People do know that, just can't accept the facts because human is one of a kind with intelligence beyond animals. So it is hard to swallow, usually people who have no achievement would ask themselves this question and people who are too old to do anything else would say you either enjoy your life or you don't.

The purpose is in your hands, you make the purpose, so it is do something or nothing and there is no right or wrong because we did not choose to be born, bearing a name not by choice but once an adult with independent mind, every decision make us a different person. What do you want to leave behind when you die should be the question and that cause for a purpose.

When talk about purpose, so few comments. Does it means life don't need a purpose and asking a question knowing there won't be a convincing answer is not worthy? But want to talk about scientist's stuffs and this ain't phd enough? Or is it smart people don't ask stupid questions?

We don't need a purpose and will continue to populate, just like animals, so who says we are nothing like animals, even with intelligence, you don't give yourself a purpose, then what is getting a phd for? Trophy to signify smart people like a supreme human but have no interest in purpose.

I think the question is what is the purpose of continue living for generations, we have charts of life cycle of almost all animals including human and it only show repeating the same thing.

What is the purpose to keep repeating the live cycle? Animals does not wonder hence they live by the instinct but human have intelligence and we ask questions and find the most appropriate answers that triggered civilization.

Ordinary people are product users created by the inventor / creator and build on top of each other which may never end and that is the purpose for human in general.

As for an individual, you can live with or without a purpose because you are brought into the world as user if not contributor.

The most probable answer at this time is the GRAND design "Evolution" that took many years to evolved and became what it is today, living things will continue to evolve until they extinct, if the dinosaur still live, human won't stand a chance.

So, what triggers the beginning of life and why they strive to live is the natural instinct that created all living things. If there is a god, we stop wondering or let nature take it course but if it occur in a spontaneous natural reaction, survival of the fittest is the only rules.

Earth happens to sustain lives and only difference is reproduction method, life span in a food chain. All animals that lives today are the surviver and a part of the food chain which is their purpose, but human went beyond animal life and invented technology, our brain is an ever recording medium unlike animals that can't remember too much.

Knowing we can't derive a satisfactory answer, a lifetime is only to feel as much happiness as we can and reproduce to take care of us when we are old and bury us, if no children, the system have someone to do that. Memories is our trophy and that is all we need to know.

People who failed to take care of themselves and strayed animals are just production over run, no one can prevent from failure but human do not become homeless if they are not lazy nor allow themselves to become beggar, we have plenty of histories to learn from and don't need such example anymore.

Ordinary people who go to work, raise children and retire. The entire course of life is influenced by luck, choices and mistakes, they are the generation supplier and the majority consumer, an expectable cycle of life which serve their purpose. If you are not among the exceptional, you tends to think everything has its purpose including rapist & robber.

The police's purpose is to enforce the law but what is the purpose of the criminals? They too are looking for purpose and disregard other's, enjoy doing what they feel is right rather than think what is right and wrong.

Criminal act is a choice not a purpose, rape is acting on animal instinct, rob is to enjoy monetary wealth in the expense of others... Before you understand everything that can be defined, it could be as simple as know and don't know.

Too convenient to categorize it as grey area or that part of the brain is blank before you fill it with knowing.

Real words are harsh to the ears, I learn many valuable things about life by reading real issues in this forum from the debates. An eye opener indeed, particularly how people defend their believes and how far they willing to go with it. I remember the most is: No one is obligated to be nice, it is just a manner.

So, people who have lost their purpose are ruthless.

Animal & plant, virus and bacteria made the ecosystem by interact with other elements in Earth, that is their natural purpose in itself but human is exceptional and broke away and became cancerous.

Human development model (purpose) must change to preserve the ecosystem that continue to sustain life otherwise civilization is a disease creating harmful gases and poisonous by products.

The purpose to one individual may only be one lifetime and most probably to gain wealth and live comfortably, in terms of life on Earth or in the universe, you have to ask the creator. asking this question lead to doubt if there is god particularly when we feel insignificant and in misery or despair.

Life continue because we did not choose to be born and sexual instinct is build in for this purpose, all living things are made to populate and extinct when it failed to keep up and end of their purpose.

I think in the end, we want to know our own purpose as an individual because we grow up, learn and enjoy living, if you think you will go to the creator after death, then you let nature take its course but if not, then you have only ONE lifetime and the next minute could be the end of your purpose.

Have you wonder how many times this topic has been discussed by human of the world? So go do what you think and feel:)

The topic entitle: Does life have a purpose? not the ABILITY, are you dump?

What you have addressed are cause and consequences not the purpose of life, the question is why living things continue to live, and what is the purpose to live from an entity point of view not seeking the answer from human behavior perspective.

It is through such wonder and thinking that gave rise to innovation or do you prefer we live like animal instead.