Knowledge-seeking is not necessarily a selfish act. Ideally, knowledge is something to be shared, to propagate, to enhance our species in the long term.

Most of our advancements in science, medicine, philosophy, etc. weren’t discovered in a single lifetime. It’s the culmination of hundreds of thousands of researchers, scientists, and even some laymen who got lucky and stumbled upon a discovery. And over time and many generations, we build upon the knowledge that’s already been discovered and find new and more complete knowledge that benefits our world.

There are some who are fascinated with a single topic and dedicated their lives to researching it. Then there are autodidacts (self-taught learners), like my late father, who spend their entire lives studying everything they can get their hands on. And of course, there are those who don’t care to learn and just try to exist and get by until the day they die. Plus many other flavors of knowledge-gatherers in the world.

Is any of this wrong? No; everyone is free to pursue whatever knowledge they can or want, or even a lack of it if they desire.

Is it pointless? Not really. As stated before, your knowledge can be passed on to benefit future generations. Or if you keep to yourself, then perhaps you’re learning for your own self benefit. Being better educated about your world and yourself can only serve to help you make more informed decisions in your life.

What’s the meaning of life? There’s isn’t one specific meaning. We happen to exist, and whatever you decide to dedicate your life toward is what gives you meaning. So no pressure about meeting some imaginary goal or standard of accomplishment. Do what makes you happy and what benefits those you love and care for, and you’ll carve out your own meaning in life.