[Colofornian]

If I were alone on a desert Island my life would still have meaning. There would still be things for me to achieve and to learn. I would still have a purpose.

You make my point exactly. Note that your first impulse to defend your position is a solo one -- "alone on a desert island."

So, apparently, there's no social or ethical purpose to your life, eh?

Your self-contained "purpose" resides ONLY within you...and fits best "alone on an desert island."

Now that is truly sad.

[svcw]

You are so right Color...very sad.

[albionin]

Not at all. I think it is sad to depend on others to give your life meaning. If you mean that my life can have no meaning or purpose unless I serve others then I not only consider that wrong but evil. If I do things for others it is because I have a selfish interest. I never do anything selflessly and despise a person who does. But I think you and I would have a very different definition of what is selfish and what is selfless. That is because we are coming from a completely different metaphysics and epistemology.