What is the meaning of life?Many people thought at all times on this issue.For some, the problem of the meaning of human life does not exist as such, someone sees the essence of being in the money, someone - in children, someone - to work, etc.Naturally, on the issue puzzled and great of this world: writers, philosophers, and psychologists.They dedicated this year, wrote treatises and studied the works of his predecessors, and so on. What are they talking about it?What is the meaning of life and saw the destiny of man?Let's take a look at some points of view, it may contribute to the formation of their own vision problems.
On the issue as a whole
So, what is the meaning of life?And Eastern sages and philosophers completely different times trying to find the only correct answer to this question, but in vain.Every thinking person can also face this problem, and if we are not able to find the right solution, we will try at least to speculate and little understanding of the topic.As much as possible closer to answering the question of what is the meaning of human life?To do this, you must determine for themselves the purpose, the purpose of its existence.Depending on what you want to achieve in a certain period of their way of life will change, and the meaning of human life.It is easy to understand with an example.If you are 20 years firmly decided for themselves to earn a lot of money that is put in front of such a problem, then with each successful transaction feeling that being full of meaning, will only grow.However, after 15-20 years you will see that work hard at the expense of his personal life, health, etc.That's when all these years may seem pointless, if not living, that have meaning only in part.Which in this case can be concluded?That human life must have a purpose (in this case - the meaning), which passes though.
Can you live without meaning?
If a person has no meaning in life, which means that it has no internal motivation and this makes it weak.The lack of goals does not allow to take their destiny into their own hands is to resist adversity and hardship to strive for something, etc.A man without a sense of life is easy to manage, because it does not have their opinions, ambitions, life criteria.In such cases, their desires are replaced by other people, as a result suffers from personality, do not show hidden talents and abilities.Psychologists say that if a person does not want or can not find your way, the purpose, the goal, it leads to neuroses, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, suicide.Therefore, everyone should look for meaning in their lives, even if unconsciously, to strive for something, something to wait for, etc.
What is meant by the philosophy of the meaning of life?
philosophy about the meaning of human life can tell us much, so the question was always the first place to the science and her admirers and followers.Philosophers for thousands of years have created some kind of ideals to which it was necessary to seek, some laws of existence, in which both wing answer to the eternal question.
1. If, for example, to talk about ancient philosophy, the aim being Epicurus saw pleasure in receiving, Aristotle - to achieve happiness through understanding the world and thought, Diogenes - in the quest for inner peace, in the denial of family and art.
2. On the question of the meaning of life, the philosophy of the Middle Ages gave this answer: should read the ancestral religious beliefs take time to transfer all posterity.
3. Representatives of the philosophy of 19-20 centuries, too, had their own view on the issue.Irrationalists saw the essence of being in a constant struggle with death, suffering;existentialists thought that the meaning of human life depends on him;positivists also considered this problem at all meaningless, since it is expressed linguistically.
interpretation in terms of religion
each historical epoch poses to society and challenges, the solution of which the most that either there is a direct impact on how a person understands his destiny.Since changing conditions of life, cultural and social needs, of course, that the change looks of man and all questions.However, people never lost the desire to find that unique, so to speak, the universal meaning of life, that would suit every stratum of society, for each time slot.This same desire is reflected in all religions, including Christianity, is particularly noteworthy.The problem of the meaning of human life is inseparable from Christianity considered the doctrine of the creation of the world, of God, of the Fall, of the sacrifice of Jesus for the salvation of souls.That is, all of these issues are seen on the same plane, respectively, represented the essence of being is life itself.
idea of "spiritual elite»
meaning of human life philosophy, to be exact - some of its followers still considered one interesting point of view.At certain times of widespread such views about this issue, who cultivated the idea of "intellectual elite", designed to protect humanity from degeneration by familiarizing its cultural and spiritual values.For example, Nietzsche believed that the essence of life is to constantly born geniuses, talented individuals who have elevated the simple people to their level, deprived of his senses abandonment.The same view was shared by Karl Jaspers.He was sure that the representatives of the spiritual aristocracy should be the yardstick as a model for all other people.
