Who among us has not at some point asked, what is the meaning of life?' In this extraordinary book, an eminent social scientist looks at the big picture and explores what empirical studies from diverse fields tell us about the human condition. MEANINGS OF LIFE draws together evidence from psychology, history, anthropology, and sociology, integrating copious research findings into a clear and conclusive discussion of how people attempt to make sense of their lives. In a lively and accessible style, emphasizing facts over theories, Baumeister explores why people desire meaning in their lives, how these meanings function, what forms they take, and what happens when life loses meaning. It is the most comprehensive examination of the topic to date.
This brief text assists students in understanding The Meaning of Life philosophy and thinking so they can more fully engage in useful, intelligent class dialogue and improve their understanding of...
With boxed summaries of key concepts and noteworthy examples, discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading included within each chapter, this book is the ideal introduction to life’s meaning for philosophy students coming to ...
John Dewey ( 1859–1952 ) was also one of those who specified two unique features of being a person . ... namely , “ [ a ] speech , [ b ] fire , ( c ) agriculture , [ d ] writing , ( e ) tools , and [ f ] large - scale cooperation . " .
Featuring nine new articles chosen by coeditor Steven M. Cahn, the third edition of E. D. Klemke's The Meaning of Life offers twenty-two insightful selections that explore this fascinating topic....
This book offers an inspiring exploration of current findings from the psychology of meaning in life, analysing cutting-edge research to propose practical, evidence-based applications.
Now, why appraise life from the point of view of the universe? Benatar presents several interesting arguments for doubting value judgements that are informed by a merely human perspective (2006: 82-4). First, he points out that they are ...
This volume also contains a Postscript on the historical origins and original significance of the phrase ‘the meaning of life’.
Drawing skillfully on a wealth of thinkers, writers and scientists from Augustine, Descartes, Freud and Camus, to Spinoza, Pascal, Darwin, and Wittgenstein, On the Meaning of Life breathes new vitality into one of the very biggest questions ...
According to Susan Wolf, however, much of what motivates us does not comfortably fit into this scheme. Often we act neither for our own sake nor out of duty or an impersonal concern for the world.
See e.g. Narveson, 1967 and 1973; Adams, 1972 and 1997; Bennett, 1978; Kavka, 1978; Tooley, 1983, chapter 6, and 1998; Heyd, 1992, chapter 6. Dissenting views are found in e.g., Ng, 1989 and Rachels, 1998. The recent literature is ...