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Pastimes : What is the meaning of life?
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To: Jon K. who wrote (121)10/4/1999 9:00:00 PM
From: Jacques Chitte  Read Replies (1) of 141
 
It was not intended to be tough. If you like, you can omit the first sentence you selected. This cuts the percentage of big words way down, and it doesn't change the thrust of my message. All the rest of it now becomes a very simple thing - operational instructions. "How to".

There are two basic ways to ways to interpret the word Meaning. One is "significance" or more specially "spiritual content". To my dismay that has been the exclusive focus of this thread thus far. Dismay because imo spiritual matters are a dead end by way of their irreducible subjective foundation. All the touchy-feely stuff resists PROOF.
The other aspect of Meaning is "purpose", perhaps even "utility". Now there is something an Engineer can sink his teeth into. What is the meaning of life?? TO LIVE, no more; no less. In order to achieve this Goal, certain steps are recommended. Feed - this keeps you alive. (I omitted Breathe. I figure anyone who is grateful for THAT advice is coming from AOL.) Fight or flee - knowing which to do when will let you Feed again later. OK so you're alive and staying that way ... what's next? Boink - this takes some luck, but it is the Big Kahuna. Offspring. Continuity. "More Life Later!" And it doesn't get any simpler or better than this.

The rest of it - other guy, vintage Port, starship - these are all just refinements. They serve the Goal - Be Life. Carry Life. Make Life.

As you can see I much prefer *operational* dialog to *mystical*. Once an Engineer, always an Engineer. :-)
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