What says about hedonism?
founders of this doctrine - the ancient Greek philosophers - Epicurus and Aristippus.Last asserted that both physical and spiritual pleasure - for the benefit of the individual, which must be evaluated positively, respectively, displeasure - bad.And so it is desirable to enjoy than it is stronger.The teachings of Epicurus on this issue has become a household word.He said that all life is drawn to pleasure, to the same aims and anyone.However, he not only gets a sensual, physical pleasure, but also spiritual.
theory of utilitarianism
This kind of hedonism developed mainly by philosophers Bentham and Mill.First, as Epicurus believed that the meaning of life and human happiness - only to obtain pleasure and the pursuit of it and avoiding the torment and suffering.He also believed that the criterion of good can mathematically calculate the specific type of pleasure or displeasure.A composition of their balance sheet, we can find out what action will be bad what - good.Mill, who gave the name of the river, he wrote that if an action contributes to happiness, it automatically becomes positive.And not to be accused of selfishness, the philosopher said that happiness is not only the man himself, but also his associates.
objections to hedonism
Yes, those were quite a few.The essence of the objection is to ensure that the hedonists and utilitarians see the meaning of human life in the pursuit of pleasure.However, as shown by experience, the person committing the act, does not always think where it leads: to happiness or distress.Moreover, people deliberately doing things that are clearly associated with hard labor, torture, death, in order to achieve the goals that are far from personal use.Each person is unique.What is happiness for one, for another - torment.
deeply criticized Kant hedonism.He said that the happiness of which expressed hedonists - a very relative term.Each is represented differently.The meaning and value of human life, according to Kant, is the desire of each to develop a good will.The only way to achieve perfection, to fulfill a moral duty.With the will, the person will tend to those actions, which are responsible for its destiny.
meaning of human life literature Leo Tolstoy
great writer is not only thinking, but even agonized over this issue.In the end, Tolstoy came to the conclusion that the purpose of life is only in the self-improvement of the individual.He was also confident that the meaning of the existence of a single individual can not be sought separately from the others, from society as a whole.Tolstoy said that in order to live honestly, we must constantly fight, torn, confused, because calm - is despicable.That is why the negative part of the soul looking for peace, but she does not understand that the achievement of the desired associated with the loss of all that is good and good is in man.
meaning of human life in the philosophy interpreted in different ways, this was based on many factors, within a specified time.If we look at the teachings of the great writer and philosopher, like Tolstoy, then it says the following.Before you decide on the purpose of existence, it is necessary to understand what life is.He then went through all the known definition of life, but they are not satisfied with it, since it reduces everything just to the biological existence.However, a person's life, according to Tolstoy, is not possible without ethical and moral aspects.Thus, a moralist carries the essence of life in the moral sphere.After Tolstoy turned to sociology, and religion in the hope of finding one single meaning, which is to everyone, but to no avail.
What they say about this in the domestic and foreign literature?
In this area, the number of approaches to this issue and the views are no less than in philosophy.Although many writers and acted as a philosopher, talked about the eternal.
So, one of the oldest is the concept of Ecclesiastes.It talks about the vanity and insignificance of human existence.According to Ecclesiastes, life - this is nonsense, nonsense, nonsense.And being such components as labor, power, love, wealth, have no meaning.This is the same as chasing the wind.In general, he believed that at no point in human life is not.
Russian philosopher, in his monograph Kudryavtsev put forward the idea that each person fills their own sense of being.He insists only that all have seen the purpose only "high" rather than "low" (money, pleasure, etc.)
Russian thinker Dostoevsky, who constantly "figured out the" secrets of the human soul, believed thatmeaning of human life - in his morality.
meaning of life in psychology
Freud, for example, believed that the main thing in life - to be happy, to get the maximum pleasure and enjoyment.Only these things for granted, but the person who thinks about the meaning of life - the mentally ill.But his disciple, E. Fromm believed that you can not live without meaning.We must consciously reach out to all the positive and fill this existence.The exercise Frankl this concept is on the main place.According to his theory, under any circumstances in the life of a person can not see the purpose of existence.And you can find meaning in three ways: in fact, in the experience, in the presence of a certain position in life circumstances.
And whether there is actually meaning in human life?
