The Philosophy of Human Life
 

What does it mean to be human?? After living for 25 years I thought I knew the answer to this question, at least to a comfortable degree, but one event changed that outlook. I don't really want to go into to much details about how it happened, only that it left me with a feeling of an understanding of what it truly meant to be human, to live, to breath, to think, feel, see, communicate, multiply and ultimately die. With an abstract, almost 2 dimensional look at what it meant to be human, my eyes were opened to that fact of what I am and what I am doing. The startling realization that I was alive and human actually hit me like a ton of bricks. What the fuck am I doing to myself?? Am I where I want to be, doing what I want to do?? Is what I am doing really called living?? Why is it that I have to think of these things?? The answer to these questions came unto me like an epiphany, the simplicity of it had me on my knees and the ensuing ecstasy of finally beginning to understand had me in tears. I am alive and human because I am alive and human. It was one of those crazy Taoist spiritual mumbo jumbo that came real. Even though it may seem simple to know and something that I had thought about and talked about on many occasions, comprehension of what it meant to be alive didn't occur until that moment and my eyes were opened to the world. Now I live to be alive, I want to feel that feeling of being human, not stuck in some limbo where all I'm doing is working, playing games and going out, but really living, experiencing everything this puny world has to offer and then go look for some more. Life is to short to just spend away only thinking or only acting or just being comfortable. As a human we should challenge our selves every day, look for something different every moment, feel every single range of emotion that we can feel for it is the only way we can be honest and true to ourselves. Long life and prosperity.

What I want to ask the members of The Mentality Symposium is this; What do you think it means to be human? What do you think it means to be alive and why??

Different races, nations, cultures interpret "alive" differently. Though, my family, or surroundings, however, would rather have you focused on work, rather than trying to figure out the meaning of life, the conclusion to our existence. I'm not an expert in these things, nor am I going to give seminars at local universities, but I have been trying to comprehend my very own existence-- why am I alive? Why me and not a different person? Is my life already a predetermined chain of events in which my fate has been decided? Whilst pondering these questions, I've decided to try and live each day to the fullest, because it could by my very last. You begin to realize that each life is very, very fragile thing indeed, for example, you could be unexpectedly ran over and killed instantly, but at the same time, a woman could be giving birth and bring life into this small world. This is really common sense, but never, ever hold grudges against loved ones, I've heard many stories with people wishing they could apologize to dead loved ones.

I've went seriously off topic, whoops.
On a side note:

I've also noticed people don't visit other places on the Earth... at all, they may move to another city, but not another country. In these few years to come, I will be visiting other countries and living life to the fullest!!! Peace!!!

Edit: the opinion from a 23 and 1/2 year old.

Maybe the question is to hard, or people think they know the answer and that its been discussed before and therefore unimportant, cause no one else seems to want to post. Oh well I tired.

I think they are still trying to comprehend the very question, it sounds simple, but it's exceedingly complex.

Granted it is a difficult questions, but thats why its in here, otherwise I would let the whole site take a look. Is my faith in this misplaced?

You just asked a mouthful. I can see why many haven't placed their chips on the table with this.
People aren't very likely to come upon the realization of themselves. They'll likely never fully attain a state of wisdom about their existence. To truly appreciate one thing in life you have to appreciate everything that culminates to create that one thing.

Here's a few things I take to heart:

Everything from the most painful suffering to the most heightened contentment are required to truly appreciate the perception of your world. And these observations ultimately lead to the realization that you can live without them and still maintain your harmony (loose term...couldn't think of a better word, so forgive the hippy jargon).

Conceiving endless possibilities are best applied to strengthen your appreciation of the living universe, and shouldn't leave you feeling caged. Though you may exist in a fragile shell on a small portion of a small rock floating in an infinitely vast universe, you are bigger than you could possibly imagine.

Fascination is the key to appreciation. Once you've appreciated the finite, you'll enter the infinite. There's endless beauty in the simplicity of a rock if you're willing to look for it.

Take comfort in the fact that one day your existence will cease as will all other things.

By existing you are subject to the alteration of the universe around you. Embrace the responsibilities that come from all actions you take and you'll know true comfort.

Through your existence you have the ability to awaken knowledge. Knowledge is the most basic form of consciousness and it will exist so long as the universe exists, even when your universe is terminated.


It comes across as a bit of a guide book, but I take things more as observations, or conceptual breedings. Being able to live through the perspective of your own universe is likely the summary of what I'd like to say. What is, is, and you shouldn't cry for it, or be elated in it, regardless of what it is. Take it as it is and you'll find your peace there within.

What it means to be human? Well you are human because you can think as the books say. I don't know we are humans because we are humans. We could call ourselves amoba too...
Why are we alive? I'm alive to do hings or make things what only I can do, it doesn't matter how small it is maybe for one person it's the world itself. I believe I have a role what I should do while I'm alive, and maybe in my next lifes too ;)

Well I know I made iron circle from wood ( as we say here :P) but that's what came to my mind.

i dont think that there is a significance to life. we are just a species that has evolved into higher thought and we took that higher belief and ran with it. i dont believe in an afterlife, its just something people made up out of fear. fear that when they die, nothing happens. we are the same as any other animal, the only thing different is our processing power. thats just my opinion.