The meaning of life is simple, but it’s the kind of a question that people like being difficult. It makes us feel more special to not know the answer. It’s like the question: What came first, the chicken or the egg? That answer is pretty simple, but we pretend it’s very difficult. So when I write here what the meaning of life is, most won’t accept it, because they like more not knowing.
Anyway, some of you might like it, and accept it. So here goes:
The meaning of life means what is the reason of life. What is the purpose? Why was it created? To simplify, you can ask “What is the meaning of a chair?” Why was it created? The answer could be one of several:
- To sit on it
- To decorate
- To give it as a gift
- To sell it and earn money
So when we ask “What is the meaning of life”, we ask what the purpose of the life. Why were you and I created?
“Life” can also mean “life on earth” og “life of human kind”. Here, the life of all humans are lumped together as there is one great meaning that we’re all supposed to do together. Like there is an end goal in thousands of years from now.
It’s more popular to figure out the meaning of a persons life. Your life. So let’s do that. First, you don’t define the meaning of life yourself, because you didn’t decide to be created. The “what” or “who” created you, define the purpose. So the answer to the question, depends on who we define as the creator. What is the perspective?
There are three main ways of answering of what the meaning of life is:
- The religious perspective
The meaning of life is doing what God wants. After all, God created us – many believe that. This is where the mystery of the question comes from. What God want’s is more difficult to know, of course, and religions are all made up stuff, so let’s not dwell on it. - The scientific perspective (the correct one)
Genes are the basis of life. They make copies of themselves to stay in this world. All life is the result of this – humans also. So, genes made you to preserve themselves. It’s not a conscious decision, of course. But still, the meaning of life is to keep genes reproducing. This is the correct “meaning of life”. It seems uninspiring, but you can make the case that the meaning of life is to protect life. That means that the meaning of life is to take care of life on earth and by necessity expand it to other planets. That’s pretty cool. - The human perspective
Our parents made us, so whatever reason they had, is the meaning of life. Most often, couples want children to be happy. They feel like its important, everyone else has children, they want someone to care for and so on. It boils down to wanting to be happy. So the meaning of life is to make your parents happy.
3.1 The value drive perspective
A subset to number 3. But the value drive theory would define it: To increase positive emotional stimuli from the value drive in your parents.
You can probably find more perspectives on “who made you”, but these three are the main ones.
People usually object to this solution to the meaning of life by saying, “but you have to find your own meaning of life”. I know that that feels better, but what you should say is that you want to find something valuable to do with your life. That’s great. But don’t get that mixed up with the meaning of life. Meaning doesn’t mean valuable.
But anyway: Don’t waste your time on “The meaning of life”. It’s not a stupid question, but the answer is not important. Do what makes you happy. Hopefully that means making your parents and others around you happy too. And it’s the scientific answer that’s the correct one. Has to do with free will. I’ll write on that later.
The Value Drive Theory 