Why are we here?

[Justinian]

Consider, for a second, the human race and the planet that we live on. We are obviously the most "important" species on this planet, and the only species we consider to be sentient - able to think and feel, and possessing an awareness of self. We are the only species on the planet which is not controlled entirely by instincts engrained throughout millions of years of evolution. We are animals, and yet we are something more then that, because of the simple fact that we wonder about our own identity. Does the rabbit's mind ask, "Why am I a rabbit? What is my purpose?" or does it ask, "Where will I find food"? When a rabbit is killed and eaten by a dog, is the rabbit's dying thought "why? what next?", or does it simply accept that it will die and shut off its brain? Does the dog think, "I have just taken a life", and suffer the guilt of it, or does it feel satisfied in its hunger and roll over to take a nap?

Our planet, so marvelously tailored over the course of 4.6 billion years of existence to suit life when no other of the trillions and trillions of other planets seem to be capable of it, is but a tiny part of a solar system enormous in size (so enormous we haven't even decided where it ends - it could be the sun's gravitational well which is something like 11,619,486,000,000 miles), which is in turn but a miniscule part of only a medium-sized galaxy (if our solar system was shrunken to the size of a quarter, and the Milky Way galaxy shrunk in proportion, the Milky Way would be the size of the entire continent of North America), which is finally nothing but an infinitesimal speck in the fabric of the Universe. And yet, this planet is the ONLY one that we know there is life on, and of that life, only one species of the nearly 2 million species on Earth is sentient. Take all this into account, and answer me this:

Why are we here? More specifically, why are you here?

[Chaigidel]

1 to create the supreme family of life -- machines
2 to bring about the creation of a supreme being
3 to add to the awareness of an already existing supreme being
4 to suffer, and despair
5 to live and die
6 to serve those around me
7 to wonder

those are pretty much the best options i could think of one of those probably im not sure which

[David Deas]

Isn't religion suppose to answer this? Because if it weren't for religion the answer would invariably be for no reason.

[enoch]

we are here to seek our own purposes
again and again

one of mine is to take the fake out of the past, a thankless task, and an admittedly pointless one, but mine nonetheless

this, of course, differs from the purpose I unconsciously and then consciously sought for the majority of my life, which was....... the treasures of the oft hunted and elusive (for those without poetry in their soul) covenant of the ballless

[Saiah]

Well, I believe we are simply here to find out why we're here. In short, find the meaning of life.

[enoch]

Well, I believe we are simply here to find out why we're here. In short, find the meaning of life.

deep

[Zephrelial]

I am here to complete this Life,which was caused by my birth as a result of my relationship between my mother and father.It is that simple.
And as for the meaning of Life,there is none unless you feel obliged or strive to give it some reason,which in anyway will be obscure,and a self-deception.

[Saiah]

Another one:

I think we're just here to leave an inspiring legacy to the next generations so they can be inspired to also leave an inspiring legacy for the next generation to be inspired at.

[Zephrelial]

Another one:

I think we're just here to leave an inspiring legacy to the next generations so they can be inspired to also leave an inspiring legacy for the next generation to be inspired at.

What satisfaction would one take from something he will not be able to see?
We are mortals so such ideological thoughts serve no purpose.

[turtle]

We are here to be here.

In other words:

The point to life is to live.

[Saiah]

Life is like eating delicious food, you enjoy every taste and bite, HA!

[Chaigidel]

must carry on the genes!

[Justinian]

must carry on the genes!

If the planet Earth were to simply implode into a pile of dirt, the Universe would be exactly the same. Why then is carrying on the genes important?

[Chaigidel]

well its important to the genes otherwise they wouldnt propegate themselves so thoroughly --- its of course not important in the long term unless we manage to populate other worlds

[Hells Bells]

2 million species on Earth is sentient.
Why are we here? More specifically, why are you here?

first of all, theres waay more than 2 million species on earth. second of all i am here because i think i am

If the planet Earth were to simply implode into a pile of dirt, the Universe would be exactly the same. Why then is carrying on the genes important?

it is important to us, the survival of our species. nothing will help us but us ourselves as nothing else cares, or can care.

[NaptownKnight]

Well what are we here for? God made us, but what did he want us to do? Untill I know that I assume the reason we are on this planet is to reproduce, like all other living things.

[MaximiIian]

Well, for one, we are by no means the only species to be sentient, to be capable of sensing its surroundings, acknowledging itself, and reacting abstractly. We are not even the only sapient species, capable of abstract thought and self-reflection. We are simply the species that specializes at it.
Second of all- in short, we are here to live. Our greater development over 4 billion years from basic bacteria to the dominant animal on this planet has tempered us into what we are- a being capable of a greater amount of abstract thought and self-reflection than any other. As such, we can think in more ways, more directions, and make choices to a further degree than anything else that we know of. We have the ability to philosophize, the learn and think, etc.
To put it short, we are here to live- to do with life what we want, how we want, and for what reason we want. Our humanity is what sets us free, and so we are free; free to love, to learn, to think, to work, to die, and to live.
Our purpose is to discover our purpose- the means are up to you.

[Dragosani]

i'd say we are here to reproduce but we have a choice about that, whether that's a good thing or not. so i guess all thats left is for us to figure out the universe. when we do, it'll probably end, and be replaced by something even more complicated (i forget who said that)
i wouldn't think of us as the most important species, just different.
who's to say that a dog who can eat a rabbit and feel no regret isn't better off? or a cockroach more adept at survival, whereby they can go for a week without eating, and are much more resistant to radiation? i dont believe god magically placed us here. we're lucky to have such a perfect planet, though. but i believe its just that: luck. if the dinosaurs hadn't been mostly wiped out, then we wouldn't be here.
as for me, i'm here to write novels

[Siblesz]

There's nothing special about us. Monkeys also feel guilt. We're just a little bit more aware than they. Why are we here? Blame it on chance and interplay.

[Crul]

Ahh, why are we here? What is our purpose? The ultimate question...

Well I tend to believe more in the theory of evolution then how religion explains it (which doesn't necessarily mean that I don't believe in God), so that is my explanation of why we are what we are.

Also I would like to believe that somewhere out there is life on some other planet, otherwise what is the purpose of all these planets and stars. They can't just be there to be there.

Ultimately I think our purpose is to live, evolve and reproduce just like any other species.