Can a life be meaningful without friends, community or a job?

[Jordy]

Well do you think it can be? Surely there are scientists/philosophers that lived such lifes and made huge contributions to society, but those people are outliers.

 

[tree]

By coincidence, I saved this last week, to read.


"...anyone who believes life can be meaningless also assumes the importance of value. In other words, if you think life can be meaningless, then you believe that there is such a thing as value. You’re not neutral on the topic. As such, we can also increase or decrease the value of our lives with practice, effort, action, and thought."


The Secret to a Meaningful Life is Simpler Than You Think

There's more.
Look at it if you want to.

 

[Darkkin]

I work at a bookshop and scribble bad rhymes. It isn't much in terms of muchness, but it has meaning.

 

[Thinx]

This would be hard to research due to finding and getting contact with such people. Lacking data, my opinion is, it would somewhat depend on what else they had. Internally or externally. For example, a partner? Or online resources and contacts? A beautiful setting to live in, even if in material poverty? Personal resilience? A helpfully resourcing upbringing? A person or persons in the past or present who supported or inspired them? Tons of money? Ability to self sooth? Good therapy and or medication as required? An interest or hobby they love and that sustains them? Etc.

 

[Slim Jim]

Only you can decide that. There is no meaning, outside of what consciousness creates.

 

[RotanotNino]

Maybe, if you were Burgess Meredith and a nuclear war had just happened. Otherwise probably not for most of us. I have a strong asocial bent but still like to see some people sometimes.

 

[Crossbreed]

Having a fulfilling job is an ideal, but continuously striving for (and not getting) one really took time away from my family. It was just as bad as being a workaholic (but with less pay).

Once I started receiving disability, I could be more present in other areas of my life.

People act like disability is a small amount, but it was an improvement over my wife's SSI & EBT.
Communities that are more distant from business hubs tend to have a lower cost of living.

 

[Knower of nothing]

People love getting lost in the semantic labyrinth of meaning but as far as I can tell it's not a concept that makes any sense whatsoever in the context of living. The closest adjacent idea that is actually real would be value (because the idea of meaning is used as a psychological comfort and comfort is a kind of value). Value is rather simple and suggests you absolutely could theoretically live a life like that as long as it aligns with your needs. Christopher Thomas Knight is my go-to modern hermit example. He didn't end up like that out of necessity, he wanted to live that way. But do you?

 

[LuxLuca]

I can imagine a solitary life on a mountain where I manage a small farm would be meaningful for me, but I suppose it depends on what "job" means to you. Is it a working environment where you get paid or is it a responsibility.

 

[Crossbreed]

Is it a working environment where you get paid or is it a responsibility.

My engineering skill set is equal parts work & play (to me).
It can only be considered work because someone else imposes its parameters
and is looking for a particular output.

 

[NB79]

My engineering skill set is equal parts work & play (to me).
It can only be considered work because someone else imposes its parameters
and is looking for a particular output.

You are lucky Crossbreed living in the US with those social services, here in uruguay you have zero support my family even denies or doesn't know much at all about autism, and expect me even with other mental issues and autism to progress in life and be succesful. I'm trying but it can be nerve wrecking, here there is no disability support like that at all My only hope is that God helps me.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Can life be meaningful without friends? Yes. I am living proof of that.
Can life be meaningful without community? Yes. A bit more vague, but may be dependent upon what your perspective and context is regarding the word "community".
Can life be meaningful without a job? Yes.

Having said that, what would make life meaningful to you if you were absent those three things? I think everyone would have a different answer to this question. Personally, I am looking forward to retirement (no job) and building my off-the-grid, net positive energy home (no community) and focusing upon my special interests,...and I have a lot of them to keep me busy for many years.

Everyone has their own sense of what makes them happy and what is meaningful to them. For some, a "meaningful" life might be more personal,...if they are getting up in the morning excited about starting their day,...doing something they enjoy,...then that may be meaningful and fulfilling. For others, a "meaningful" life might be more "altruistic or philanthropic",...giving of one's self to benefit others. So, we have to be cautious not to put our value system upon someone else and then judge them by that standard.

 

[Judge]

I believe it certainly can when a hobby you love can become a primary way of making a living.

The good news being the bulk of your time being spent over something you love. The bad news being that it may involve your attention well past any "9 to 5" job. When socialization and romance may seldom come first.

 

[AprilR]

If you are happy life doesn't have to be meaningful.

 

[Atrapa Almas]

Well do you think it can be? Surely there are scientists/philosophers that lived such lifes and made huge contributions to society, but those people are outliers.

Arent autists outliers by definition?

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Arent autists outliers by definition?

I think many forget this,...or perhaps fight this psychologically. "Autism" has its root word, "auto" meaning "self". "Self"ism,...to be by one's self. Autistics are often members of our respective communities,...but within the context of their roles, contributions, and social activities within said communities, may be more likely to out on the "periphery". So, considering autistics as "outliers" has some accuracy.

 

[SimonSays]

Arent autists outliers by definition?

Yes. It is why I wear this symbol...

Most know this as the infinity symbol, but it also means parallel.
I live a parallel life. I am autistic. We are parallel.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

We are parallel.

Interesting. Could you elaborate on your context and perspective on this? How are autistics "parallel"? I am always interested in what you have to say.

 

[KimS]

What a great question!

I recently saw a youtube video by Einzelgänger that touched on these ideas that really struck me - Can We Be Happy Without Friends/Social Minimalism. My short summary would be that friends can offer good experiences for us, but there are other ways to get these same needs met in other ways. Additionally, a modern day social life can offer some meaning, but to reach higher levels of philosophical/religious/spiritual meaning requires an embrace of solitude. I recommend checking out Einzelgänger's other works as well.

 

[Atrapa Almas]

Yes. It is why I wear this symbol...

View attachment 78857

Most know this as the infinity symbol, but it also means parallel.
I live a parallel life. I am autistic. We are parallel.

It reminds me to those kids who play their own games surrounded by others kids, so they pretend to be in a group. Playing in parallel to them.

Thats how I feel masking, like I am there but I am not.

Also interested in your own interpretation.