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(Redirected from Meaning of life (philosophy))
When the question "What is the 'meaning of life'?" is asked, one of a variety of questions may be implied, such as: "Why are we here?" (or, "What is the origin of life?"[1]), "What is the nature of life (and of the universe in which we live)?",[1][3] "What is the significance of life?",3 "What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?",[4] and "What is valuable in life?"[5] Some answers have been given, deriving from scientific theories, or philosophical, theological, and spiritual explanations.[6]
While scientific approaches to the meaning of life aim to describe empirical facts about human existence, philosophers are usually more concerned about the relationship between ideas. For example, philosophers have considered such questions as: "Is the question 'What is the meaning of life?' a meaningful question?";[7] "What does the question 'What is the meaning of life?' mean?";[8] and "If there are no objective values, then is life meaningless?"[9] Some philosophical disciplines have also aimed to develop an understanding of life that explains, regardless of how we came to be here, what we should do now that we are here (such as humanism, which presents a code of conduct - ''see the ethics of humanism explained below'').
Main articles: Humanism
According to humanism the human race came to be by reproducing in a progression of unguided evolution as an integral part of nature, which is self-existing. Humanist Manifesto I Knowledge does not come from supernatural sources, rather it flows from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis preferably utilizing the scientific method: the nature of the universe is what we discern it to be. As are "values and realities", which are determined "by means of intelligent inquiry" and "are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience", that is, by critical intelligence. Humanist Manifesto III A Secular Humanist Declaration "As far as we know, the total personality is [a function] of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context."[10]
Human purpose is determined by humans, completely without supernatural influence; it is human personality (in the broadest sense) that is the purpose of man's life, and this humanism seeks to develop and fulfill: "Humanism affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity."
: ''See also: ''enlightened self-interest'' and ''common good''
The most significant thing in life (the very focus of humanism) is the human being, and by extension, the human race and the environment in which we live. The happiness of the individual is inextricably linked to the well-being of humanity as a whole, in part because we are social animals which find meaning in relationships, and because cultural progress benefits everybody who lives in that culture.
When the world improves, life in general improves, so, while the individual desires to live well and fully, humanists feel it is important to do so in a way that will enhance the well being of all. While the evolution of the human species is still (for the most part) a function of nature, the evolution of humanity is in our hands and it is our responsibility to progress it toward its highest ideals. In the same way, humanism itself is evolving, because humanists recognize that values and ideals, and therefore the meaning of life, are subject to change as our understanding improves.
Main articles: Humanist (life stance)
The original doctrine of humanism is set forth in the ''Humanist Manifesto'' and has been revised and refined in ''A Secular Humanist Declaration'', the Humanist Manifesto II, and the Humanist Manifesto III (in which humanism is referred to as a life stance).
Many people who believe in a personal God would agree that it is God "in whom we live and move and have our being" (). Although belief is also based on knowing God "through the things he has made," the decision to believe in such an authority is called the "leap of faith".
An example of how religion sets purpose can be found in the biblical story of creation in the Old Testament of the Bible (''Genesis 1:28''), in which God orders Man to "Be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth, and subdue it". This indicates that the propagation of the human race, the care and population of the earth, and the control of the earth are the first three commandments God has set for man.
Another Biblical example is given in ''Micah 6:8'', which states "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
'' presents the nature of God and the purpose of creation.[11] According to Michael Sharp, God is consciousness and the purpose of creation is to have fun (alleviate boredom). Creation exists "as a dream inside the mind of God" and we are all Sparks of the One Creator Consciousness.
The view of mysticism varies widely according to how each speaker describes it. In general the view is broadly that life is a happening, an unfolding. There is no duality, it is a nondual worldview, in which subject and object are the same, the sense of doer-ship is illusionary. This view is central to Buddhism, and is also found in certain non-dual sects of Hinduism.
