Meaning of Life | Peter Wang and Lex Fridman

Lex Fridman Podcast full episode: • Peter Wang: Python and...
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GUEST BIO:
Peter Wang is the co-founder & CEO of Anaconda and one of the most impactful leaders and developers in the Python community. Also, he is a physicist and philosopher.
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[@shashipancholi]

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to share that gift with others” Heard this recently and it resonates

[@bmerlin376]

Discover the meaning of life for yourself first. Free yourself first. Then share what you discovered with others. That would be the ultimate gift. This is the only way to end all suffering and discord.

[@ronsnow402]

The pursuit of meaning is something our brains do to discover ways at achieving biological fitness functions, even when we don't realize it.

[@ronsnow402]

In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies.

[@thereignofthezero225]

Meaning of life, not meaning of your life.

[@tekannon7803]

GGGGGGGGGGreat to hear from you. I think it could use one more line. And when you've found your gift and you've found a way to share it with ohers, you must also enjoy the whole trip and not just the good parts.

[@beibei93]

To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

[@Rufio1975]

Correct!

[@keithcheng4671]

that allegedly came from Genghis Khan

[@ronsnow402]

The pursuit of meaning is something our brains do to discover ways at achieving biological fitness functions, even when we don't realize it.

[@tekannon7803]

One of my students said to me when I asked him what was his purpose in life was to say: "The purpose of my life is to enjoy my life."

[@bmerlin376]

This is true to a certain extent, but one must remember that we live in a reality of duality...lol. We all know what that means; can't always experience the sunny side.

[@tekannon7803]

@@bmerlin376 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGreat to hear from you. For myself, I think the goal of life is to get through today. Where I live its morning and if I get through today and at the end of the day before I hit the weeds, if I can say: "I'm happy with my life. Then I've made it--that's my mission statement--that's what it's all about--

[@ronsnow402]

The pursuit of meaning is something our brains do to discover ways at achieving biological fitness functions, even when we don't realize it.

[@ronsnow402]

In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies.

[@thereignofthezero225]

Meaning of life is to evolve itself and enable greater interaction amongst things in existence. Complexity is the meaning of life, because it's an expression of increasing potential.

[@VanadiuM140291]

By no means I am trying to shortcut this clip, I just wanted to capture the moment he gives the conclusion, this whole clip is worth watching it 10 times 5:01 " it could be that the purpose of our lives is to imbue as many things with "that" love" as possible.. this guy is a legend, he literally translated religions in one sentence!!

[@davidjohnzenocollins]

imbue

[@VanadiuM140291]

@@davidjohnzenocollins thank you.

[@bmerlin376]

One cannot truly love another, until they truly love themselves.

[@pingpong9656]

In Sikhism, the meaning of life is to do good deeds, so you are remembered by others for the good you did.

[@kurtloban3664]

The meaning of life is know oneself yourself then it is about the amount of pragmatic responsibility you’re willing to take on; people find meaning in responsibility. Knowing yourself allows you to know how much meaning you can take one.

[@ivtec4fun55]

I put feelings on inanimate objects all the time, it keeps me from destroying everything.

[@mr.knownothing33]

Yes me too, I think it’s normal it still falls in line with theory of mind. Sort of reminds me of when Tom Hanks was attached to the plank in cast away. And then we have the plank in ed, edd, n eddy

[@FishingWithFonu]

The meaning of life is to carry on your gene pool. This is the sole purpose of each human on earth. If you have had children you should understand this. Experiences are what makes up ourselves over generations, these experiences are passed on through our gene pool onto the next. We are all a microcosm of the macrocosm.

[@josephchang3780]

Those closing comments by Lex at the end - really great!

[@boris2997]

Your life is a gift not a question mark, if we don't know the meaning of life today chances are we will never know

[@GASmotorsports]

Incredibly articulate answer to a seemingly impossible questions.

[@ronsnow402]

The pursuit of meaning is something our brains do to discover ways at achieving biological fitness functions, even when we don't realize it.

[@ronsnow402]

In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies.

[@ronsnow402]

The pursuit of meaning is something our brains do to discover ways at achieving biological fitness functions, even when we don't realize it. In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

Life exists and naturalism can't account for it full stop. It's scientifically impossible. Only intelligent design can. The sole purpose of life is to know the creator of life, Jesus who made you solely for that relationship.

[@Jeffthedude15]

The meaning of life in present times is just trying to find actual happiness!

[@Kill-Switch000]

Keep it up, Lex

[@1p6t1gms]

I don't think Peter is that far off of something here, but I wouldn't think you should need to physically touch it either, meaning something to do with the consciousness... it would be around your personal being (all life) space, clothing, transportation, etc. probably why you still have clothing or other small articles from years ago nearby that you will not give away or dispose of, it may store that previous energy that you may or may not harmoniously resonate with on some level not understood yet. And the longer it is with you the more it "absorbs"...

[@1p6t1gms]

Memory and the feelings associated with them would be something different from this, type of "may be" phenomenon.

[@WSmith_1984]

Do atoms have memories? Of course they do, you have a memory, the hydrogen and oxygen can bond together to create water then split apart again to become their individual atoms.

