42. The Meaning of Life, the Universe, & Everything | THUNK

What does life, the universe, or anything mean? The most likely answer is both daunting & emboldening at once. (Be sure to check the description for related material!)

-Links for the Curious-

[Metalsupremacist]

Can't believe there's no comments here yet. I thought this was an excellent video. 

The fact that the only place meaning exists is in your head is mind boggling. Think of any complex idea you've ever had, for example, the feeling you get when you look at a new painting. You are the only person that can truly comprehend its significance to you. While you can try to explain it to someone else, language is limited and a lot of the understanding has to be generated in their head from your words. Explaining in words to other people can give them an idea of its meaning, and with enough detailed description, you may be able to allow them to RECREATE that thought in their head, but it's never a perfect translation. 

You touch on this in your language video. Speech (and writing) are ways of transferring ideas between minds, but they require a lot of processing on both ends. The speaker must take an abstract idea and try to explain it with words, and the listener must analyze those words and try and interpret a meaning. 

Even now, as I attempt to explain this thought, I'm struggling to use words to explain it so that another person grasps my meaning. The thought is very clear in my head, but I feel it would be easy to read what I'm saying and while you may not disagree with it, not fully grasp the significance of it.

[Ileumn]

Another wonderful video! I agree with your view that we can't focus on our contributions to the universe and our legacy rather just enjoy experiencing life.

[havenbastion]

The meaning of life is that everyone must choose the answer to that question for themselves. (choose, not find)

[moncielvariable]

My friend tried to make me understand this for months, even years. But when listened to this video, I cried from despair and joy at the same time.

[saturn]

I just realized.
42 is the meaning of everything because it is half of 21. That is amazing!

[Denkart]

Good video.  Personally, I already followed this line of thinking so it didn't teach me anything new, but it could definitely be helpful to someone who is struggling with these topics.  Well done.

[joshuamarchese]

Meaning for me is I exist and am endlessly learning growing one life to the next by the grace of the creator. I'm happy to learn and exist. What I become carries on. Thanks for helping me meditate on that. Endless existing as an individual spirit makes me want learn grow and experience all life has to offer now and later. With wisdom love law and order. Amen.

[marysketch]

This was really good and pertinent for me today, this morning. Thanks.

[CookDinger]

I really enjoyed this!

In pondering ‘meaning, ’ I agree with your conclusion that it is something that ultimately appears from within. What’s really mind-blowing to me, as someone who loves history, is to consider how novel this notion of subjective meaning really is! The ancients, our ancestors, almost universally believed in a world full of signs and significance, but centuries of philosophical and scientific reflection have demonstrated one brute fact again and again: the universe just “is.” Any color, significance, heart or design that can be attributed to the universe comes entirely from our own minds. So maybe the interesting question isn’t “What is the meaning of the universe?” but rather “What is the meaning of people?” 😮😊

[ullu]

Used to think it was about doing something you like, the way you like. Then with people you like, until you are no more.

But these days Im starting to think that we are only here to be born, mature, leave a "seed" and die. What you do in between is up to you. Be happy, be anxious, be wonderful and leave recognizable artifacts, or maybe some flowers of remembrance. Possible impact is limited, but also somehow infinite, just gotta go in deeper when in need.

Leaving this here as if I change my mind someday, or maybe end up on the video again. Also might change it someday also, who knows..

[joaovitorcabral]

Great video, man!! You have the best philosophy content i've ever seen on Youtube. And for a philosophy entusiast like myself, that's great news! Keep up the awesome videos!!

[Madilou]

I love this and this is a funnier way to have this convo then me telling my students that nothing we do true matters, so what make u happy...

[ginamiani]

You have so eloquently discussed exactly what I've been thinking for years. Great video, I appreciate your perspectives.

[gawierichter]

It's actually weird that, when you said it's daunting to accept the 'truth', I find it quite easy . . . I thought it, and you said it. Great video!

[gerardpavlovich]

Great vid! You just got yourself a new subscriber! Thank Reddit for the direction. Not that it matters. Nothing matters. ;)

[Doomscrolled]

You really picked up steam towards the last few minutes and the ending was clutch. Thanks, perspective on what to do with myself after the learning my literal place in the universe is nice.

[iy]

I thunk you did a fantastic job in making me feel overwhelming enlightened and completely empty.

[rashigan]

You kind of remind me of vsauce but you only talk about one idea, explain it relatively well and give your opinion on it. I like it, keep up the good work.

[aidans.]

Well I think its to find, survive, and to explore and grow, its human nature to expand and strive, everything has a "nature" to stay

[keingenie]

A great video, with an answer we can all agree on, but I just want to clarify - and I think you thunk that - that the universe itself is random. It formed for no obvious reason, earth formed randomly, such as the plants and being on it. There was no meaning to it, until wen humans came across, and simply by experiencing everything we added significance to it, a meaning. As you say, in the end the meaning is ours.