"What is the meaning of life?" is a question many people ask themselves at some point during their lives, most in the context "What is the purpose of life?"4 Here are some of the life goals people choose, and some of their beliefs on what the purpose of life is:
★ ...to survive,[12] that is, to live as long as possible,[13] including pursuit of indefinite lifespan (the closest thing to immortality that is theoretically possible) through scientific means (see life extension)[14]
★ ...to evolve[15][16]
★ ...to seek happiness[17][18]
★ ...to acquire wealth[19]
★ Abiogenesis- the origins of biological life
★ Big bang
★ Cosmogeny- the origins of the universe
★ Creationism
★ Life
★ Origin of life - Evolution of life
★ Cosmos
★ Entropy
★
★ Entropy and life
★
★ Self-organization
★ Evolution
★ Evolutionary psychology
★ Gene-centered view of evolution - "the survival of the fittest" applied to genes
★ Nature
★ Life
★ Universe
★ History
★ Semiotics- relationship of life to its environment
=== What is valuable in life? ===
★ A Guide for the Perplexed
★ ''It's a Wonderful Life''
★ Quality of life
★ Common good
★ Life extension
★ Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
★ Simple living
★ Perennial philosophy - set of philosophical principles that all civilizations develop
★ World view
★ Ideology
★ Meaning of death
★ Mysticism
★ Ramesh Balsekar
★ Simulated reality
1. The Fifth Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life, Davies, Paul, , , Simon & Schuster, ,
2. The Fifth Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life, Davies, Paul, , , Simon & Schuster, ,
3.
4. Question of the Month: What Is The Meaning Of Life?
5. Education and the Meaning of Life
6. What's It All About? Philosophy and the Meaning of Life, , Julian, Baggini, Granta Books, ,
7. Wohlgennant, Rudolph. (1981). "Has the Question about the Meaning of Life any Meaning?" (Chapter 4). In E. Morscher, ed., ''Philosophie als Wissenschaft''.
8. Good and Evil, , Richard, Taylor, Macmillan Publishing Company, ,
9. Moral Vision: An Introduction to Ethics, , David, McNaughton, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, ,
10. Humanist Manifesto II
11. The Book of Light: The Nature of God, The Structure of Consciousness, and The Universe Within You, , Michael, Sharp, Avatar Publications, ,
12. Episode III: Relativism? A Jedi craves not these things
13. New Skins for Old Wine, , Stephen C., Lovatt, Universal Publishers, ,
14. Fantastic Voyage, , Ray, Kursweil, Holtzbrinck Publishers, ,
15. The Purpose of Life, , Donald, Cameron, Woodhill Publishing, ,
16. Expanding The Oneness
17. What Makes You Happy?: A Comparison of Self-reported Criteria of Happiness Between Two Cultures, , Dong Yul, Lee, Social Indicators Research,
18. [1]
19.
★ Meaningsoflife.com
★ Frequently Asked Questions about the Meaning of Life
★ Is there a purpose to human existence? Why do you human beings exist? Is our existence, our life, nothing but a random event? Do cows have a meaning or a purpose in life. Why not?
★ The Big Question: why are we here? - Richard Dawkins.
★ 42 - The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything. Information Site for a Book published in 2007 challenging Science and Religion by offering a definitive answer. - Author: Mol Smith
★ The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything ISBN 978-0-9557137-0-5 Amazon Book Catalogue
★ Einstein's credo
★ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on the ''meaning of life''
★ An Objectve Philosophy: Why We Exist? - Martin G. Walker.
