As An Atheist Can Your Life Have Purpose and Meaning?

I was wondering what other people thought about this.

I realize we weren't born with a purpose. No creator or "higher calling".

But as a non believer can your life have meaning and purpose without god?

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Permalink Reply by amer chohan on March 6, 2013 at 2:02pm

Great, I never thought of that. Thanks for the correction.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on March 6, 2013 at 1:54pm

I had heart surgery a few years ago and I told the surgeon I wanted an ophthorectumy, cut the nerve going from the eyeball to the rectum so I would not have such a shitty outlook on life. I went to sleep with the surgical team and the team outside surgery laughing. What a nice way to go under. 

Well, it worked. Going into surgery, I knew there is no meaning to life and no purpose. I woke up knowing that I breath air, drink and eat, poop and pee and fifty years from now, no one will know the difference. However, I have unique experiences and understanding about life and its foibles; I have nothing to lose being an activist in the interest of combating domestic violence, poverty, domination, oppression and exploitation. 

I may not make a difference to others; I do make a difference for people I care about and for me. That is enough for me. 

curmudgeon

Permalink Reply by Tom Reeves on March 6, 2013 at 2:02pm

That's hillarious Joan! I'm sure my wife would agree that I too could benefit some days from an ophthorectumy.

Permalink Reply by amer chohan on March 6, 2013 at 2:05pm

Joan, you are lucky to live a life full of meanings, thats what makes you respectfull among us.

Permalink Reply by Idaho Spud on March 6, 2013 at 2:07pm

Love that story Joan!  Also like that definition of Curmudgeon.  I just need to develop my humor more to become a card carrying one.

Permalink Reply by Glen Rosenberg on March 6, 2013 at 3:33pm

I agree with greater message by TNT. However it is not fair to conclude beauty is perceived through cultural lens alone. Experiments indicate that appreciation of beauty is biological. 

Permalink Reply by TNT666 on March 6, 2013 at 3:59pm

The studies into "beauty" were not about beauty per se but about the process of selecting a quality mate based on symetry of facial features and suitability of secondary sexual traits such as hip ratio for females and V shape for males. These are measurable characteristics, beauty is entirely subjective.

Permalink Reply by Glen Rosenberg on March 6, 2013 at 4:04pm

Okay TNT. I dont feel like engaging in polemics right now. 

And again I quite agree with your take on purpose.

Permalink Reply by Napoleon Bonaparte on March 6, 2013 at 4:05pm

La vie n'a pas de but et sans raison. La vie n'a aucune signification.

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Chang on March 6, 2013 at 5:33pm
I reject the common perspective that there is a subjective purpose, in the sense that the semantic idea behind the word "purpose" refer to some metaphysical outcome on a greater scale than simple opinions. There is this sort of cognitive dissonance when people try to adapt religious concepts into post-religious philosophies, or analytical concepts into the categorical. When someone asserts "my goal in life is to do X", there is a rational reason Y behind X such that "my goal in life is to do X because Y" and Y is never "to be". In other words, arbitrary goals that you've assigned yourself are not purposes "to life" unless they lack any other condition in which case they are random and irrational. Purpose does not exist subjective or objective.
Permalink Reply by TNT666 on March 6, 2013 at 5:52pm

Well stated.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on March 6, 2013 at 5:55pm

Wonderful Jonathan - I appreciate your insight. Logical. I like logical. Thanks!

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