"Man by Nature desires to know" said Aristotle. What if he would have said that human beings have an inquisitive mind, that human beings are delighted in finding out things? Does Aristotle really mean by Nature? Is this a deterministic view?

Does man by Nature desire to know willingly or only to alleviate a discomfort?

Is it to know the truth or just to know something that is common sense?

What about “Man by nature desires to control"?

To control its environment, Man will require certain tools, material and conceptual.

Man doesn’t desire to know but Man has no choice but to know one or two things to make its staying on the planet more favourable.

So I will say that Nature compels Man to know. For Man will always desire. Therefore we can say that by Nature Man desires. We have now landed on Freudian’s land. For the new born who desires food and warms does not  need elaborate conceptual tools but the few senses that Nature has given us. When I use the verb to desire I do not mean to reflect on the desire but the pre-reflective activity of easing a discomfort may it be emotional or substantial. We are entering a linguistic labyrinth full of contention for is desire, wish, want, need, longing, craving, aspiration?

As I am about to talk about the meaning of life, I thought I would start with Aristotle's opening of his metaphysics. Just to see how bewitching language can be and how complex a fairly straightforward quotation can become once broken down.

Many of us desire to know what the meaning of life is and quite often dogmatic answers have been the answer. I will take different roads to get there for I too want to know. I will use philosophy, science, religion and culture to find answers. The road will be hazardous and traps will be lurking at every corner. There will be many u-turns and cul de sac but I will try to get some interesting arguments.

First and foremost what is the difference between the meaning of life, the meaning of ones life and giving meaning to life?