Just to elaborate a bit on the “essential meaninglessness” of life…
In the same light that one can show the total energy of the universe to be zero, I’ve often said that, without some sort of “higher power” or “external significance”, the fundamental significance of you all, of me, of my job, of the book I read last night, and of ever other thing in this fleeting and imaginary existence is zero.
Now, that’s not to say we can’t make something of our time. I just think that if everyone were to look at life as the rare and unique opportunity that it is we might have dramatically different priorities, both as individuals and as a species at large.