What is our purpose here on earth?

[Angrboda]

Our purpose is the same as every other living organism on the planet.

To perpetuate the existence of our species.

Nothing more, nothing less.

That is a purpose of life, not necessarily our purpose. The use of the possessive pronoun indicates that it may be something unique to the individual, something personal, contrary to 'the purpose' which you stated.

[Catholic_Lady]

I'm interested in discussing this with you all here...

When you boil it down, humans exist for one reason only: to make more humans, either directly or indirectly. When you consider other animals, they reproduce in order to continue the lineage, possibly eat other animals, and provide food for other animals. Even at the top of the food chain, a dead animal clearly provides food. So they are part of a chain of dependencies. Humans are really no different in this respect, although the way we do this has far different impacts (a separate discussion).

If you do not have children, you still play a role. Your existence usually requires good and services from others, so you are creating demand. Your job may also enable the continuation of our species, such as being a doctor or teacher. Even if you do not have a job, you consume goods and services from people who exist, in part, to serve society.

Being an relatively new atheist, I no longer believe that we exist to glorify or serve something. We exist to make more of us.

I'd love to explore this more. Any thoughts?

If you're an atheist, then I don't see why/how you can say there is any purpose to our existence. If you personally want to live for something, then that's a purpose to you, but other than that, I don't see how you can think there is some sort of grand purpose for the existence of life.

[ApeNotKillApe]

To say that life in the general sense has a purpose in propagating itself is inaccurate, life's self perpetuation isn't a "purpose" any more than a planet's purpose is to orbit its star - that's just what it does.

[Angrboda]

If you're an atheist, then I don't see why/how you can say there is any purpose to our existence. If you personally want to live for something, then that's a purpose to you, but other than that, I don't see how you can think there is some sort of grand purpose for the existence of life.

Why does a purpose need to be a grand purpose for it to be real and meaningful? Does an evening out have to be a grand evening out to be a meaningful event?

[downbeatplumb]

My purpose is to make love to many many women....I'm failing so bad.

[Catholic_Lady]

If you're an atheist, then I don't see why/how you can say there is any purpose to our existence. If you personally want to live for something, then that's a purpose to you, but other than that, I don't see how you can think there is some sort of grand purpose for the existence of life.

Why does a purpose need to be a grand purpose for it to be real and meaningful?  Does an evening out have to be a grand evening out to be a meaningful event?

Never said it did.

[Cyberman]

If you're an atheist, then I don't see why/how you can say there is any purpose to our existence. If you personally want to live for something, then that's a purpose to you, but other than that, I don't see how you can think there is some sort of grand purpose for the existence of life.

I don't want to sound condescending, but since you're not an atheist of course you can't see these things from an atheist perspective. We are a social species; our 'purpose' is to exist as part of a social cohesive structure. I don't see why there has to be some grand purpose beyond that which we make for ourselves.

[Cyberman]

Our purpose is to figure out what our purpose is.

Ow, my brain!

[Catholic_Lady]

If you're an atheist, then I don't see why/how you can say there is any purpose to our existence. If you personally want to live for something, then that's a purpose to you, but other than that, I don't see how you can think there is some sort of grand purpose for the existence of life.

I don't want to sound condescending, but since you're not an atheist of course you can't see these things from an atheist perspective. We are a social species; our 'purpose' is to exist as part of a social cohesive structure. I don't see why there has to be some grand purpose beyond that which we make for ourselves.

What if someone wants to go off and be a hermit, away from human society all together  though? Is he not "fulfilling his purpose?"

[Cyberman]

...Yes?

He doesn't stop being a homo sapiens sapiens, a social animal species, even if he decides to live the hermit life. I'm sure we can go on all day pulling up specific exceptions to and examples fitting the model, but it's a fruitless point-scoring game. That's why I used the airquotes aroiund the word 'purpose'; it's a very loose human construct to explain - or excuse - the reasons why we do the things we do.