Meaningful Lives and the Meaning of Life

Dissertation, University of Maryland, College Park (1999)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

This dissertation approaches the meaning of life issue in a way that differs from traditional philosophical approaches. I examine the question of the meaning of life as the question of how human lives can be meaningful. I begin by examining theistic and nihilistic approaches to the issue. I consider three key assumptions that constitute a framework shared by both approaches. An external meaning for life in general is a necessary condition for any individual life to have meaning. The existence of God is a necessary condition for the existence of objective values. Endless existence is a necessary condition for meaningfulness. I argue that each of these is misguided. Therefore, both approaches are misguided. ;In place of the traditional approach to the question I develop an account that treats the issue as that of how lives can be meaningful in the ordinary sense. I justify this standard of meaningfulness by demonstrating that the theistic standard is untenable. I then argue that the criteria for meaningful lives include involvement in worthwhile projects and success in such projects. After developing this account I argue that not only is fulfillment not among these criteria, but finding fulfillment in one's life is dependent upon conventional standards of meaningfulness. ;I then consider Thomas Nagel's unique brand of nihilism and contend that both premises of his argument to establish the absurdity of life---that humans cannot avoid taking their lives seriously and that our entire framework of justification can be called into question---are flawed. I further argue that even if both are true, it is not adequate to establish this conclusion. I conclude by examining Schopenhauer's pessimistic arguments. I contend that while his arguments are flawed, pessimism concerning the possibility of achieving a meaningful life is nevertheless justified due to factors including population growth, industrialization, and human hostility

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 98,386

External links

  • This entry has no external links. Add one.
Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Meaning without Fulfillment.Kirsten Egerstrom - 2018 - South African Journal of Philosophy 37 (2):193-206.
The Meaning of Life Sub Specie Aeternitatis.Iddo Landau - 2011 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 89 (4):727 - 734.
Reason, Worth, and Desire: An Essay on the Meaning of Life.Alan Strudler - 1982 - Dissertation, The University of Arizona
God, The Meaning of Life, and Meaningful Lives.Daniel J. Hill - 2021 - Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement 90:125-145.
Mindfulness Meditation and the Meaning of Life.Oren Hanner - 2024 - Mindfulness 15 (9):2372–2385.
Philosophical suicide.Byron J. Stoyles - 2012 - Think 11 (30):73-84.
Agreement and Sympathy: On Metz’s Meaning in Life.Sho Yamaguchi - 2015 - Journal of Philosophy of Life 5 (3): 66-89.

Analytics

Added to PP
2015-02-02

Downloads
0

6 months
0

Historical graph of downloads

Sorry, there are not enough data points to plot this chart.
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references