Meaning of Life | John Danaher and Lex Fridman 

"It was hard to win the battle for survival but it's 10x harder to win the battle for meaning" John Danaher

Truly one of the best answers Lex has received for this question.

I’ve honestly watching so many podcasts and videos about this topic and no one has answered this better than John Danaher. Excellent job in explaining the connection between survival and meaning! I never thought of it like that. True legends, you two.

I would love it if John wrote stuff, literally anything. He's made it clear before why he left philosophy and academia, so it's probably a very private endeavour for him, but I'd love it if he could share more of these thoughts.

“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer”. - Joseph Campbell

This was beautiful. Danaher is a truely enlightened being.

It's always been my opinion that physical pursuits mold the greatest philosophers. This man is testament to that idea.

Lex filled the void that was JRE.

The meaning of life is to wear your rush guard everywhere

This guy has a PHD in Epistemology (Philosophy). This is the right guy to ask haha.

“It’s hard to win the battle for survival but it’s not 10x harder to win the battle for meaning” Wow!

When there is nothing more to eat, it eats itself.

Wow, watched this 10 times and still 😳 at the lost of words. Well played and I will continue to watch these videos

Thanks to both of you guys!

That’s the coolest thing Iv seen on the tube for a while

Danaher the most underrated philosopher of our times‼️

I agree… what a great interview, Lex has had on many great minds but this man’s introspective really touched me in a profound way.. thx Lex and John

what an exeptional human being is John Danher. I could listen him for hours. Always meaningful answers

One of the best answers to meaning of life ever, thank you to this podcast.

Thats one of the best answer i have ever come across regarding the meaning of life. This guy is the common man's philosopher. Made hell a lot of sense than any philosophers or psychologists answers to this question.

meaning is implicit to life and is instinctual like good music. You know it when you feel it

Thank you so so much for these videos , there's nothing more enjoyable than to hear two intellectual people have meaningful conversations! I'm subing.

John Danaher is a living legend Stoic Philosopher.

Brilliant conversation ⭐️

Great answer ! Thanx lex for the great content

When thinking of the question “what is the meaning to life” realise it is Life who is asking the question. In the words of Viktor E Frankl “Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible”

Excellent discussion 👍

This clip, and the contemplation on it that followed for the next week, literally changed core beliefs in my belief system and, by proxy, my entire outlook on life. Thank you for this!

What a powerful answer !

I could listen to this guy talk all day.

Brilliant man - I’m not sure I’d say survival if guaranteed when every human is born with a death sentence, disease/violence/accidents kill many during their youth or early adulthood, but I get the point: we are much less vulnerable and more secure than in the past. Danaher strikes me as an existentialist: life’s meaning is what you assign it…

Lex,brother,make a playlist of these!

Wonderful video literally

The philosopher coach. I had one in H.S. John Small, RIP,

What an answer 🙏

Amazing John Danaher!

"The minute mankind's existence became more or less guaranteed, the problem shifted from survival to meaning."

That was a beautifully circular conversation. From the idea that a human alone and without technology is at the bottom of the food chain, but in a group with tools they're at the top, to the idea that a Meaningful life requires one to be part of a community larger than ones self. That makes perfect Evolutionary sense, we SHOULD feel a compulsion to be part of a community of tool developers !

First time hearing this perspective. nice,

We need certainty,uncertainty,connection,meaning,growth,and contribution to something greater than self.

This man is Fascinating , He should become a Guru for life , like other yogis who speak about everything in this world , Huge Respect for John Danaher.

What an articulate gem of a person. Best answer I have heard till now. Much respect Sir John Danaher.

The meaning of life is to get to a position where each person can choose when their life ends.

I enjoy his measured, thoughtful way of speaking

Lex asks John Danaher: What do you think is the meaning we have on this spinning ball? John: as humans, our existence is guaranteed. Now our mind shifts from survival to meaning. It is hard to win the survival battle, but it can be 10 times harder to win the battle for meaning. What I find the best people do is take charge of their lives as a form of authorship. They look at life as a tale to be written. We all have to write out own story.

To learn and pass the knowledge.

I really liked this response.

We clearly think too much. It's quite simple, the meaning of life is to create life. We're made for it... If you can't create life, create a good life for yourself and others around you by giving away good things, good love, good work, good friendship... In this 'modern world', our ego is our worst enemy, comparing yourself to others isn't healthy, thinking about the past and worrying constantly about our future make people depressed and anxious and some insane to the point of committing suicide. Simplify your life, try to make good things for you and around you, and your life's meaning will be fulfilled.

This deserves 5 million views instead of 5,000. Amazing answer to the meaning of life.

Meaning of life, to assist entropy creatively

This is about as good an answer as you could ever receive for "what is the meaning of life?".

