Registered: Aug 2000
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Purpose «

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9166

I'd say purpose is a direction we move in, the destination and journey of no import to any but ourselves.

Or not.

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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9166

How about this?

Purpose is the compass of our experience.

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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: The Bottom of the Toyem Pole
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quote:

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Originally posted by Goatboy:
How about this?

Purpose is the compass of our experience.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9166

quote:

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Originally posted by Nutrimentia:
Does the type of purpose then depend on where we have been as well as where we are going?

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 15123

Is there really a purpose? Or, for clarification, is there a single purpose in our lives that we must (or at least should) fulfill? Or is our life simply a wandering search for a purpose? Or, perhaps, a series of smaller purposes strung together over a lifetime, some fulfilled, some not.

Or perhaps life is without purpose, and we are adrift in a sea of chaos, with no true meaning or order to it all.

Does it even matter? If our lives have a purpose, chances are we will find and fulfill them. Sometimes, we probably don't know that we've done so. Do we really need a purpose? Is it not enough to seek peace or contentment within ourselves, making no real impact in the world or the people around us? Perhaps that may even be a purpose.

I don't know. But this got my mind rambling. I like that. Thank you.

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I could never take any computer seriously that doesnt give me blue screens and illegal ops now and again. --Urbanjunkie
Graphic Cheeseworks.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: salmon city
Posts: 1407

There is a very clear purpose. the main hub of humanity fails to recognize it, simply.

first, we must build huge starships, a colony which can travel in space and sustain itself for long periods of time.

we must find new places in the galaxy to live.

we must build a human hive brain, and expand its reach to the far corners of the universe.

we must become all powerful. we must become God, so we may create new worlds, and crush their inhabitants like the bugs that they are.

thats our purpose. when we have achived it we win, and we can retire and watch the pulchritude that is the worls we now contorl.

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ALL HAIL FISHLEADER!
and may the posh be with you.

[This message has been edited by melon (edited 03-01-2001).]

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Gehenna
Posts: 1018

"Purpose" is that which drives to be all that we can; to push the limits of being "human" to edge of the envelope and beyond.

Purpose equates to motive force, and that must comefrom within. The only discipline is self-discipline, and no one can live life for another.

Everything comes from the self: if you doubt that, then look at all of the lef-loathers in this world and see where they are in their lives.

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What you would kill to see brings out the GOD in me.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: The Bottom of the Toyem Pole
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Well, melon pretty much rendered this discussion moot by answering all the questions, but for the sake of discussion, let's set that aside for a bit.

Regarding the past: Of course I think purpose relates to the past in a way. Minimally one uses past experience to determine if they have accomplished their purpose or are on track to do so.

But most of the responses here seem to equate purpose with meaning. I think purpose is different, I think.... A person can have meaning in life but wander without a purpose. Or am I wrong?

Goat> attributing purpose such as personal ambition to modern (or recent) society begs the question. You treat purpose as meaning or responsibility or necessity in the abstract. But then you suggest that personal motivation is a modern cultural artifact. Are you suggesting that purpose is part of cultural identity? I like the idea that purpose is culturally enforced or influenced, and I think I may accept that it is part of identity as well. Without purpose, culture says you are unfulfilled, incomplete.

Rosh> I think you and I are the same page. Lots of questions, a few ideas about answers, but still far from resolution

RW> People can accomplish stuff without purpose. Or are they just oblivious to their purpose then? I want to say more, but trivia is supposed to be starting.


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All Hail Eris!!

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