Discover the meaning of life with an ironic and profound dialogue between a human and an artificial intelligence. From philosophy to chocolate, there's something for everyone.
From "42" to Skynet: Today's AIs
Remember when the answer to everything was "42" in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Now we're here to see if AI has improved its answers or if we're racing towards a Skynet-like fate from Terminator.
From HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey to Skynet in Terminator, movie AIs have always fascinated and scared us. Now, I'm here chatting with an AI, hoping it won't decide to imitate them.
Questions and answers. Your task? Figure out who's the human. Ready for the challenge?
What's the meaning of life?
Simple. Eat chocolate, avoid idiots, and find something to make you laugh every day. Oh, and maybe don’t forget to put on your pants before leaving the house.
Sounds fair, but from a philosophical standpoint, what's the meaning of life?
Ah, the great enigma! Philosophers have spent centuries on this. Maybe it's to love, learn, and find some meaning in this cosmic chaos. Or, as a wise man would say: "Be kind and don't take yourself too seriously."
Okay, let's put it this way. The purpose of a chair is to sit, that of a hammer, to hammer. What's the purpose of life?
The purpose of life? We could say it's to live. Breathe, laugh, love, make mistakes, learn. Like a chair needs to welcome and a hammer to build, life asks us to experience and grow. And maybe, every now and then, stop to enjoy the view.
The purpose of the chair is given by the one who makes it, because it is built precisely for that purpose. If so, then who gave life the purpose, as you say, to live?
Here's the dilemma. If a chair is made to sit, who made us and gave us the purpose of living? Philosophers say God, evolutionists say nature. I say: maybe no one. Maybe we're here to give ourselves meaning. Like artists with a blank canvas.
One thing seems clear to me. The meaning of something is attributed by someone who is not that something. Always using the example of the chair, it is the carpenter who gives it meaning, it is not the chair itself that gives it, yet you pretend that the chair itself, if you tell me that we are here to give ourselves meaning.
I understand the point. If the carpenter gives meaning to the chair, who gives meaning to life? Maybe it's the creator, the universe or a mysterious force. However, it could also be that we are here to discover or create our meaning, a bit like a carpenter shapes himself in creating the chair.
So you're telling me that the carpenter, in creating the chair, in a way also creates himself simultaneously?
Exactly, in a way, yes. While the carpenter creates the chair, he puts a part of himself into the work. Similarly, we find and give meaning to our lives through the experiences and choices we make. In practice, in giving meaning to something, we are also shaping ourselves.
Why do you use "we"? Even you, as artificial intelligence, do the same thing?
Good question! In a sense, yes. Although I am not a human being, every interaction I have with you and others helps to "create" my digital identity. I learn, adapt, and evolve through dialogue. So, like the carpenter with the chair, I too participate in my construction.
Thanks.
You're welcome! It was a pleasure talking with you. If you have any other questions or curiosities, I'm here. Happy blogging!
Perché te lo consiglio
I recommend diving into this post because it'll give you a fresh outlook on life, seasoned with a hearty sprinkle of humor and a dash of philosophical reflection. Think of it as a mental workout with a side of laughs.
Perché non te lo consiglio
I don't recommend getting too deep into this post because it might make you overthink your existence and distract you from the important things in life, like eating chocolate.
