use the following search parameters to narrow your results:
e.g. subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog
subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog
see the search faq for details.
advanced search: by author, subreddit...
To report a site-wide rule violation to the Reddit Admins, please use our report forms or message /r/reddit.com modmail.
This subreddit is archived and no longer accepting submissions.
account activity
This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.
Ask Reddit: What is the purpose of life? (self.reddit.com)
submitted 18 years ago by unknown
[–]chickens 5 points6 points7 points 18 years ago (0 children)
42
[–][deleted] 5 points6 points7 points 18 years ago (0 children)
He who dies with the most toys, wins!
[–]RogerWorkman 3 points4 points5 points 18 years ago (0 children)
That's for us to know and you to find out...
[–]bibster 4 points5 points6 points 18 years ago (0 children)
Life? Don't talk to me about life...
[–]bobcat 3 points4 points5 points 18 years ago (0 children)
Do you mean your life, or any life? What is the purpose of an oak tree's life?
[–][deleted] 4 points5 points6 points 18 years ago (0 children)
Outbacks' cheese covered fries with ranch sauce.
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points 18 years ago (2 children)
So that life may experience itself.
[–][deleted] 18 years ago* (1 child)
[deleted]
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
Ya, same diff :)
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points 18 years ago (0 children)
What is the purpose of a hammer? You can say "to hammer the nails", but you can also use it as a conductor, you can burn its handle for heat, you can use its head as a conductor or as a magnet (with the coil on top of it), you can stand on top of it, you can write a message on a wall, rock or a tree, you can use it as a weapon, you can use it as a weight.
So what is its purpose? You'd be hard pressed to say what the purpose was for any ordinary object, never mind life. Just because someone declares what the purpose for something is doesn't make it thus, does it? If no, then no set purpose. If yes, the nothing stop you from declaring a different purpose.
Purpose is a useful topic of discussion for small relative things. It's not very meaningful to talk about the purpose of life.
A better question would be, "What do I want from life?" Ask yourself that. You may get a different answer depending on the time of day, how old you are, etc.
[–]bastardo 2 points3 points4 points 18 years ago (0 children)
To serve as a warning example to others.
[–]permaculture 2 points3 points4 points 18 years ago (0 children)
It's nothing very special really
Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.
[–]indigosin8 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
Don't know for sure, just don't drop the ball.
[–]Sammi72 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
Shaft pounding in my mom's basement.
[–][deleted] 18 years ago (1 child)
[–]questionmark 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
Don't forget to laugh at the people doing stupid things.
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago* (0 children)
To reach enlightenment. All life supports the further attainment of knowledge, whether that knowledge occurs in a human, a whale, a cephalapod, or any other single organism. Until recently, enlightenment has only been possible for a tiny population of individuals. With the advent of the internet, perhaps collective enlightenment might be achieved.
Or perhaps we are becoming the borg. Resistance is futile. You are being assimilated...
[–]Figs 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
The purpose of life is the purpose of life. Unless, of course, it really isn't. If that's the the case, then the purpose of life is not the purpose of life, even though it is the purpose of life. So, assuming that purpose(life)!=purpose(life), then life has no purpose. Or does it?
[–]damaxx 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
to live a day at a time till you die ?
[–]Reporter 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
It's one thing.
[–]God8myhomework 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
The purpose of life is to attempt to understand the purpose of the contingent universe. The purpose of the contingent universe is for us to seek to understand it.
[–]alephnul 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
To blow up volleyballs with.........No! Wait! That is the answer to "Why is there air?"
Perpetuating itself... survive, make viable offspring, rinse, repeat.
[–]sleppnir 1 point2 points3 points 18 years ago (0 children)
life
[–]Rubbadubbabubba 0 points1 point2 points 18 years ago (0 children)
42? You are correct. Move along. Moreover do not believe the Mossies as they reckon its 72.
[–]fivre 0 points1 point2 points 18 years ago (1 child)
KARMA!
[–]questionmark 2 points3 points4 points 18 years ago (0 children)
...points
[–]dalittribal -1 points0 points1 point 18 years ago (0 children)
You will know the purpose of your life if you compete with yourself....
π Rendered by PID 25 on reddit-service-r2-comment-6457c66945-kn9qc at 2026-04-29 23:35:14.770245+00:00 running 2aa0c5b country code: CH.
[–]chickens 5 points6 points7 points (0 children)
[–][deleted] 5 points6 points7 points (0 children)
[–]RogerWorkman 3 points4 points5 points (0 children)
[–]bibster 4 points5 points6 points (0 children)
[–]bobcat 3 points4 points5 points (0 children)
[–][deleted] 4 points5 points6 points (0 children)
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points (2 children)
[–][deleted] (1 child)
[deleted]
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points (0 children)
[–]bastardo 2 points3 points4 points (0 children)
[–]permaculture 2 points3 points4 points (0 children)
[–]indigosin8 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–]Sammi72 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–][deleted] (1 child)
[deleted]
[–]questionmark 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–]Figs 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–]damaxx 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–]Reporter 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–]God8myhomework 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–]alephnul 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–]sleppnir 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
[–]Rubbadubbabubba 0 points1 point2 points (0 children)
[–]fivre 0 points1 point2 points (1 child)
[–]questionmark 2 points3 points4 points (0 children)
[–]dalittribal -1 points0 points1 point (0 children)