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What is the meaning of life?

Life is simply a term that distinguishes animate from inanimate beings. In general, a being is considered alive if it is capable of taking in nourishment and responding to stimuli. 


A meaning is properly a characteristic of words, not of beings, and thus one cannot accurately speak of lives having "meaning;" this is a category mistake in popular usage.


Many religious, philosophical, and scientific systems seek to find purpose in the lives of individuals and species. While some scientists would argue that trying to attribute purpose to the existence of living beings is a mistake, others would argue that "God does not play dice with the universe" and that our existence and purpose are not random.


Evolutionary biologists argue that the purpose of the individual is to propagate the species. Most religions believe living beings exist to fulfill divine will. Some philosophical systems such as Existentialism argue that each person must find his or her own purpose in life via a process of self-reflection and personal commitment.  

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