Avi & Adina Ciment with apologies to Hitchhiker's Guide

I believe we're here to improve the world and therefore win our return to the lost paradise (gan eden).  We can do it!

Marc Rudel, Washington DC
Engineer, French citizen

I'm an unbeliever. That sort of means that it's impossible to define what I believe except by negatives. Specifically, I don't believe that there is a meaning of life or some point or purpose to our existence.

What I think is that there are moments of meaning, pleasure, fun, or
emotional catharsis which take place within most of life, which is rather
monotonous, unpleasant, and generally filled with stress, idiocy, and
hypocrisy. What is meaningful varies from person to person, but in my very
limited experience, here are a few:

Relationships with others, especially lovers, close friends, family members, children Helping other people. Learning something about life or yourself from someone else. Overcoming a personal obstacle or personal weakness.
Bringing pleasure to other people. Accomplishing something lasting.
The enjoyment of nature, especially the sea. Humor.
Music (in particular, Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved a Man").
Really good conversation. Throwing a really good party. The risotto at The Gallery Cafe in Philadelphia. There may be a few more, but that about covers it. Not too profound, I know. All stuff on the surface. But I think that Plato took a wrong turn in the cave.

Anyway, thanks for asking, Ivan. This has been fun!
So, I'll add one more: Philosophizing!

Chris Loizides, Philadelphia
Lawyer, Philosophy Major at Yale

My meaning of life... the $0.50 version before I get to writing longer,
has to do with a classical optimization problem (if you've ever had any
optimal controls theory, linear programming, optimization, or operations
research experience): how do we maximize happiness, for ourselves and our
families, over a long time horizon, and do the best to build a better
world in the process. I think it's very telling that Judaism doesn't
believe in proselysation (you know, converting people wholesale; I just
can't spell). 'We' believe that not everyone has to be doing it our way,
and that you can be 'saved' if you are a 'good' person doing some other
religion. L'saken olam b'malchus shakkai.("Fix the world under G-d's rule")
And the only word there that I think is [practically] to be taken literally is OLAM (the world). 

Joe Wetstein, Washington DC
Computer Systems Intelligence