What is life and what is its meaning?

Perhaps, one of the most significant philosophical questions in the history of all mankind, which asked absolutely each of us - "what is the meaning of life." No one can give an exact answer to it, and this is not taught at school. But sometimes you want to know exactly what we are living for and what we should do.

Usually people start asking it from their teenage years. Children do not care about the issues of such a plan. For them, the main thing is to know where mom and dad, house, favorite toy. Parents can answer all such questions, and there are no problems.

But as you grow older, more and more often in the head there are various topics, which often people think about alone. On the question of what life is, everyone will answer in their own way. And each person must decide on his own with such questions, because from this in the future will depend on their own position, and goals, and ways to achieve them, that is, the life path.

Life is...

Agree that it is difficult to answer unequivocally. It can be said in different ways, from different perspectives. Someone will understand this question literally and answer that this is a physiological existence of a person or an animal. Physicists mean by the term "life" the physical movement of matter from one form of existence to another.

These are all correct opinions, but often, asking about what life is, the interlocutor wants to know the life position of the person being interviewed. That is, it is necessary to give a non-scientific definition, but a philosophical understanding of the issue. And here the essence of human thinking is already revealed.

And throughout life, the answer to the question "what is life" can differ from one and the same person. This is due to the fact that every year any of us develops, learns something, becomes wiser.

It is possible to trace the basic tendencies in understanding the meaning of human life in the context of different age groups. Consider them without indicating the numerical characteristics, because each grows up in his own way:

1. Childhood, youth.

2. Transitional age, the emergence of an adult.

3. Accumulation of life experience.

4. Physical aging, gaining wisdom.

The first period: childhood, youth

As already mentioned above, the answer to the question about what life is, at this age is very difficult to give. In this period, it all comes down to the fact that the child is a sponge that absorbs all the information around. It can be different and, accordingly, will have a different impact on its formation in the future.

Any philosophical questions about the meaning of life do not even arise at such a young age. The main thing is that my mother and father be healthy, protect, "peace in the world." The fewer years a child, the more frankly he is, the emotions are more true.

Second phase

The next period is when a little man was still yesterday, and already today the enumerating teenager begins to ask many questions, overestimate the good and evil.

Since childhood, from cartoons, fairy tales, from parents or teachers, everyone has heard about what things can be done, and what is forbidden, what is true and false. But already about 14-17 years, all these things involuntarily reinterpreted by each emerging personality.

And already the question "what is a person's life" does not seem so distant. Yes, every teenager thinks about this constantly. At this stage, the right support from the elders - parents, relatives and friends is very important.

Cognition of the world through negation

First of all, there are signs that a person thinks not only about himself, but also about the society in which he lives. In general, teenagers find the meaning of life in learning well, getting a job well paid, which will bring not only money, but also pleasure, to start a family, to take care of their loved ones.

A person learns not to take absolutely all facts as truth, but tries to put everything in doubt to find their evidence.

What is wrong with this understanding of what is the essence of life? Absolutely nothing. Of course, there is a share of naivety and belief in universal good, but where at this age without it?

In adolescents who have been somehow strangled in care, custody, or something else, they can begin to show a touch of selfishness. Someone starts to consider that the main thing in life is to achieve success by any means, the main thing is not to be hungry, etc. Of course, such people are mistaken, but the blame for such thoughts can be honestly placed on parents who could not bring up in The necessary qualities of a kind and sympathetic person.

Stage of accumulation of experience

To it it is possible to carry the period of life when the person became the adult and bears full responsibility for all his actions.

By this age, everyone can already accurately say for themselves what the essence of a person's life is. The answer to this question lies in the life path that has been passed by man. Basically by this time people are beginning to strive to have a family, to achieve material success.

Men often believe that the meaning of their lives is reduced to the saying "to build a house, raise a son, plant a tree." That is, to create your own family, to become financially secure and to continue your family. Women at this age are ready to devote their entire lives to the home and children.

In addition, in adulthood, people already have a certain amount of knowledge and experience behind their shoulders, share it with their loved ones. But there is still a desire to learn something new, to strive for new heights. Many begin to achieve serious progress ahead of the career ladder.

Fourth stage

The final stage, when a person rethinks his life, tasks, goals achieved - this is the period of completion of a working career, retirement. At different people it occurs or happens at various age, but to be guided it is possible for age is more senior 50-55 years.

By this time, the children are already growing, material wealth has been accumulated. What to do next? Given that physical labor at this age is difficult to achieve the same results as in youth, people prefer to pay more attention to mental work.

Analyzing his life, different situations, a person for himself can accurately determine what life is and what is death. Having achieved all or trying to do everything possible, a person of advanced age basically thinks about conveying his wisdom to children and grandchildren. He thinks less about himself and is more worried about his relatives.

Death is already perceived not as something terrible and distant, but as an ordinary stage, ending life, pacification. Somebody wants to do everything that he has not done before, but he really wanted to.

You need to learn to live properly

It is very important to learn from such people, to adopt their life experience. After all, they can accurately say what is the place in life, and what not to do. And the less the age of their interlocutor, the more difficult it is for them to understand them, but it is always worth listening to, because after years everyone on their personal experience will be able to confirm everything said by senior mentors.

Mankind lives cyclically, and the saying that everything new is a well-forgotten old is true. The elderly people did not hear about everything on the radio, but they experienced it on personal experience, touched everything with their own hand and tasted. It is this circumstance that makes their knowledge invaluable. The main meaning of life, as people of this age generally consider, is the upbringing of a new generation, the exchange of information, the transfer of experience.

Final words

What is the essence and meaning of life, each person decides for himself. Opinion on this subject can change many times at different stages of life. This is due to the gradual accumulation of life experience.

Often, all opinions are focused on creating, protecting their family, doing good deeds, helping people. Someone wants to help all of humanity, others want to become famous. Everyone has a purpose in life.

What is your meaning in life? Do not hurry with the answer, think, write it on the sheet and put the paper in the box. In 10 years, find this leaf and compare your opinions.