TED Conversations

Jason Slover

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

What is the point of human kind? Seriously, what's our ultimate goal as a people?

Feel free to be as practical or existential as you like in your answers. Religious, philosophical, political, and even humorous answers are all welcome.

Without a goal to work for as a people, are we all just going to end up going to school, getting a job, paying our taxes, watching a few movies, procreating, and then doing it all over again? What's the point of that (fun as it can be at times)?

Do we want to have peace on Earth, and then look to populate the galaxy?

Should we all try to gain some sort of Zen-style enlightenment?

Maybe the answer is evolution? Are we trying to evolve into higher beings?

What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance for your answers! :)


Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • thumb
    Nov 22 2011: I give your question an "A" for being relevant, provocative and candid. But you get a "C+" for crispness because I see two questions: 1) What is the point of humankind? and 2) What is humankind's ultimate goal? The point of something and the ultimate goal of something are not always the same. For example, the point of martial arts training is to defeat an agressor while the ultimate goal is to never find it necessary to apply those skills. Thank you Jason.
    • thumb
      Nov 22 2011: .
      Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it, and I hope I get some great responses. This is my first Ted Conversation (that I started at least).

      On a personal note, I dig the spectacles! It's a good look. :)
    • thumb
      Nov 22 2011: Suppose mankind has a goal, the question is: who/what gave mankind this goal?

      Assumption 1: mankind itself. I don't think this is valid as mankind is a too chaotic group of living entities.

      Assumption 2: any god? Well, this sounds reasonable. So I would say that if you believe in some god, you can believe that it has given mankind some goal (and too bad, we forgot about it...)
      • thumb
        Nov 22 2011: Who cares who or what gave it to us? How about living life to the fullest in every moment?

        Make no assumption...have no expectations...
        • thumb
          Nov 23 2011: I was just reasoning based on Edward's comment.

          I don't think there is a goal for mankind because personally I don't believe in god. I do believe it is good to have a goal as individual. Thus I'm not sure to want to just live the fullest in every moment if you don't care that all those moment added together do not lead to something you have taken as a goal?

          Imagine yourself in the last hour of your life, what if you find out that you have fully lived most moments, but all put together, you just have been like walking round in your life, like a tiger in a cage?
      • thumb
        Nov 23 2011: Hi Christophe,
        I believe we create our own goals in life,...as you say...we may have a goal as individuals and sometimes, we can expand that idea and share goals with other individuals.

        I believe that all the moments DO add up together and lead to something we may have chosen as our goal. I did not suggest that I don't care about the process of building on each and every moment toward some goal. I really don't care who or what gave us the power to live life to the fullest, and wherever that power comes from I appreciate it:>)

        Personally, I don't believe in a god as an individual entity. I believe God may be a term given to the energy that powers us.

        I think/feel the scenario you describe...getting to the last hour of your life and finding that you have been walking round in your life like a tiger in a cage...can be avioded by living a life that is aware, mindful and meaningful to you and the whole of humankind...what do you think about that?

        There could be a god, or not, and it doesn't change how I live my life.:>)
        • thumb
          Nov 25 2011: I agree with you.Especially about good things which can happen when goals can be hared.

          If you give meaning and improve something around you, including give this world a few children with a well set mind, or even just yourself, this is not walking round.
      • thumb
        Dec 1 2011: I agree with you too Christophe,
        We, as individuals, can create a life that is meaningful and has goals...or not. If we are "walking round... like a tiger in a cage", we are not aware enough of our "self" to be able to create a meaningful life or know what our goals are.

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.