# What is the ultimate goal in life?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [September 2, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727 "2004-09-02T05:40:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/21 "2004-09-02T15:14:56Z")
> [@msmith537](#):
>
> There is no “point” in life other than what you make for yourself. Do you want to live your life just for yourself? Do you want to spend it serving something greater than yourself? Do you want to spend it pursueing a career? Or just doing nothing at all? The one certainty is that you are only here for a limited time so when you are 80, what do you want to look back and be able to say about your life?
Couldn’t have said it better myself. You can’t wait for someone else to give you a goal. Decide what you want out of your life and go do it.
But you may find that your life actually has countless goals, some achieved every day. You might not need any goal more lofty than to sit outside on a warm summer night drinking wine with friends until the sun comes up.
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### Author:  [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/22 "2004-09-02T17:32:10Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#):
>
> You are the most incredible thing in an incredible universe.
>
> Your life is a wonder, **Muad’Dib** ; may you live your life _in_ wonder.
Guess who’s deciding that humans are the “most incredible thing” with these unique powers. Oh, wait…
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### Author:  [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/23 "2004-09-03T10:00:19Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Guess who’s deciding that humans are the “most incredible thing” with these unique powers. Oh, wait…
“Who”? Why, the unique collection of offal-based memories which explain the illusion of “myself”.
Should the biological computer in _your_ skull output a _different_ decision, well my friend, may it bring about “happiness” also.
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### Author:  [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/24 "2004-09-03T14:10:20Z")
> [@Dio2112](#):
>
> … and if they are given love, support, and guidance, they may very well never contemplate the lack of purpose that you seem to be experiencing.
Then again, I received all that stuff and I still have no purpose…
> [@Muad'Dib](#):
>
> …
> How can you make a point for your life? By what value do you judge and choose a point?
That’s up to you to decide. I can’t do it for you. Some people get off on religeon. Others make their career or family the point of their life.
You know that “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” crap you always here people say? It’s true. You can’t live your life like you are working to build some perfect sculpture and once it’s finished, sit back and say “good job”.
Personally, I think it’s part of the reason that people enjoy school a whole lot more than work even though students can’t wait to join the “real world”. In school, you are working towards a goal. You see a purpose. You are striving to improve your life. Once you graduate and hit the working world, this is your “life” and it usually isn’t what you imagined it was going to be. There are plenty of people who like the IDEA of being a lawyer or investment banker or management consultant a whole lot more than actually being one.
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### Author:  [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/25 "2004-09-03T15:11:47Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#):
>
> I am extraordinarily depressed right now and would like too know what the ultimate goal is in life? What are we trying to achieve and why? What is good in and of itself? Right now everything does seem terribly pointless; along the lines of “eat to live, live to eat”.
>
> I can think of only two things that might be the answer.
>
> 1. A life of hedonistic pleasure. This strikes me as being a bit empty and most folks who were known for their hedonistic excesses are not really known for being very happy. However, that could be because of a puritanical historical bent.
>
> 2. A life of scientific and philosophic research and discovery. When you do not know what to do or why you should do anything, the only thing that is undeniably good is to try and figure out what to do and why you should do it. While this is undeniably true, it really seems to be avoiding the main problem at hand, but I still like that it seems to give some guidance and at least one really viable option.
Your problem isn’t finding the meaning of life. Your problem is you’re depressed. Depressed people tend to assign greater importance to questions like “What does it all mean?” than there needs to be. Happy people may or may not feel they know the answer to that question, but whether they do or not, in practical terms, appears to have very little impact on their happiness. The euthymic just are that way, probably because of the pure luck of circumstances and genetics.
What modern medicine and psychotherapy can bring to bear on the problem of depression is imperfect, but I can virtually guarantee you, the conventional means of curing depression (finding a good drug/therapy combo) will be way more efficacious than believing you’ve solved the mystery of the meaning of life. Put your energy into getting better, not trying to unravel humanity’s most unsolvable puzzle.
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### Author:  [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/26 "2004-09-03T16:37:50Z")
Amen, when you’re feeling content, the meaning of life is a nice little abstract puzzle to play with, if and when you feel like it. If it looms over your life, there’s something else that needs to be addressed, cause it’s just the thing that you think about while you’re feeling bad.
Oh, and Greenback, the only thing that matters when class is over is whether the teacher got paid enough to make holding the class again worthwhile.
