Humans are meant to attempt answering the questions of life

------------- My Position ------------- First, allow me to clarify my position. What I mean when I say that we simply *are*, is not that humanity as a whole is not going anywhere, not that human knowledge is not increasing or that we do not create and achieve goals. Indeed, it is not even that we do not attempt to answer the questions of life. It is simply that humanity is not meant to do any of these things. We just do, because our DNA and environment compel us to. Perhaps an analogy would be instructive; A rock is fashioned by random forces into a particular shape, and is washed downstream. A man finds the rock and realises it is the perfect shape for his sling. He uses the rock to hunt and kill a rabbit for his dinner. Are we to conclude from this that the rock was 'meant' to kill the rabbit? Of course not; we simply say that the man had a lucky find; that the rock, through random forces and natural processes, happened to be the right shape for the man to use. My position is the same for people. Pro can point to as many characteristics, attributes and desires that people have as she wants. But none of them go any where towards supporting the view that people are MEANT to do anything. They may attempt to do these things; they may succeed. But unless they were created with express purpose of answering the questions of life, which Pro has not demonstrated, then the resolution is unfulfilled. ----------------- Pro's argument ----------------- 'Humankind is not meaningless. If you look around, it is quite obvious that humans are meant to be born and to live and die, and sing, and dance, to answer the questions that they long for answers to' --> Pro contends that LIFE gives people meaning. But why? What special, intrinsic value is there in being alive that endows meaning? We are, at heart, simply complex biological machines; capable of many great things, certainly, but within the context of the universe utterly meaningless. Besides, none of this proves that humans are meant specifically to answer the deep 'questions of life' . Indeed, such things are moderately insignificant in the context of evolution, which we now know to be the process by which life was created. 'So, sir, you are saying that we, as a species are going nowhere, that we simply "are," until our time here is done' --> I'm unsure what you mean by 'going nowhere' here. We're heading SOMEWHERE. It might be towards self destruction, or progress. I don't believe in the afterlife, if that's what you mean. 'Plus, the statement "We simply *are* ." truly makes more implications of 'creator and the created,' than my statements ever did' --> Really? If that's the case, then I invite you to elaborate. In my experience arguments for a creator fall flat the moment they are examined in any detail. 'I can think of a road to take, other than the religious one. One frequently traveled. Some would say that is the complete opposite of Faith road. It is the scientific route. By contesting that humans are meant to attempt answering life's questions, you are entirely denouncing the work of scientists' --> Humans are tools fashioned by nature and environment; without purpose, design or meaning. We have built in us curiosity about the world, wonder at the universe. It is a consequence of this that many of the brightest of us take the path of uncovering nature's secrets. It is not because of any specially endowed meaning, it is simply the way things are.