After facing life’s inevitable hardships – loss, heartbreak, or existential crises triggered by global events or personal struggles – the profound question, “What is the meaning of life?” often emerges. Is there an inherent purpose to our existence? What truly gives life meaning? These are not new questions, but they resonate deeply in moments of uncertainty and reflection.
Commonplace answers abound, often suggesting that the meaning of life lies in the pursuit of happiness, love, passion, grand achievements, or devotion to something larger than oneself. While these notions contain elements of truth, contemporary philosophers argue they are incomplete and, in some ways, misdirected. Contrary to past skepticism, modern philosophical thought increasingly suggests that human lives can indeed be meaningful, though perhaps not in the simplistic ways often portrayed.
For much of the 20th century, academic philosophy largely sidestepped the question of life’s meaning, deeming it either nonsensical or impossible to answer. However, the last four decades have witnessed a resurgence of interest. Philosophers are now actively investigating: (1) the very nature of the question – what are we truly asking when we seek life’s meaning? and (2) the sources of meaning – what factors contribute to a meaningful human life? This renewed inquiry is dismantling long-held myths that have led many to believe in the inherent meaninglessness of existence.
Grand Cosmic Meaning vs. Personal Meaning
A crucial distinction in philosophical discussions about the meaning of life is between “the meaning of life in general” and “meaning within individual lives.” The former probes for a grand, overarching purpose to the universe or humanity as a whole. Questions like “What’s it all about?” reflect this search for a cosmic meaning, often envisioned as something vast, elusive, and perhaps only accessible to enlightened individuals.
However, the focus of contemporary philosophical inquiry has shifted towards “meaning in life” – the meaning we find or create within our own individual existences. This perspective emphasizes that regardless of whether a universal meaning exists, our personal lives can be rich with significance. Here, meaning is intrinsically linked to value – what we deem worthwhile and significant. These sources of value are not necessarily mysterious or unattainable; they are often found in the everyday fabric of our lives.
Confusion arises when these two senses of “meaning of life” are conflated. Someone might assert “life is meaningless” when referring to the universe’s lack of inherent purpose, yet simultaneously acknowledge meaning in their personal relationships and endeavors. Logically, one can believe in personal meaning while still questioning a grand cosmic design.
The Plurality of Meaning: Beyond a Single Definition
The quest for “the meaning of life” often implies a singular, monolithic answer. This notion fuels humorous interpretations – life’s meaning is 42, a dance, or some other singular concept. However, most philosophers studying meaning reject this monistic view. The use of “the” in “the meaning of life” might be misleading.
A meaningful life is not built upon a single pillar, like achieving goals or serving a greater purpose. Instead, meaning is pluralistic, composed of diverse elements. Therefore, “What is the meaning of life?” is arguably the wrong question to ask.
Philosopher Thaddeus Metz, in his seminal work Meaning in Life: An Analytic Study (2014), proposes a “family resemblance approach.” He argues that the search for meaning encompasses a cluster of interconnected ideas. Asking about meaning involves pondering: “which ends, besides personal pleasure, are inherently valuable? How do we transcend our basic animalistic nature? And what in life deserves profound respect and admiration?”
Intuitively, we grasp these meaningful elements. Philosophers identify a range of activities and experiences as sources of meaning, though they may debate their relative importance and interconnections. Commonly cited examples include loving relationships, creative endeavors, beauty appreciation, personal growth, moral actions, altruism, knowledge acquisition, transcendence, and achievement.
Meaning of Life vs. Happiness: Distinct Yet Connected
Popular culture often equates a meaningful life with a happy life. However, philosophical analysis suggests that meaningfulness and happiness, while related, are not interchangeable. A meaningful life may indeed contribute to happiness, but happiness alone does not guarantee meaning.
Consider someone experiencing constant bliss due to drug use. While they might be happy, few would describe their life as meaningful. Conversely, individuals engaged in deeply meaningful but challenging pursuits – scientists pushing boundaries, artists grappling with complex emotions – might experience considerable hardship and unhappiness during their journey.
As John Martin Fischer notes in Death, Mortality, and Meaning in Life (2019), “Meaningfulness is not the same as happiness, although we would expect a connection between them. If one’s life is meaningful, then probably the individual would be happy. But we can certainly imagine people with meaningful lives – scientists, artists, poets, philosophers, and so on – who struggle in their fields and are thus not very happy (if they are happy at all).” One can have a happy life with limited meaning, or a deeply meaningful life with significant unhappiness.
Subjectivity vs. Objectivity in Meaning
Philosophical perspectives diverge on the subjective versus objective nature of meaning. Subjectivists argue that meaning is entirely determined by individual desires and choices. A life is meaningful if someone achieves their deeply held desires or pursues what they personally deem important. In this view, there are no external standards for meaningfulness – “meaning in life is whatever you want it to be,” as the popular saying goes.
However, most philosophers studying meaning lean towards objectivism, or at least partial objectivism. They argue that meaning is not solely dependent on personal beliefs or desires. Activities like creating art, saving lives, or advancing knowledge are considered objectively meaningful. Simply believing something makes your life meaningful does not automatically confer meaning upon it. The core argument against pure subjectivism is the existence of inherently valuable things that contribute to a meaningful life, regardless of individual preferences.
Purpose and Meaning: Not Always Intertwined
The questions “What is the purpose of my life?” and “What am I here for?” are common expressions of the search for meaning. Failure to find a clear purpose can lead to feelings of meaninglessness. However, is purpose a prerequisite for a meaningful life?
While having a sense of purpose can undoubtedly be a significant source of meaning, philosophers argue that a life without a grand, overarching purpose can still be deeply meaningful. Furthermore, any purpose we find need not be externally imposed; it can arise from within.
Many experiences and activities are intrinsically meaningful, valuable in themselves, regardless of serving a larger purpose. Acquiring knowledge, acting morally, or appreciating beauty are meaningful not as means to an end, but as inherently valuable experiences. Not everything we do requires an external goal to be meaningful.
Perfectionism: A Barrier to Recognizing Meaning
A significant obstacle to finding meaning, according to philosopher Iddo Landau in Finding Meaning in an Imperfect World (2017), is “perfectionism.” Perfectionism, in this context, is the unrealistic expectation that meaningful lives must be characterized by flawlessness, extraordinary achievements, or transcendence of the ordinary.
Perfectionists often fail to recognize the inherent worth in the imperfect, the common, and the mundane. They may believe that if their city isn’t the most beautiful, it’s ugly; if they aren’t Einstein, they are foolish; if they don’t write like Shakespeare, they shouldn’t write at all. This relentless pursuit of perfection blinds them to the “good enough,” leading to dissatisfaction and a perceived lack of meaning.
Landau argues for rejecting perfectionism in our search for meaning, just as we do in other areas of life. A slightly flawed painting can still be beautiful; not being Aristotle doesn’t equate to ignorance; not winning a Nobel Prize doesn’t mean failure. If we reject perfectionism elsewhere, we should also reject it when assessing the meaningfulness of our lives.
Personal reflection can often reveal the abundance of meaning already present in our imperfect lives. Meaning can be found in relationships, contributions to others, creative pursuits, cherished memories, and the simple joys of everyday life. These meaningful elements are rarely perfect, but they are undeniably enough.
The question “what is the meaning of life” is vast and multifaceted. Philosophical inquiry reveals that meaning is not a singular, elusive concept but rather a tapestry woven from diverse sources. Meaning is accessible, attainable, and often found in the ordinary moments of our imperfect, yet precious lives.
© Lewis Vaughn 2021