[@1p6t1gms]

@@WSmith_1984 I've wondered if those atoms naturally move and bond together by forces studied by human reasoning or if they are a consciousness on their own. I would think there are forces they adhere to, but they don't necessarily think about what they are doing and then follow that pattern together based on a collective thought behind it all...?

[@bmerlin376]

The objects that one touches, are created by that individual's own energy.

[@adelinaquijano1083]

for me my life too much struggle lots of pain I suffer myself never changes I never give up and keep going

[@Sanchez981]

Keep on keeping onn.

[@ggstylz]

If a person always existed in the moment, would the meaning of life still be contemplated, or would consciousness be too preoccupied for this to occur?

[@ronsnow402]

The pursuit of meaning is something our brains do to discover ways at achieving biological fitness functions, even if we don't realize it.

[@ronsnow402]

In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies.

[@hrithikravi8117]

a person can only be completely exist in the moment when they have completely realized their meaning

[@ravichanana3148]

Good humans have an in-built quality of truth seeking and life becomes meaningful when one finds a NEW truth of nature that becomes a 'belief' for the future generation.

[@emmanuelweinman9673]

touch an object a lot and a dog can detect your scent on it. it’s not mumbojumbo that you affect everything you touch. just sitting in a room with someone, our body language affects each other. even just breathing changes the earth’s atmosphere ever so slightly by replacing oxygen to carbon dioxide.

[@adelinaquijano1083]

thanks

[@saurabhverma7366]

Immersive conversation, though I'm not sure if I could answer this question, I think the meaning of life is finding the purpose of your existence? the purpose could be serving the nature, understanding nature, Ruling the existence and being ruled by Existence, Understanding the machinery of the universe, distributing and sharing information, finding love, creating something etc etc etc; I think it is an observatory system where existence create matter so that it can be observed and vice versa, It looks like a beautiful equation of Observer and Observable; Oh well, I have a theory which I can use to explain this question but a youtube comment won't suffice;

[@turolretar]

More important than what is when

[@dougmattis9293]

Lex, I know you dug his eventual answer--loving embuement. Do you know The Little Prince (St Exupery) parable of the fox and "taming"?

[@RTL2L]

Interesting answer.

[@des7638]

Beautiful

[@sdb919]

I think he has read Vedas a little bit 😂 but nonetheless really impressive insight!

[@amitnilajkar6272]

its simple how we come out of this illusion we are yet to understand collectively

[@voutolliC22]

but then what if you continue that thought experiment and leave it to the side.. assume no love is imbued, objects are cold, space is separate, no residual physical effect is imparted. Well, the answer would still be the same!

[@mbabcock111]

The Straussian Moment by Peter Theil

[@curt685]

Feelings

[@GorilieVR]

Profound as fuc 🥲👍

[@bmerlin376]

There are many meanings to life, but it could also be argued that this is no meaning at all. Now the only core reason why you chose to incarnate as a human, was to understand the true relationship between consciousness and energy. Ultimately everything is consciousness, which, at its core, is awareness. Awareness/Consciousness/Energy/Creation/Experience.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

The meaning of life is to have a relationship with the creator who created you just for that purpose...

[@PramodRamesh]

Shouldn't we look at life as a natural phenomenon just like anything else... What is the meaning of gravity? What is the meaning of rain? What is the meaning of life? So the answer is just an explanation of the phenomenon you see in a science text book. "Meaning" is not the word to use here.

[@yobro125]

Very true. Human purpose is a philosophical debate.

[@robertphillips93]

Yes. Find the significance of life in the cosmos first -- this will relate to natural law. Then, if you can properly identify the relevant parts of your inner world and see their correspondence, you may learn to act with the requisite power and restraints -- this will give meaning and much more. Of course, a lifetime's worth of days may be insufficient for the task -- but some maintain that help is available.

[@utkpal]

why always pictures like of chakra representation of body in hinduism is used for thumbnail of such vedios ?

[@50NewEyes]

42

[@benji.B-side]

We are star dust that became love.

[@luamfernandez6031]

The meaning of life is searching for it

[@CxDubxU]

The meaning of life is to believe in Jesus

[@DIVIN3KINGDOM]

Glorify GOD by enjoying Him forever!

[@ApocalypsesandSurvival]

The meaning of life is we are a specie and race of Children This will define the Root of what you are designed as stated in the thousands of years ago, Ecclesiasticus 45:13 KJV Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and ***his/God***** (children's children perpetually).** Horses horse perpetually, Cow’s cow perpetually, Flower’s flower perpetually -Commonality Denominator - Species and Races. (children's children perpetually) - If you guessed correctly this is also a Specie and Race of Children that would be perpetual - never ending or changing consistent and constant following a blueprint of design, that is what math does. God therefore is deemed an Infinitive “Thing” an unknown math value, that would be a **math's math math's** away from us, a **paradox math that is perpetual.**

[@pureog1479]

Is it okay to hurt another person if it makes you happy?

