Fabiano Caruana, Chess Is Meaningless [video]

Many people also have the attitude that the meaning of life is to be productive. But often they miss life's point entirely.

Usefulness to society is only meaningful if a society is going somewhere. Modern societies don't have any collective goals, they are just drifting agglomerations of individuals, most of them intent on their own enrichment or pleasure. So there is nothing for talented individuals to contribute to, and they may as well channel their energies into following their own curiosity.

I like the book Man's Search for Meaning.

Per that philosophy, what carries meaning is helping others. The builds the deepest friendships. If you don't have a way to do that -- all needs are met, and people don't need help -- playing a game of Settlers or Chess is a form a socialization and helpful.

But overall, if you can work together towards some meaningful cause, that builds something deeper.

Pick one of these:

* OpenAI just went from "Let's prevent Skynet" to "Let's build Skynet for power and profit"

* Health. Pick one.

* Education.

* Food insecurity

* War on Ukraine

...

Depending on your position and personality, either try to fix it, or try to fix some small element of it. Something like "education" can be anything from tutoring one child in your neighborhood to trying to build a worldwide free online university. "Health" can be anything from organizing a sports soccer club for kids in your community to trying to cure cancer.

That's important.

Other corners:

* Causes: Abortion (saving babies versus women's rights). Gun control (2nd amendment/rule-of-law versus saving lives). Religion. vi/emacs/MS Code. Some of these appear to have a clear right/wrong (but some would argue we have no objective way to tell which is which), some do not, but if you get drawn in, these will simply suck your soul and you'll do no good. It's mostly just destructive struggle.

* Personal gain: Again, empty void.

Those are worse than chess.

> So what is important then?

Nothing. Importance and meaning are human constructs. What is important/meaningful to each of us is simply what _feels_ important/meaningful to us. There's no extrinsic measure of importance/meaning, although others will continually try to tell you there is.

It's true though that for many (most?) people relationships feel meaningful, so it's a good bet to do things that build those if you're not sure.

You are looking at the wrong end of the stick. Things are not intrinsically meaningful, we are the ones giving and defining meaning. And a subset of meanings can be shared with your culture. Only that, but all of that.

So, take your pick, or follow what others think.

It's sometimes long-term entertainment as well. László Polgár married and raised 3 girls to be chess grandmasters. And we're still waiting for season 2: a father to raise 3 daughters to become heavy machinery operators.