The meaning of life

I'm tying to pull together what I've learned about philosophy as I come to the end of my Theories of Existence paper at Victoria University. I have been looking for some sort of theme or basis to which I can attach the various things I've learned. Essentially I'm asking - what is the point of philosophy? What exactly are we trying to achieve here? This got me wondering, is it is simple as the tired old question "what is the meaning of life?" And so I've been thinking about the nature and importance of that question.

One thing that strikes me is the way a question like this feels somehow unacademic. Somehow irrational and naive. I'm not sure how much Monty Python, the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and The Simpsons have contributed to this. Nonetheless, from the small amount of reading on the topic I have done, it would seem the theme song for Monty Python's The Meaning of Life sums up the playing field quite succinctly.


Why are we here? What's life all about?
Is God really real, or is there some doubt?
Well, tonight, we're going to sort it all out,
For, tonight, it's 'The Meaning of Life'.

What's the point of all this hoax?
Is it the chicken and the egg time? Are we just yolks?
Or, perhaps, we're just one of God's little jokes.
Well, ça c'est 'The Meaning of Life'.

Is life just a game where we make up the rules
While we're searching for something to say,
Or are we just simply spiralling coils
Of self-replicating DN-- nay, nay, nay, nay, nay, nay, nay.

What is life? What is our fate?
Is there a Heaven and Hell? Do we reincarnate?
Is mankind evolving, or is it too late?
Well, tonight, here's 'The Meaning of Life'.

For millions, this 'life' is a sad vale of tears,
Sitting 'round with really nothing to say
While the scientists say we're just simply spiralling coils
Of self-replicating DN-- nay, nay, nay, nay, nay, nay, nay.

So, just why-- why are we here,
And just what-- what-- what-- what do we fear?
Well, ce soir, for a change, it will all be made clear,
For this is 'The Meaning of Life'. C'est le sens de la vie.
This is 'The Meaning of Life'.