(I can’t believe that no one has chimed in with 42, yet. Must be the grim overtones.)
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### Author:  [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/27 "2004-09-03T17:30:16Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#):
>
> How can you be a nihilist and say that anything has value on which to make a judgement?
>
> How can you be a nihilist and not have killed yourself? Why go on? If there is no point, then why is anything worth the effort?
This wasn’t directed at me, but I also have nihilistic tendancies, and these are my answers:
a) Because I choose to apply my value to something, even if those values are pulled out of my ass.
b) I didn’t exist for 14 or so billion years and sometime in the next 50 years I will cease to exist anyway, so why rush it, enjoy Life, get laid, drink wine and large martinis, hang out with great people, etc.
c) see (b)
d) It isn’t worth the effort. But “it” is better, for me, than “not it”
---
### Author:  [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/28 "2004-09-03T18:40:21Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#):
>
> “Who”? Why, the unique collection of offal-based memories which explain the illusion of “myself”.
I can’t compute what your answer means, but what I was getting at is that this max. incredibility of humans is a trait self-assigned by humans. Hardly an objective basis for wonder/awe.
> [@](#):
>
> Should the biological computer in _your_ skull output a _different_ decision, well my friend, may it bring about “happiness” also.
Why would you want happiness?
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### Author:  [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/29 "2004-09-03T18:52:11Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#):
>
> “Who”? Why, the unique collection of offal-based memories which explain the illusion of “myself”.
By Og, that’s beautiful!
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### Author:  [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/30 "2004-09-03T19:08:11Z")
Are these the Nazis, Walter?
They’re nihilists, Donny, nothing to be afraid of.
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### Author:  [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/31 "2004-09-03T21:47:46Z")
Hi **Muad’Dib** ,
I think your #2 choice is a good place to start.
> [@](#):
>
> 1. A life of scientific and philosophic research and discovery. When you do not know what to do or why you should do anything, the only thing that is undeniably good is to try and figure out what to do and why you should do it. While this is undeniably true, it really seems to be avoiding the main problem at hand, but I still like that it seems to give some guidance and at least one really viable option.
If you are feeling depressed for the very reason of “not knowing what to do and why”, then you obviously have a need to do something or at least try. I think we owe it to ourselves to at least give it our best shot at finding our purpose here on earth.
You may not find your exact purpose, but maybe you will see along the way the good in people and the need we have for each other.
I wish you all the best.
---
### Author:  [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/32 "2004-09-04T00:36:35Z")
Was it **David Simmons** who said that “the purpose of existance is to hang around to see what happens next”.
There is no purpose other than that which you create yourself. Set goals. Play sport. Explore. Create.
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### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/33 "2004-09-04T01:26:43Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#):
>
> I can think of only two things that might be the answer.
>
> 1. A life of hedonistic pleasure.
> 2. A life of scientific and philosophic research and discovery.
A third alternative is:
Soloman’s conclusion is to be found in Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
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### Author:  [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/34 "2004-09-04T03:36:24Z")
“To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!”
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### Author:  [@WoodCM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodCM)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/35 "2004-09-04T04:02:34Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#):
>
> I am extraordinarily depressed right now and would like too know what the ultimate goal is in life? What are we trying to achieve and why? What is good in and of itself? Right now everything does seem terribly pointless; along the lines of “eat to live, live to eat”.
>
> I can think of only two things that might be the answer.
>
> 1. A life of hedonistic pleasure. This strikes me as being a bit empty and most folks who were known for their hedonistic excesses are not really known for being very happy. However, that could be because of a puritanical historical bent.
>
> 2. A life of scientific and philosophic research and discovery. When you do not know what to do or why you should do anything, the only thing that is undeniably good is to try and figure out what to do and why you should do it. While this is undeniably true, it really seems to be avoiding the main problem at hand, but I still like that it seems to give some guidance and at least one really viable option.
I think I know exactly how you feal. Depression and futilitity are great handmaidens. What you must do is find a great purpose in life - like to banish a great evil! So join with me in my crusade to try and banish the nonsense phrase ‘weapons of mass destruction’. Not that it will help you, or me, for all is futility, but we must try!
If you don’t fancy this, then think of something else. Hold on - don’t - you may turn into some evil fanatic, which is even worse than this feeling of hopelessness and despair.
Oh dear, this is no help at all!
