The Meaning Of Life?

Five hundred page - maybe larger - books have been written on this subject. Mine is a short simple version, the answer is; there is no meaning. We individually give, or take away, meaning from our lives. You and I are here because our parents were an evolutionary success, that is Nature's way, that's all there is to it.

Of course as humans, we may feel that those simple facts are a little brutal and perhaps not worthy of such a magnificent species as us but that's wrong; we are just primates who have gained some intelligence. Personally, the search for truth gives meaning to my life, it gets me high, I have no need for drugs, intoxicants, fairies, gods or mumbo jumbo of any kind. It doesn't matter what you do, if it gives you a feeling of fulfillment, then you have meaning in your life.

I admit the feeling that we will probably be one of the shortest-lived species ever to inhabit the Earth, leaves me a little depressed. In fact, our demise may be as a result of our intelligence, we have learned and discovered many things in a short time but seem pathetically unable to reach the realistic level of maturity required to handle the knowledge. Many species on Earth have been here much longer than us, they are the kind of creatures we would consider among the least intelligent, reptilians, for example.

It seems clear then, that intelligence has little, if any, survival value. Perhaps that is the default condition of life in the Universe - rarely, a species evolves to intelligence and then promptly destroys itself because of distrust, national fervour or religious nonsense. I harbour a glimmer of hope that we may survive our technological adolescence but sweeping changes must occur, here are just a few.

• All organised religions must go away, they have killed millions of us already and still pose the most dangerous threat.
• Nationalism and patriotic fervour are also dangerous, nations must go, we need to become citizens of the planet.
• It seems obvious, but needs to be said: survival of the species needs to be the goal of each and every one of us.
• The foolish greed that drives some of us must be suppressed, we need to ensure that all of us can reach our potential.
• The worth of a person must be measured by what they can do that benefits humankind in general, desire for fame in a nonsense activity is worthless.

Now, being realistic, I know that most of these things will not happen soon and a few may never come to pass, that's why I don't think we'll make it. It's highly unlikely but possible, that those younger than me will witness contact with an intelligent alien species at some future time. I'd be willing to bet that many, if not all of the characteristics above, will form part of their culture.

I will also bet that no-one in their culture will be capable of calmly sawing the head off one of his fellows whilst mindlessly chanting that god is great.

Animals like these are unworthy of the name "animal".