• Question: whats the meaning of life

    Asked by IanHardt to Freddie, Jena, Kirsten, Kon, Zarah on 7 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Kirsten Brandt

      Kirsten Brandt answered on 7 Nov 2016:

      The meaning of life is to transmit DNA or a similar information-storing molecule to the next generation.

    • Photo: Freddie Morrison

      Freddie Morrison answered on 8 Nov 2016:

      Life I think has two meanings here, one is the scientific ‘life’ which I learnt in school as MRS NERG the meaning of this is, as Kirsten put, to continue.

      A side product of this is that you need to adapt to continue, so you can continue better. This we call evolution.

      One of the adaptations that we as humans have is a consciousness, and this is something that we also refer to as life, e.g. you might say to someone – “How’s life going?” and you’re just asking how they are.

      The meaning of this, I think, is that there isn’t one and so you might as well enjoy it as much as you can – even if that means doing things you don’t like first (like doing exams) so you can have the good stuff later (a fun job!)

    • Photo: Zarah Pattison

      Zarah Pattison answered on 8 Nov 2016:

      I agree with Freddie and Kirsten.

      Besides the scientific aspects of life I would say that life is as meaningful as you make it. If you feel bored then do something, achieve something, experience something. Only you can make life meaningful for yourself 🙂

      Z

    • Photo: Jennifer Bates

      Jennifer Bates answered on 8 Nov 2016:

      As the guys say, humans have been part of the big picture of passing on DNA and adapting to a changing world for about 1.5million years (back to Homo ergaster, the first early modern human species), and beyond that through all our ancestral species.

      But at the deeper level I’d say, the meaning of life is to make it meaningful. Do what you want to do, find something that makes you and others around you happy and pursue it! ‘To be or not to be’… probably better ‘to be’ really. Make those 1.5million years of human ancestors proud!

      😉

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