Holy shit. Food for thought

Solid answer but the game isn’t over. We went from the top of the food chain to self destruction capabilities along with a better understanding of existential risks. We have some working on many aspects that would greatly increase our long term chances, but we are a long ways from that reality.

Call listen to these two all day

Great job lex. John is a true genius.

I recomend 2 books by the philosepher David Benatar. He is pessimistisch concerning questions around meaning but i think he got it right: 'The human predicament and 'Better to never have been.

JD needs his own channel ASAP!

Very cool and thoughtful answer. That said I’m surprised a man of his intellect would fail to address the role that religion and art have long played in our existence - long before our survival was more or less guaranteed.

The purpose of life is happiness. Yea! That’s it happy happy joy joy.

fbi agent asks serial killer the meaning of life

All I want is reassurance that we can see ourselves out from existence without repercussions.

The purpose of life is to live a life on purpose.

It's doing what you want.

People's lives are essentially in danger even today, but the risks are largely hidden away from us in some weird set of shell games. It used to be easy to understand risk, nowadays people need a PhD to comprehend the various systems and what to do about them... I wonder if our survival instinct is perhaps driving AI and robotics as a way to hedge survival.

The meaning of life is to live ✌

it's beyond and certainly above man's mere intellect intertwining in the dream world, that which scientists know neither why we fall unconscious at sleep nor what being is while unconscious and dream.

Wow was that Jordan Peterson or John Danaher... powerful, simple and brilliant. Wonderful answer to an impossible question

Finding meaning in the safest world humanity has ever known? It is clearly a luxury some cannot find an answer to. Selfishness is not the answer. Greed is not the answer. Appreciation of what humans accomplished, and sharing that seems a reasonable place to start. Peace.

Anyone knows the name of the painting on the video's miniature?

I love this guy. He sounds like a secular existentialist that seems to believe we create meaning by the choices we make. For John these choices entail living in a way that helps other's and allows you to partake in a community. However if Nietzsche is correct there is not ultimate meaning if there is no God. No matter how we live or how long the universe survives eventually time will swallow it all, and nothing will be remembered. However if God exists and there is an afterlife our actions will echo in eternity. Whatever you believe one thing we can likely agree on.....JD is a great guy.

In order to truly know life you must know and appreciate death. Someone who has almost lost their life or who has died and returned. That's who knows and appreciates life.

What an amazing magician

one thought i have about the "afterlife" or "incarnation" of our individual consciousness, is that IF we do live in an eternal universe/multiverse, then it is an inevitability that we will exist again...

What a fucking answer John!

Unreal

Well done! I think John Danaher answered that hard question better than Sam Harris did.

👏 bravo

Some days I believe in the ever present infinite intensity of the universe and other days pure indifference

This is a fascinating take on meaning of life. 🙂👍🏽

This is one of the best things I've ever heard

Smart fellow

Sage of the ages

John coming through on this podcast with a MENSA level IQ, easily.

Meaning of Life - Spiritual beings living a temporary physical experience to grow their spiritual awareness.

Wow!

The answer is simple, this life is a big test,this world is fine tuned cuz it has a creator,this creator expects you to do good and will reward you for it,treat people well,do good,feed the poor,visit the sick,be kind,fight evil,those things will feel extremely wholesome,cuz That's what you are supposed to be doing.

Loved how Danaher basically called BS on Hunter Thompson's quote without taking a personal shot at him. It's easy to be a reckless dickhead if your physical survival is not an issue. As far as his suicide, I'm agnostic on it, I don't look at it as good, bad, or heroic, for him or anybody else who chooses that path. I do think you owe it to your family to do it in a fashion to spare them the most possible grief, but beyond that, it's your life. I ascribe to something similar to what Danaher is essentially saying, which is this; Become competent at something, then try to contribute to society if you are able. If not, then at least try not to be an asshole and stay out of everybody's way. That, to me, is at least the "purpose" of life, if not the "meaning". Everything else beyond that is gravy, if you can't do the first step successfully, there will be no "gravy".

what is the riddle of steel? i was just thinking conan quotes

This is the best ever meaning of life answer to me!

Amazing answer. A side note: if Danaher believes there's a possibility of an afterlife you can say he's agnostic instead of atheist.

"mean"-ing, or how to rise above the statistical mean, hence competition....in the end with ourselves

8:48 damn

*I'll save you time* The question of meaning has been convoluted. The meaning of life is simple.... we all know it instinctualy ..... To Be.... nothing more nothing less.

Mr John Danaher should write a book....

But I do agree with his over all answer

What a human

We all souls came from nothing. , And there we will remain forever. Try to be good in between.

God is inside ❤

Seems to so clearly point to intelligent design, the fact that we humans are so different, separated from the animal kingdom.

Sometimes I forget that Danaher has a Master’s in philosophy.