★ Hedonism & Meaning of life
★ The Logic of Existential Meaning
★ A Guide for the Godless: The Secular Path to Meaning
★ A Guide for the Perplexed (excerpt included), by E.F. Schumacher
When the question "What is the 'meaning of life'?" is asked, one of a variety of questions may be implied, such as: "Why are we here?" (or, "What is the origin of life?"[1]), "What is the nature of life (and of the universe in which we live)?",[1][3] "What is the significance of life?",3 "What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?",[4] and "What is valuable in life?"[5] Some answers have been given, deriving from scientific theories, or philosophical, theological, and spiritual explanations.[6]
Philosophy of the meaning of life
While scientific approaches to the meaning of life aim to describe empirical facts about human existence, philosophers are usually more concerned about the relationship between ideas. For example, philosophers have considered such questions as: "Is the question 'What is the meaning of life?' a meaningful question?";[7] "What does the question 'What is the meaning of life?' mean?";[8] and "If there are no objective values, then is life meaningless?"[9] Some philosophical disciplines have also aimed to develop an understanding of life that explains, regardless of how we came to be here, what we should do now that we are here (such as humanism, which presents a code of conduct - ''see the ethics of humanism explained below'').
Humanist views of the meaning of life
Main articles: Humanism
According to humanism the human race came to be by reproducing in a progression of unguided evolution as an integral part of nature, which is self-existing. Humanist Manifesto I Knowledge does not come from supernatural sources, rather it flows from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis preferably utilizing the scientific method: the nature of the universe is what we discern it to be. As are "values and realities", which are determined "by means of intelligent inquiry" and "are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience", that is, by critical intelligence. Humanist Manifesto III A Secular Humanist Declaration "As far as we know, the total personality is [a function] of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context."[10]
The purpose of man's life
Human purpose is determined by humans, completely without supernatural influence; it is human personality (in the broadest sense) that is the purpose of man's life, and this humanism seeks to develop and fulfill: "Humanism affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity."
Enlightened self-interest and the common good
: ''See also: ''enlightened self-interest'' and ''common good''
The most significant thing in life (the very focus of humanism) is the human being, and by extension, the human race and the environment in which we live. The happiness of the individual is inextricably linked to the well-being of humanity as a whole, in part because we are social animals which find meaning in relationships, and because cultural progress benefits everybody who lives in that culture.
When the world improves, life in general improves, so, while the individual desires to live well and fully, humanists feel it is important to do so in a way that will enhance the well being of all. While the evolution of the human species is still (for the most part) a function of nature, the evolution of humanity is in our hands and it is our responsibility to progress it toward its highest ideals. In the same way, humanism itself is evolving, because humanists recognize that values and ideals, and therefore the meaning of life, are subject to change as our understanding improves.
Humanist doctrines and life stance
Main articles: Humanist (life stance)
The original doctrine of humanism is set forth in the ''Humanist Manifesto'' and has been revised and refined in ''A Secular Humanist Declaration'', the Humanist Manifesto II, and the Humanist Manifesto III (in which humanism is referred to as a life stance).
Theistic beliefs about the meaning of life
Relationship to God
Many people who believe in a personal God would agree that it is God "in whom we live and move and have our being" (). Although belief is also based on knowing God "through the things he has made," the decision to believe in such an authority is called the "leap of faith".
What is the purpose in one's life?
An example of how religion sets purpose can be found in the biblical story of creation in the Old Testament of the Bible (''Genesis 1:28''), in which God orders Man to "Be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth, and subdue it". This indicates that the propagation of the human race, the care and population of the earth, and the control of the earth are the first three commandments God has set for man.
Another Biblical example is given in ''Micah 6:8'', which states "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Spiritual and mystical views of the meaning of life
'' presents the nature of God and the purpose of creation.[11] According to Michael Sharp, God is consciousness and the purpose of creation is to have fun (alleviate boredom). Creation exists "as a dream inside the mind of God" and we are all Sparks of the One Creator Consciousness.
Mystical views
The view of mysticism varies widely according to how each speaker describes it. In general the view is broadly that life is a happening, an unfolding. There is no duality, it is a nondual worldview, in which subject and object are the same, the sense of doer-ship is illusionary. This view is central to Buddhism, and is also found in certain non-dual sects of Hinduism.
