RE: The Quest for the Purpose of Life

From: Chen Yixiong, Eric (cyixiong@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Jan 25 2002 - 05:47:43 MST


> It is a perfectly satisfactory response although it doesn't `answer the
> question' because there *was* no question, just a string of words that
> mimicked a question. There are lots of those. Why did the chicken cross the
> road? Why is a mouse when it spins? Why did the mome rath outgribe?

Very well then. If life has no purpose, or this question has no meaning, can someone give me good reasons (with sufficient
justification) why:

1) we still remain alive (or why don't we all just die?)
1.1) since we have so many problems, why don't we just wipe everyone out to solve all these problems?

2) why we seek progress
3) why we insist on certain things such as freedom

Can someone explain how:

1) we develop ethics
2) we derive our goals (such as freedom for all)
3) we can assume that sentient AI would seek self-preservation?

4) we can consider such decisions with great implications such as nanotech and the singularity if we don't consider the purpose of
life question

Perhaps someone else here can contribute more questions instead of only answers. I hope this will result in a serious and fruitful
debate and consideration of our meta-goals or lack of them.



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