[@Trafce]

Depending on what kind of "hurt" it is. If it's on kinky kind a pervy mutual with consent way then I confidently say Yes. If it's on sadistic, just to see other living being (in this case person) to suffer then please No. However I understand that underlying desire but I think it's one of those things no matter how bed they are if you think on them then they will find a way to manifest. Solution for this was to do discuss with people around and look for the answers, you'll be supprised how people deal with thoughts like this.

[@yobro125]

He said love not happiness. Not the same.

[@Trafce]

@@goochipoochie yes, nice point However, you're missing the second part and that is every time when you passively (even actively) hurt others, You also put good things into the world and you make people happy around you, and contribute towards a better family, neighbourhood, society etc...(even as bad example). We might even help life itself to spread to other planets and new species will come along and some will evolve and some will die ... Oh life it's amazing isn't it?

[@David-eu1ms]

No.

[@ronsnow402]

The point behind what you said is true. Human meaning is a strategy to satisfy human biological drives. It all boils down to satisfying a instinct. Even when ignoring a instinct, there is always another driving biological instinct at play driving pursuit of meaning. In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies. Some strategies are cooperative, others are exploitive.

[@justinadams5446]

It's interesting, almost funny, to see materialistic scientists struggle with this question. Just call JBP and ask him. He has the answer and can speak your language. Peter did pretty good though.

[@ronsnow402]

The pursuit of meaning is something our brains do to discover ways at achieving biological fitness functions, even when we don't realize it.

[@ronsnow402]

In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

@@ronsnow402 Our brains are not our minds. The mind is an immaterial construct that cannot be accounted for naturalisticlly.

[@ronsnow402]

@@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep If the mind is not a material cause & effect process, then how is your mind moving your physical fingers to type this physical message. Check mate.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

@@ronsnow402 You misunderstood. I made a different point entirely. The mind like information is not a material construct, just like language isn't or love. However you are wrong in assuming immaterial cannot interact with the material. Information can physically manifest an effect in reality. Look up Luc Montagnier study materializing phantom DNA in water. That however is not an assertion I made about the mind. It could very well be. We are learning about the quantum holography of DNA by Peter Gariaev who should win the Nobel Prize for such a profound discovery. But such science is at least publicly, in infancy level.

[@danfortino4540]

This man acts like he’s never thought about that before ..??!

[@analoguedragon7438]

We'll have some idea about the meaning of life once we solve two enigmas: the origin of life out of matter and the origin of human consciousness. We are nowhere near to solving these two.

[@ronsnow402]

Well no... Human meaning is a strategy to satisfy human biological drives. It all boils down to satisfying a instinct. Even when ignoring a instinct, there is always another driving biological instinct at play driving pursuit of meaning. In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies. Some strategies are cooperative, others are exploitive. Everybody makes their own meaning that they think suits them.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

We already have solved them. They just like our universe require a mind thus creator. Life is based on an immaterial concept, information. Information requires a mind at it's source. The fine tuning argument has thousands of scientific evidences at this point, and the big bang and space time theorems tell us the universe requires a first cause aka God. So science tells us the universe requires an intelligent and caring God, which fits this narrative? Well which gives us the big bang, fine tuned universe, and an intelligent caring God? Christianity, nothing else comes close. The sole purpose of life is to know the creator of life, Jesus who made you solely for that relationship.

[@amitnilajkar6272]

the most f**kdup question. Ask what human goal not what human feels or thinks human life. its what we figure out collectively than individually

[@kevindayton9757]

You are not born INTO the world... You come OUT of it. Discuss.

[@ronsnow402]

The point behind what you said is true. Human meaning is a strategy to satisfy human biological drives. It all boils down to satisfying a instinct. Even when ignoring a instinct, there is always another driving biological instinct at play driving pursuit of meaning. In the past, natural selection would have weeded you out of the gene pool if you didn't find meaning in specific survival/replication strategies. Some strategies are cooperative, others are exploitive.

[@kevindayton9757]

@@ronsnow402 Well said. Thanks Ron.

[@ronsnow402]

@@kevindayton9757 Thank you too Kevin

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

Our universe require a mind thus creator. Life is based on an immaterial concept, information. Information requires a mind at it's source. The fine tuning argument has thousands of scientific evidences at this point, and the big bang and space time theorems tell us the universe requires a first cause aka God. So science tells us the universe requires an intelligent and caring God, which fits this narrative? Well which gives us the big bang, fine tuned universe, and an intelligent caring God? Christianity, nothing else comes close. The sole purpose of life is to know the creator of life, Jesus who made you solely for that relationship. We were born into this universe not from it. We are a mind/spirit not the matter that contains it. The transmitter is not the information.

[@worldofameiso5491]

The only meaning in life is purpose...

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

The sole purpose of life is to know the creator of life, Jesus who made you solely for that relationship.

[@worldofameiso5491]

@@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep You go and live your life of fantasy, I will live in the real world thanks.

[@primalentity9824]

Damn I gotta say, I really do believe everything this mans is saying, and for one specific reason only. His name is two different slang words synonymous with "male genitals".

[@jessemccall4160]

Who named this guy!?... his 'father'="GOD'!?... not my fault!? Or did it just like it...thing & cousin it's doings 4 sure.