Ch. 9: "Postscript: The Meaning of Life"

What about other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism how do they perceive meaning?

They relate life to a view of the universe that is very different from the universe of Christianity.

What do other philosophers think of "part of a larger whole" assumption?

This larger whole can be some of this-worldly reality of contributing to human progress.

What do we need to do for our life to have meaning?

We have to devote ourselves to goals or causes that we think have value and are worth devoting ourselves to.

What are some criticisms in response to the theistic meaning?

1. Response depends on belief in God, rationally contestable 2. Seems to reduce humans to object-like entities "external agent" which is morally repugnant 3. Takes an illogical leap, God has a purpose for my life, my life has meaning. Statement doesn't follow from first

What does Arthur Schopenhauer argue?

Argued that everything passes away and life is a business which does not cover its expenses.

What does Karl Marx argue about many views within contribution to human progress?

Argues that human progress which can contribute to the evolution of just economic and social-political structures.

State Hegel's argument:

Argues that the larger reality that gives an individual life meaning is the historical progress of the world toward an ever greater consciousness of freedom. "Progressive movement of history by individual participating in it."

Why does R. M Hare argues against nihilism?

By choosing or pursuing a number of goods or ways of life-family, country, religion, friends-one can give one's life meaning and value.

What does Soren Kierkegaard claims as three life styles?

Claims that the starting point in life is choosing something for which one is willing to live or die. He described the stages of life; aesthetic, ethical and religious.

What's the commitment to the ethical stage of life?

Embracing internally the rational universal moral obligation to restrain one's desire for pleasure.

What's the commitment of the religious state?

Is filled with uncertainty because it is a commitment not to a rational principle, but to a subjective relationship with a person, God, who cannot be rationally understood.

What did the great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy explained as the loss of meaning?

Living what most people would consider to be an ideal life, came to feel his life was pointless and had no meaning.

Explain the Nihilist Rejection of Meaning:

Many people believe that the ideas of being part of God's pan or of contributing to human progress no longer makes sense.

______leaves us without a compass as we struggle to find meaning in our lives.

Sartre

What does the philosopher and novelist Albert Camus argue?

That the question of the meaning of life is the only important philosophical question.

What do the logical positivists A.J. Ayer and Rudolf Carnap argue about the question of meaningless?

The only meaningful questions are factual questions whose answers can be found through sense observation.

What's the theistic response towards meaning in a larger purpose?

The purpose of human beings is to know God and be perfectly united with Him. Thus, one's life has a meaning because it fits into the plan.

What question have philosophers made?

Whether life has some larger purpose than merely living.

Nihilism:

view that there is now no longer whole or plan to which we can contribute: neither God nor the idea of progress no longer make sense. Human life is just an endless repetition of the same meaningless events that came before.