In this article, we consider this ever present question of how the problem of meaning of human life.The philosophy on this matter does not give an answer, some options presented above.But each of us at least once, but thought about the meaningfulness of their own existence.For example, according to sociologists, approximately 70% of the world's inhabitants live in constant fear, anxiety.As it turned out, they did not look for the meaning of their existence, but simply wanted to survive.And for what?And the fussy and anxious rhythm of life - a consequence of reluctance to look into the matter at least for myself.As much as we were hiding, the problem still exists.Writers, philosophers, thinkers sought answers.If you analyze all the results, we can come to three judgments.Let's try to make sense of ourselves?
first judgment: it makes no sense and can not be
This means that any attempt to find a purpose - misleading deadlock, self-deception.This theory held by many philosophers, including Jean-Paul Sartre, who said that if we were all waiting for death to come, then life has no meaning, because all the problems will remain unresolved.Frustrated and unsatisfied in the search for truth remained as Pushkin, PA Vyazemsky, Omar Khayyam.It should be noted that the adoption of such a position is very cruel meaninglessness of life, not everyone is even able to endure it.Much in human nature is opposed to this view.On this occasion the following paragraph.
Proposition two: the meaning is, but everyone has his own
admirers of this view maintain that the meaning is, rather, it should be, so we have to come up with.This stage includes an important step - the person ceases to run from himself, he has to admit that being can not be meaningless.In this position a person more frank with herself.Well, if the question comes again and again, then it will not turn from it to dismiss or escape.Please note that if we accept such a thing as meaningless, thus we are and prove the legitimacy and right to exist that same sense.It's all good.However, the representatives of this opinion, even to recognize and accept the question, could not find a universal answer.Then everything went according to the principle "once admitted - has guessed myself."In life, there are so many ways, you can choose any of them.Schelling said that happy is he who has a goal and see the point of all life.A person with this position will try to find the meaning in all events, the events that happen to him.Some turn to material gain, someone - to success in sports, someone - a family.Now it turns out that there is in fact a universal sense, it means that all the "meaning" - what is this?A ploy that cover meaninglessness?And if you still common to each sense is, where to find it?We turn to the third point.
Judgment third
And it sounds like this: there is a sense of our existence, it even can be known, but only after you will know who it is being created.There will be a relevant question is not about what the meaning of life, and about what he is looking for it.So I lost.The logic is simple.Commits a crime, the person has lost God.And do not come up here to the meaning, again, need only to know the Creator.Even a philosopher and atheist Bertrand Russell said that if one is to exclude the existence of God, there is nothing at all to search for meaning, it will not.Bold decision for an atheist.
most common answers
If you ask a man about the meaning of his existence, he is likely to give one of the following answers.Let's look at them in more detail.
in procreation. If you so answer the question about the meaning of life, thus showing the nakedness of his soul.You live for the sake of the children?To teach them to put on their feet?And what's next?Then, when the children grow up and leave the cozy nest?You say that you teach grandchildren.A what?So they, in turn, also had no goals in life, and walked in circles?Procreation - is one of the tasks, but it is not universal.
in the work. For many people the future plans related to the career.You'll work hard, but for what?Feed the family, to dress?Yes, but this is not enough.Once realize itself?The same is not enough.Even the ancient philosophers have argued that the work will not be long to please if there is no common sense in life.
in wealth. Many believe that the accumulation of money - the main happiness in life.It becomes a passion.But to live a full life, do not need a huge treasure.It turns out to make money consistently for the money - is meaningless.Especially if the person does not understand why he wealth.Money can be a tool for the implementation of its meaning, purpose.
in existence for someone. This is more full of meaning, although similar to the point of kids.Of course, taking care of someone - it is grace, it is the right choice, but insufficient for self-realization.
What to do, how to find the answer?
If, however, the question does not give you peace of mind, the answer is to be found in himself.In this review, we briefly reviewed some of the philosophical, psychological and religious aspects.Even if you read such literature for days and examine all theories, it is not the fact that you are 100% with something agree and accept that for a guide to action.
If you decide to find the meaning of your life, then you have something do not like this state of affairs.But beware: the time comes, it will not wait until you find something.Most people trying to realize itself precisely in the above directions.This is normal.