---
### Author:  [@Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_to_be_Queen)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/36 "2004-09-04T04:03:15Z")
I think the meaning of life is accept salvation for the afterlife.
I realize most people do not agree with this; that’s okay.
That does not mean this life has to be crappy, by the way.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/37 "2004-09-04T04:54:13Z")
> [@bizzwire](#):
>
> Remember that scene in “Jaws,” where Richard Dreyfus’ character describes sharks as animals which do nothing but eat and make baby sharks? This holds true for sharks, mayflies, humans, and Republicans.
My goal has been to enjoy the company of good people. Or put another way, to avoid the jackasses in this world. Fortunately, some political parties brand themselves with the appropriate imagery. (sorry, had to respond to the dig. Some of my best friends or Democrats)
Life is what you make of it and it is meant to be shared. When I look back at the happiest moments in my life there is one theme that stands out, and it is friendship. I’m very selective about whom I hang around with and it has paid off. I have friends of all ages and interests so my world is very broad in that respect. This doesn’t mean I love my job (I don’t) but when I leave the office the world is mine. I own it for the wonder that is around every corner.
The “meaning of life” is a philosophical one. I’d like to think there “is” a God and that our purpose in life is to enjoy each other’s company. That may mean helping someone fix their car, or listening to a musician. Both can be enjoyable pass times. I’d like to think God lives vicariously through our experiences. It certainly sounds more exiting then endless droning about how much we appreciate life. DOING STUFF is the appreciation of life. Not talking about it.
You sounded down about your job. If you “work to eat” then make cooking your hobby and share it with a friend. If you are truly depressed then seek medical attention. You’d certainly do that if you broke your arm. Otherwise, get out a piece of paper, write down some interesting things to do, find a friend, AND GO DO THEM.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/38 "2004-09-04T05:31:52Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#):
>
> You find yourself on a lonely rock as an organism which somehow survived the evolutionary gamble of growing an _incredibly_ large and complex brain, rendering you capable of asking yourself the question “What is the point?” But take heart, **Muad’Dib** :
>
> You are the most incredible thing in an incredible universe. You are a pattern of ever-changing atoms which somehow has the ability to think. Nothing like you existed for 13 billion years. You are borne of supernovae, you are Made of Stars. Every piece of sensory input you receive has an inexplicable quantum effect on the universe - you are the universe’s way of observing itself.
>
> You are vastly more wealthy than almost anyone who has ever lived, or is alive now. You need not fear the diseases, famines or wars which have killed and still kill billions of people. You have access to all the knowledge, art and thoughts of the finest minds in history and could, one day, travel to the most amazing and beautiful places on the planet.
>
> We all hope that that magnificent, incredible brain of yours attains a state you can call “happiness” soon, us being similarly wondrous organisms which make this rock less lonely. We call you “friend”, and hope you call us so in return.
>
> Your life is a wonder, **Muad’Dib** ; may you live your life _in_ wonder.
Maybe it’s the beer talking, But I gotta say, this is one of the best posts I have seen on this board. Friggin beautiful **Sentient Meat**.
---
### Author:  [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/39 "2004-09-04T07:56:15Z")
The goal in life is to have lived.
I think about all the times I’ve seen something and been just blown away by the beauty of it – a performance of Taiko drumming, a fireworks show, the fog rolling over the golden gate bridge as you come through the tunnel from the Marin Headlands, a scene in a movie that is just _perfectly_ realized, a moment when you say something and it just makes someone burst out laughing even though you didn’t intend it, a perfect passage in a book, a piece of music that sounds like nothing you’ve heard before, or a clear night out in the open when you can look up and see an infinite number of stars.
And I realize that there’s so much more of that that I haven’t seen yet. I can walk down the street, or even through the place I work, and see dozens of people that I haven’t met yet; I have no idea what they’re like, what they’re thinking. I’ve met some people who were simply amazing, and completely changed the way I see things, or set an example for how I want to be, and I think that there are so many more that I haven’t yet met. There are so many places I haven’t yet seen. There are so many things I haven’t yet done.
The idea that there’s “no point” to life is just absurd. Anyone who sincerely believes that there’s no purpose to our being here, just isn’t trying hard enough.
---
### Author:  [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2004, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ultimate-goal-in-life/262727/40 "2004-09-04T08:13:51Z")
To learn. Simple but not easy, yet I’m easy not simple.
Go fig.
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