THE MEANING OF LIFE - ACCORDING TO THESE 7 GUYS

It's all quite simple, really.

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Why are we here? Where am I going? What's my purpose? Is there meaning to all this?


We ask ourselves these questions but never really have any answers. Well, these 7 dudes have come up with answers. Although, they're quite varied, so have fun piecing together what works for you.

PLATO

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In Platonism, the meaning of life is in attaining the highest form of knowledge, which is the Idea (Form) of the Good, from which all good and just things derive utility and value.

ARISTOTLE

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For Aristotle, the meaning of life is achieving the Highest Good, which is desirable for its own sake. It is its own goal. The Highest Good is not desirable for the sake of achieving some other good, and all other "goods" desirable for its sake. This involves achieving eudaemonia, usually translated as "happiness", "well-being", "flourishing", and "excellence".

ANTISTHENES

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Antisthenes, first outlined the themes of Cynicism, stating that the purpose of life is living a life of Virtue which agrees with Nature. Happiness depends upon being self-sufficient and master of one's mental attitude; suffering is the consequence of false judgments of value, which cause negative emotions and a concomitant vicious character.

ZENO OF CITIUM

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Zeno of Citium established stoicism which teaches that living according to reason and virtue is to be in harmony with the universe's divine order, entailed by one's recognition of the universal logos, or reason, an essential value of all people. The meaning of life is "freedom from suffering" through apatheia, that is, being objective and having "clear judgement", not indifference.

WILLIAM JAMES

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James was a pragmatist. Pragmatic philosophers suggest that the practical, useful understanding of life is more important than searching for an impractical abstract truth about life. William James argued that truth could be made, but not sought. To a pragmatist, the meaning of life is discoverable only via experience.

GORGIAS

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Gorgias is perhaps the first to consider the Nihilistic belief. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism, which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.

FRIEDRICH NITZCHE

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Nitzche's philosophy lied with existentialism. According to existentialism, each man and each woman creates the essence (meaning) of their life; life is not determined by a supernatural god or an earthly authority, one is free. As such, one's ethical prime directives are action, freedom, and decision, thus, existentialism opposes rationalism and positivism. In seeking meaning to life, the existentialist looks to where people find meaning in life, in course of which using only reason as a source of meaning is insufficient; this gives rise to the emotions of anxiety and dread, felt in considering one's free will, and the concomitant awareness of death.