The meaning of life
What about leafs which grants food to insects, shadows for creatures and refresh our air.
That's a great meaning for just a leaf, but what if I told you that you are the one who planted the whole tree, Is that still not giving your life a meaning ? đ€
@YahyaAhmed
This is a really cool way to think about it. It gives a whole new perspective. đ
@innateJoy9602
Thank you so much :)
@YahyaAhmed
Your metaphor is confusing. Does the tree have purpose, no it doesn't. It is a tree and cannot think. What you have deemed as the leaf's purpose is just its attributes. The leaf never decides to do these things it just is. Are you suggesting that our purpose is simply to exist?
@Gettingbettertoday
I suppose that you didn't get the meaning.
What I mean is what if a part (leaf) can do that and be useful then, what about the largest entity (tree).
2nd part what if there's no tree? What will carry the leafs
@YahyaAhmed
Trees are good for shade, oxygen production, binding CO2, wood, and possibly fruit.
If there were no trees other plants would grow to replace them in doing these things.
@Gettingbettertoday
I suppose you suggesting the purpose of the tree is to grow leaves.
Is my purpose to simply survive because that is what is happening when I tree is growing leaves, it is simply how they eat.
@Gettingbettertoday
What I want to say that the tree have that useful thing then planning a tree is useful too
@YahyaAhmed
So do you believe the purpose of life is to be useful? Chop Wood/Carry Water.
A nice though in a way, we should all strive to be useful. Produce at least as much as we take and all.
But that begs the question What of those that can no longer be useful? Those that even though they might wish it otherwise they take more then they produce.
@Gettingbettertoday Everything is interdependent. A baby isnât useful. It takes in more than it produces. Yet the babyâs parents find great meaning in taking care of the baby. The baby will grow and find itâs own meaning in life. The parents are prerequisite to the babyâs finding meaning. If the parents didnât exist neither would the baby. And if the trees didnât exist neither would the parents. The trees wouldnât exist without the insects. So yes, just existing is meaningful. Gratitude for the interdependent web of life that gave you life, that allows you the luxury to ponder meaning may be a source of meaning for you perhaps. Just as the parents love the baby just because it exists, we can love ourselves just because we exist. Each of us contributes to this interdependence throughout our life without necessarily knowing it. Just as the insect eating the leaf is unaware of who planted the tree or that it will also benefit life. The insect doesnât ponder meaning but it nevertheless lives. If you have ever tried to catch an insect it will try to flee or sting to protect itself. Evidence that the insect finds âmeaningâ in just existing.