Think for a moment of the typical life of a person living in the Western world at this moment. They are born, are educated, get a job, find a partner, have a family, make enough money to stave off discomfort, live the constant struggle of existence, get old, weak and sad, and then die.

So, what then is the meaning of life? Why are we here? Does life signify anything, does it have a purpose? I don't know if I can answer any of those questions, and I don't know if I should even try. For years I have been following the path of apathy, finding strength in ignorance, in order to avoid these questions that drag me towards insanity. When I do face up to these, the most vital questions pertaining to the human race, I invariably come to the conclusion that life is pointless, without purpose or meaning. A stupid story without a theme or moral, signifying nothing.

Down through the ages philosophers have come to their own conclusions on the meaning of life. Some ideas are corny, some stupid, some contain a glimpse of truth, but, most importantly, none seem to agree with each other. Socrates believed that the only purpose in life was to be happy, by doing one's duty and finding the greatest good. The Epicureans said that we must find a perfect balance in order to give our lives meaning. Christian religion went for the easy answer, claiming that the reason we should do good is not because of meaning or purpose in this life, but because we must work to enter the Kingdom of God. While Eastern religions such as Hinduism were preaching that the reason for our existence is to climb the ladder to perfect 'oneness' with God, and that we will be continually re-incarnated until we reach that ideal. All these theories are trying to lead us to a similar conclusion, namely that it is not just there, but has a purpose, a meaning and a logic to it.

Personally, I can't find any such meaning to life, any reason for being, any answer to the question posed by existence.

Think for a moment of the typical life of a person living in the Western world at this moment. They are born, are educated, get a job, find a partner, have a family, make enough money to stave off discomfort, live the constant struggle of existence, get old, weak and sad, and then die.

So, what then is the meaning of life? Why are we here? Does life signify anything, does it have a purpose? I don't know if I can answer any of those questions, and I don't know if I should even try. For years I have been following the path of apathy, finding strength in ignorance, in order to avoid these questions that drag me towards insanity. When I do face up to these, the most vital questions pertaining to the human race, I invariably come to the conclusion that life is pointless, without purpose or meaning. A stupid story without a theme or moral, signifying nothing.

Down through the ages philosophers have come to their own conclusions on the meaning of life. Some ideas are corny, some stupid, some contain a glimpse of truth, but, most importantly, none seem to agree with each other. Socrates believed that the only purpose in life was to be happy, by doing one's duty and finding the greatest good. The Epicureans said that we must find a perfect balance in order to give our lives meaning. Christian religion went for the easy answer, claiming that the reason we should do good is not because of meaning or purpose in this life, but because we must work to enter the Kingdom of God. While Eastern religions such as Hinduism were preaching that the reason for our existence is to climb the ladder to perfect 'oneness' with God, and that we will be continually re-incarnated until we reach that ideal. All these theories are trying to lead us to a similar conclusion, namely that it is not just there, but has a purpose, a meaning and a logic to it.

Personally, I can't find any such meaning to life, any reason for being, any answer to the question posed by existence. Education has been the only substance of my existence so far. But what has been the point of it all? To be filled full with facts in order to vomit them back up again in death? Is this what I endured all those classes for? Classes that seemed to last hours, days, months, a constant circus ride with me as the dizzy passenger. Learning nothing but the word "eternity". Not even on a shallow level can I find any real meaning to this facet of my life. It all seems so illogical, irrelevant and purposeless.

Man killing man, people starving while others watch, rape, death: It all seems so illogical, so pointless. Life must be the complete stupidity of existence itself. Therefore we need to create artificial meaning to prop up our petty lives. We depend on religion, which answers our questions by referring to another world that may or may not exist, but provides a reason for being. Some people survive through apathy and conformity, following the herd, drifting along in a sleep-walking state, not asking these questions, donating an artificial meaning to life and sometimes giving an escape route from this idiotic "tale". Suicide is the most emphatic statement of life's pointless, meaningless trail.

The only purpose of existence left is life for life's sake, accepting that we exist and that therefore we ought to make the most of it. Seize the day, reach for the stars, eat the peach and all those other clichés spat out by optimists. We then, must ignore the fact that when we are dead nothing will ever have mattered... Although, I admit it this thought, that never leaves my mind.