If there is no god. What's the purpose of this life?

[metis]

Experience can be a harsh teacher, but it’s one of the best ways to learn….what to do (and how to behave), and what not to do (and how not to behave)!

It’s an ability unique to humans.

Sorry to be picky, but many animals also learn from experiences and usually adjust accordingly.

Enjoy the Lord's Day regardless as to when you celebrate it.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Sorry to be picky, but many animals also learn from experiences and usually adjust accordingly.

Like which ones specifically? I wasn’t speaking of instinct. Humans have a built-in guide: they know how to act properly, but can choose to follow a different path. And vice versa: others can see that behavior, observe the outcome, and learn to make other choices. Choices that are not necessarily life or death.

Have a good day, too.

 

[metis]

Like which ones specifically?

Have a good day, too.

The entire primate line, but even dogs do as I repeatedly experienced with mine.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

The entire primate line, but even dogs do as I repeatedly experienced with mine.

That’s from training. Not from a built-in cognitive ability, knowing appropriate selfless behavior, beforehand. As different from an instinctive behavior.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

The entire primate line, but even dogs do as I repeatedly experienced with mine.

To a degree, yes….
I saw a YouTube vid, where a lady had 3 dogs, and she came home to a messed-up kitchen (or some other room.) She said to them, “OK, who did this?” The first two dogs were just wagging their tails & happy, but the third one…. He looked so guilty, with his eyes down & his tail between his legs! You knew right away who did it! It was funny!!
So, you’re right, to a large extent .

But, humans can choose to be devious… a human who did that….caused that mess….could act happy & “wag his tail” if he had one, just as if he’s as innocent as the others.

Conversely, from the other perspective, those innocent dogs in the video, exhibited no empathy for their unrelated compadre. They would not “stick up for him” or try and shield him from the consequences. But other humans could… and do.

Have a good one.

 

[metis]

That’s from training. Not from a built-in cognitive ability, knowing appropriate selfless behavior, beforehand. As different from an instinctive behavior.

Nope, as what you're saying used to be believed but has repeatedly proven wrong. Here's one source and there's plenty more:
Previous research has shown that animals can remember specific events, use tools and solve problems. But exactly what that means – whether they are making rational decisions or simply reacting to their environment through mindless reflex – remains a matter of scientific dispute... -- Do Animals Think Rationally?

Here's another more in-depth link: Animal learning - Insight, Reasoning, Behavior

 

[metis]

Conversely, from the other perspective, those innocent dogs in the video, exhibited no empathy for their unrelated compadre. They would not “stick up for him” or try and shield him from the consequences. But other humans could… and do.

Elephants actually do as well as chimps per Jane Goodall's experiences with the latter.

Thanks for correcting a previous post of yours, and I'll see ya on the other side of the weekend as I'm outta here till then.

shalom

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Personally, I think it is an open question whether all humans are making rational decisions or simply reacting to their environment through mindless reflex...subject, of course, to behavioral modification...whether internally or externally applied...

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I believe Human beings were created, for way more than working a 9-5, raising a family, then dying. What are your thoughts?

What purpose do you suppose humans were created for? How do you suppose you could ever know for sure? And if you cannot know for sure, then what meaning does your life have anyway?

For me, an atheist, the only way out of that dilemma was to define my own purposes for myself.

 

[Whateverist]

I believe Human beings were created, for way more than working a 9-5, raising a family, then dying. What are your thoughts?

I think even if God as popularly conceived doesn’t exist, that which has given rise to and still supports god belief does exist and is sufficient to provide all the meaning desired though that may not be easy to find or look like what you expected.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Elephants actually do as well as chimps per Jane Goodall's experiences with the latter.

Those are exceptions to the rule; they are not the majority behavior for these animals.
And when they do exhibit this behavior, it’s usually for their relations, not outsiders. For animals, concern for outsiders is exceptional behavior.

Thanks for correcting a previous post of yours, and I'll see ya on the other side of the weekend as I'm outta here till then.

Yes, I was in the process of editing apparently, because I only noticed your reply after I finished.

Have a safe weekend.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Here's another more in-depth link: Animal learning - Insight, Reasoning, Behavior

Animal learning - Insight, Reasoning, Behavior

Animal learning - Insight, Reasoning, Behavior: Köhler’s best known contribution to animal psychology arose from his studies of problem solving in a group of captive chimpanzees. Like other Gestalt psychologists, Köhler was strongly opposed to associationist interpretations of psychological...

www.britannica.com

Yes, this is well-known.

But show me this chimp, after getting the banana, selflessly give it to an unrelated chimp who’s hungrier than he is? (And not for mating purposes, lol.)

“…animals can remember specific events, use tools and solve problems. But exactly what that means – whether they are making rational decisions or simply reacting to their environment through mindless reflex – remains a matter of scientific dispute... -- Do Animals Think Rationally?”

Now that caveat, I agree with.

There’s a lot for us to learn! Many, unfortunately, reach their own conclusions before knowing the pertinent aspects of a certain subject. (Whatever the subject may be.)

I guess we all have that unflattering inclination, to some degree! It would seem this inclination is directly related to the level of pride we have: the more pride one has, the quicker we are to reach decisions that agree with our biases. The less evidence we require to confirm those biases for ourselves.

(Thoughts such as this, and other people’s ideas, are vastly superior to any reasoning an animal might have.)

 

[nPeace]

I believe Human beings were created, for way more than working a 9-5, raising a family, then dying. What are your thoughts?

I think our tongue tells us that along with the hundreds of other functioning body parts connected to our marvelously complex brain.

 

[YoursTrue]

Even with a God, why would life have a purpose?

I'm not going to answer that now perhaps, but since evolution is mindless obviously life as defined in the theory of evolution would have no purpose.

 

[YoursTrue]

So, what about the billions of years before there was even any life on Earth?

How does this fit in with humans created for a purpose?

 

[F1fan]

I believe Human beings were created, for way more than working a 9-5, raising a family, then dying. What are your thoughts?

We are animals that think. Don't think so much.

Humans often want to be more significant that what nature offers us. That is the greed that comes so naturally in our minds.

If human beings were created why were the mentally ill created? Why were children with genes that cause childhood cancers created? Why are children with defects created? Why are there so many born with low intelligence? Why is there bacteria that kills humans?

If you are going to ask questions I suggest the bigger picture for context, not just select bits.

 

[F1fan]

I'm not going to answer that now perhaps, but since evolution is mindless obviously life as defined in the theory of evolution would have no purpose.

Would it be so bad if humans weren't special?

 

[Wandering Monk]

I believe Human beings were created, for way more than working a 9-5, raising a family, then dying. What are your thoughts?

If there IS a God, what's the purpose of life?

 

[nPeace]

Would it be so bad if humans weren't special?

I think so... Life would make no sense. In fact, nothing about this earth would make sense.
The earth and animal life seem to get by well without humans. Yet humans are striving... or at least wanting to be able to get along well with the planet.
So why do they have that desire... and why are they failing, for the most part?
The answers I have found perfectly answers those questions, as well as shows humans are special.

 

[F1fan]

If God just allowed us to evolve as other animals have, we may have no more purpose than clams.

What better purpose do you have over clams?