Popular beliefs of the purpose of life
"What is the meaning of life?" is a question many people ask themselves at some point during their lives, most in the context "What is the purpose of life?"4 Here are some of the life goals people choose, and some of their beliefs on what the purpose of life is:
...to survive
★ ...to survive,[12] that is, to live as long as possible,[13] including pursuit of indefinite lifespan (the closest thing to immortality that is theoretically possible) through scientific means (see life extension)[14]
★ ...to evolve[15][16]
...to succeed
★ ...to seek happiness[17][18]
★ ...to acquire wealth[19]
See also
What is the origin of life?
★ Abiogenesis- the origins of biological life
★ Big bang
★ Cosmogeny- the origins of the universe
★ Creationism
★ Life
★ Origin of life - Evolution of life
What is the nature of life (and of the universe in which we live)?
★ Cosmos
★ Entropy
★
★ Entropy and life
★
★ Self-organization
★ Evolution
★ Evolutionary psychology
★ Gene-centered view of evolution - "the survival of the fittest" applied to genes
★ Nature
★ Life
★ Universe
What is the significance of life?
★ History
★ Semiotics- relationship of life to its environment
=== What is valuable in life? ===
★ A Guide for the Perplexed
★ ''It's a Wonderful Life''
★ Quality of life
What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?"
★ Common good
★ Life extension
★ Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
★ Simple living
Covering more than one of the above
★ Perennial philosophy - set of philosophical principles that all civilizations develop
★ World view
Related topics
★ Ideology
★ Meaning of death
★ Mysticism
★ Ramesh Balsekar
★ Simulated reality
References
1. The Fifth Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life, Davies, Paul, , , Simon & Schuster, ,
2. The Fifth Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life, Davies, Paul, , , Simon & Schuster, ,
3.
4. Question of the Month: What Is The Meaning Of Life?
5. Education and the Meaning of Life
6. What's It All About? Philosophy and the Meaning of Life, , Julian, Baggini, Granta Books, ,
7. Wohlgennant, Rudolph. (1981). "Has the Question about the Meaning of Life any Meaning?" (Chapter 4). In E. Morscher, ed., ''Philosophie als Wissenschaft''.
8. Good and Evil, , Richard, Taylor, Macmillan Publishing Company, ,
9. Moral Vision: An Introduction to Ethics, , David, McNaughton, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, ,
10. Humanist Manifesto II
11. The Book of Light: The Nature of God, The Structure of Consciousness, and The Universe Within You, , Michael, Sharp, Avatar Publications, ,
12. Episode III: Relativism? A Jedi craves not these things
13. New Skins for Old Wine, , Stephen C., Lovatt, Universal Publishers, ,
14. Fantastic Voyage, , Ray, Kursweil, Holtzbrinck Publishers, ,
15. The Purpose of Life, , Donald, Cameron, Woodhill Publishing, ,
16. Expanding The Oneness
17. What Makes You Happy?: A Comparison of Self-reported Criteria of Happiness Between Two Cultures, , Dong Yul, Lee, Social Indicators Research,
18. [1]
19.
External links
General
★ Meaningsoflife.com
★ Frequently Asked Questions about the Meaning of Life
Scientific
★ Is there a purpose to human existence? Why do you human beings exist? Is our existence, our life, nothing but a random event? Do cows have a meaning or a purpose in life. Why not?
★ The Big Question: why are we here? - Richard Dawkins.
★ 42 - The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything. Information Site for a Book published in 2007 challenging Science and Religion by offering a definitive answer. - Author: Mol Smith
★ The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything ISBN 978-0-9557137-0-5 Amazon Book Catalogue
Philosophical
★ Einstein's credo
★ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on the ''meaning of life''
★ An Objectve Philosophy: Why We Exist? - Martin G. Walker.
★ Hedonism & Meaning of life
★ The Logic of Existential Meaning
★ A Guide for the Godless: The Secular Path to Meaning
Spiritual
★ A Guide for the Perplexed (excerpt included), by E.F. Schumacher
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