asked "what is the point of life ?" and just about everyone interprets that as
"what is the point of human life" and in typically egocentric manner blab on about meaning in human life & some bring God into the discussion
if the question is "what is the point of life ?" without being "crittur type specific"
then it's clearly "to reproduce & continue each species existence, adapting and evolving" and thats it.
If the question is "what gives meaning to human existence ?" then all those egocentric "answers" might have some relevance

"Don't be a dick.

That sums up the whole of the Bible."

I fear I must now quote Scripture...ahem--

3 And the Lord said unto Saul Go thee now, and in the Name of the Lord be thee
4 The biggest dick possible unto every last Amalekite motherfucker,
5 unto the women and the children, the elderly and the livestock,
6 Yea, even unto their livestock, for Amalek hath made me mad
7 And hath made me sorry that I have let them live--Good God
8 I hate those pricks even more than all the homosexuals I
9 Created just that I might hate them, too--goddamnit, er, Me-damnit!

^1 Saul, ORT (Obi's Rectified Translation)

What is meaning? What creates it? I guess the answer others have given is correct, but i think they missed the point, your question suggests that there should be an answer. Why? Look at the question in more depth, and ask yourself what is meaning?

I think we create meaning, in which case we create meaning in our lives, and the answer 'to find meaning for your life' is pretty good. We also create religion, and this is a source of meaning, so the answer "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." is pretty good.

The other answer, 'there is no inherent meaning' is also true, if we don't have meaning until we create it.

And the biological answer is factually accurate, things which exist are tue ones which are good at continuing to exist; so in some sense we are fundamentally programmed to act like robots who reproduce, BUT we are also fundamentally programmed to create meaning and act on that, because it turns out that our culture has moved to a point where pure breeding rates is not the only important factor to consider for survival, as either an individual or species.

Ipso facto, all or the above.

Or to quote conan/genghis khan : "To crush your enemies -- See them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!"

^or their well meant compliments. (They are not always distinguishable)

Philcore gets my "stupidest response of the thread" award

No phil, life is not about sex. Sorry to disappoint.

What???? There's a "stupidest response" award? I should have won one way before now!!

Oh well, thanks synapse for the honor. I will treasure it always.

Wait, what if someone tops mine with an even stupider response? Is the award shared like a Nobel prize, or does it transfer like the Stanley Cup?

Has nobody yet posited that the point of life is Calvin Coolidge?

There is only one award distributed, and it lasts for the duration of the thread

If life were about sex, you would probably do better going out and getting laid instead of posting on a board game web-forum. Oh snap

Well, I've already fulfilled the reproduction half of the "biological point" of my life. I have reproduced twice. Now I'm on to the half where I make sure they are healthy and protected until they can, in turn, reproduce. In today's world, for humans, this involves setting them up for success in their adult lives to be able to attract a suitable partner. This means school and morals and athletic endeavors and a good work ethic, etc. This is why I work, so I can make money to provide them all of these things. While I'm at work, I might as well educate you people from time to time, right?

Life isn't a point. It's a trajectory.

That might sound smart-ass-ish, and maybe it is, but I believe that's the reason you won't find a point of life. I believe that, in a way, you are just less alive when you are "dead".

"Well, I've already fulfilled the reproduction half of the "biological point" of my life. I have reproduced twice. Now I'm on to the half where I make sure they are healthy and protected until they can, in turn, reproduce."

Wow, I'm sure your kids are super touched by this.
"I love you, Daddy."
"And I care deeply that you grow up and reproduce, Jimmy!"

Interesting to note that everyone seems to have read the question as "what is the point of (human) life? Or indeed (my/your) life. Look at it from a wider perspective. What is the point of an elephant's life, an ant's life or a buttercup's life? The point is each of these singular lives is pointless when considered in isolation. One could argue that each of our own lives is pointless in the greater scheme of things. But added together all the ant's serve a purpose as do the elephants as do the buttercups if only to make some other pointless life a little more bearable. Also some lives which mean nothing to the world, mean the world to someone, their mother, father husband, wife, children etc. their lives develope a point and a meaning in the eyes of others.

"Wow, I'm sure your kids are super touched by this.
"I love you, Daddy."
"And I care deeply that you grow up and reproduce, Jimmy!""

Depends. If Jimmy is between the ages of 13 and 21, he is more than likely thrilled with the prospect of living his life out that way.

Haha. That's funny. But the reality is that love and caring and everything that makes life WORTH living, doesn't mean its the point of life. We've evolved a capacity to care and love because it makes us want to protect our kids for the biological purpose if passing our genes on. Now personally, I care more about my kids' happiness and that they grow up to be good people and productive members if society, than whether or not they reproduce. But to say that their happiness is the point of life is incorrect, imo.

Philcore you are wrong

Will there ever be another freddie mercury?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqqnXd8qoTM

We're all in the matrix anyway.

Synapse, it won't be the last time, I'm sure. But in a thread about opinions, I find