Philosophy
1. When you talk about the meaning of life, which sense of the term do you use- external meaning or internal meaning?
Different concepts have been used to talk about the meaning of life. For instance, the external meaning of life has the notion that life has meaning if it brings some goodness that is external to the agent’s life. The goodness does not need to be supernatural or depend on supernatural forces. A good example of this concept may include relieving the suffering of others which can be said to be granting external meaning to a person’s life. This basically means there may be involvement of a supernatural being when it comes to external interpretation of life. The supernatural being, God, may give reward or punishment to people after death. Therefore, according to the external view of the meaning of life, the meaning of people’s lives is to accomplish God’s expectations so that they may get the final reward.
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On the other hand, the concept of the internal meaning of life has the idea that life is meaningful to the person living it if he or she gains satisfaction from everything that they do, not taking into account external or supernatural significance. Basically, the internal interpretation of the meaning of life depends on the view that it is the satisfaction and happiness that people gain from their actions that justifies their life. According to the internal view of the meaning of life, the meaning can be derived from the benefits that others get from the activities in the essence that the satisfaction and the reward of these activities has to be found within life and not from other external realms.
2. What bearing, if any, does the ephemeral nature of our existence have on the question of whether life has meaning? Does the fact that we die negate the possibility of meaning in life?
The nature of life is short-lived and people have to die. This always leaves people questioning whether there is another life after death or not. However, according to the external meaning of life, there is life after death whereby God will reward or punish people after death. There is no after-life in the internal interpretation of the meaning of life hence life ends when you die irrespective of the happiness or suffering that people gain from the actions of their life.
Therefore, the fact that we will die does not negate the possibility of the meaning of life because both the concepts support that the nature of life being short-lived. Therefore, for those who believe in external meaning, they believe life does not end after death and those who major their beliefs in internal meaning have to find satisfaction and happiness before their lives come to an end.
3. Do you agree with Dilman's suggestion that when a person questions the meaning of life it signals that one is "under-functioning;" that "whoever is able to function in life will need no theory of life?"
I agree with Dilman’s suggestion because I believe life is too short for us to spend our entire life questioning its meaning. Therefore, people are expected to find satisfaction and happiness in the actions of their lives instead of questioning the meaning of life because it will be signaling that one is “under-functioning”.
It is true that the functionality of life does not depend on the theory of life because people have different views regarding the meaning of life. Personally, I believe there is a supernatural being called God who will determine the existence of life after death and hence no need of questioning the meaning of life.
4. What does Camus mean when he says that our reaction to the absurd will be either suicide or recovery?
According to Camus, suicide is one of the most serious philosophical problems. Suicide is always facilitated by the action of a person when he or she starts to judge whether life is worth living or not. Camus believed that when a person commits suicide, he or she has already confessed that life is not worth living and this action is related to “feeling the absurd.” It is important to note that people have a different sense of meaning and purpose when it comes to life. It is the good they find in life that keeps them living.
However, the daily activities of people are influenced by various factors which sometimes make the meaningful life of some people to be pointless and absurd. Camus does not support the idea that the meaning of life revolves around two possible outcomes which include life and suicide. According to Camus, people can revolt the absurdity of life and look for happiness in it. This is because when a person commits suicide it does not necessarily mean that life has no meaning to them. On the other hand, people who feel like life is not worth living can continue to live without committing suicide.
5. What gives your life meaning?
My life purpose is what gives my life meaning. The purpose keeps evolving hence providing my life with more meaning and this is what motivates me the most. Being there for others and helping them makes my life to be more enjoyable. I am focused on reaching my destiny and that is why I keep moving towards it.
Nevertheless, positive thinking is what gives my life meaning together with other stress reduction techniques. Also, spiritual connectedness gives my life meaning. As a matter of fact, it is not a must that you must have a religion for you to be spiritually connected because spirituality goes beyond religion. Therefore, the feeling that all living creatures are interconnected gives me more purpose of living.
