The purpose of man and/or the purpose of life was a common question that ancient Greek, Indian and Chinese people frequently discussed. Three of the most famous Greek philosophers had something to say on why man was put on earth and what man was going to do while on earth. Aristotle believed in political naturalism, which stated that by nature man engages in political behavior. Under this belief, it was considered normal to create a government to take care of the needs of man. The Greeks should hire trash people to take out the trash, teachers to teach the children, and a government to set rules and punish those that break them.

The Chinese principle of Confucianism also falls under the theme of man’s morality. Confucius emphasized the need for a “system of ethnics and values that would restore social harmony and political stability.” Confucius made sure that the elders, kings, and teachers were respected because that was the correct way to act. Another principle, legalism, is the idea that one should follow the law at all times or else he will be punished. The lawmakers created a moral code of standards, which were rules that everyone had to obey. These rules were the correct way to behave and the punishment enforced when the laws were broken was far more harmful than being defiant.

The concept of avoiding desire to avoid suffering was a concept amongst the Indians and Daoist, too. The Buddhists believed in the 4 noble truths: (1) life is suffering; (2) desire causes suffering; (3) to avoid suffering, avoid desire; (4) to avoid desire, follow the Eightfold Path. Daoism also has to do with avoiding desire to avoid suffering. It states that if man searches for his path of life and does not find it, then he will suffer. The Daoists believed that the “desire for power or material wealth clouded one’s mind to truths.” The real knowledge came from engaging in meditation and self-contemplation.

So how do these philosophers define the existence of man? As a whole, people were born with a purpose that they needed to fulfill. The philosophers from Greece, India, and China decided that if people were born with dharma, then they had to avoid bad karma. Also, people were born to specialize in one thing or else be mediocre in many things. Once people grow a little bit older, they had to make the decision of letting the path of life find them, searching for truth, and engaging in self-contemplation and political behavior. People learn the difference between right and wrong, and that avoiding desire is the best way to avoid suffering. Then, once your life comes to an end, if you have fulfilled

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