PHIL 1100 : Susan WOLF
Document Summary
Wolf"s definition of meaning of life" -> answering the need or longing that people have. These are questions that arise with stress and emotions. Paradigms of what are taken to be meaningful and meaningless in our culture are really available (p. 232) Moral, intellectual paradigms of meaningful lives are mother theresa, Isolated, wasted paradigms of meaningless lives are like thoreau"s. In order to have a meaningful life, one must have two things: Active engagements: means to be gripped by something and is determined to complete it. Usually involved stress, fatigue, and danger, which makes one person feel alive. Projects of worth: something rather controversial, for it relates to a commitment to objective value. Believed that meaningfulness and our want for it are connected. Usually depends on whether they enjoy it or not; worth plays a small part. When people rely on a subjective value, they often come to find that their lives are shallow and not meaningful.
