I remember my first day to attend this Philosophy class; the professor asked the class what the meaning of life was which I had no solid answer to the question. In my mind, I thought that what is essential for the people and they live to acquire it was the meaning of life. Again, after one semester of studying it, I was asked the same question. The question is, what is the meaning of life?
Robert Nozick, a Pellegrino University Professor at Harvard University, says in his article "Philosophy and the Meaning of Life." In the book "The Meaning of Life," Nozick says,
“Could any formula answer the question satisfactorily? "The meaning of life is to seek union with God" – oh yeah, that one. "A meaningful life is a full and productive life" – sure. "The purpose of life is to pursue the task of giving meaning to life” – thanks a lot. “The meaning of life is love” – yawn. “The meaning of life is spiritual perfection” – the upward and onward trip. “The meaning of life is getting off the wheel of life and becoming annihilated” – no thanks.” (198)
Anytime an individual tries to answer the question, the reply often does not explicitly define the actual meaning of life. Individuals define life depending on their age, origin, and beliefs. For instance, if the same question of what is the meaning of life is asked to an old and poor man who lives in a village in Asia, the answer that will be given will be different from another person in a different region. In the case of the old man, his answer is to have enough food for consumption. Another time, if the same question is asked to a woman who has a child in a different country could answer that the meaning of life is taking care and raising her child to be a good person in the future. Not even with an ordinary people, philosophers who devote their lives to seeking it, are still not able to give a satisfying answer for the majority of people. Therefore, based on Nozick, we would never have the best answer to the meaning of life.
Besides, based on www.npr.org website, there are nearly 70% of the global populations who believe in religion. Therefore, when a person is posed with a question about the meaning of life, the likely answer could be related to or derived from religion. Majority of the population believe that religion could answer all the questions of life. However, Nozick thinks that God, if there is, cannot give the meaning of life to the people even if he has a plan. It is called God's plan for people. Nozick says that the concern now is not with the question of whether there is a God. Later he states that, if indeed there is God, he has a purpose for everyone. Furthermore, he continues to say that if there is and he has a meaning for us, there is no way a person can discover this purpose of whether God reveals his intention to people. Later, he says that instead, our question is how all this, would succeed in providing meaning for people's lives (199). To answer this question transparently, that is, even if we believe in God and do the things which He wants us to do, still puts us in a dilemma whether it gives us the meaning of life. Even if God has plans for our lives, and we are all acting to fulfill his plans, we still have unanswered questions about whether we have all achieve our self-fulfillment. In other words, "How can playing a role in God's plan give one's life meaning?" (Nozick 200) The question is left hanging because not everyone in this world is contented with their role in the society. For instance, a man who spends the whole of his life doing foot massage to his customers is better off compared to the one who robs people off their properties. The foot massage person is best in the job and strives to do better because it is the one providing the basic needs for him. Foot massage is not a bad job. When doing the job, he uses his hands to message other people's feet for hours every day. At times, the feet are put on his shoulder, and sometimes he has to smile and be friendly with his clients especially those who are rough. Do you think whether he minds his job of massaging peoples feet being the most valuable job in the world? Do you think that he believes his role is more meaningful and valuable than being a professor at the university? No, he does not. Most people do any job to be able to sustain themselves and their families. Furthermore, they always miss the chance of working in their preferred field or profession. Indeed, this implies that God's plan, if there is, of giving the roles for people in this life cannot provide them with the meaning of life. It is because not everyone is happy with their roles in the society. In other words, the massage man could tell God that if being a massage man is the meaning of his life, he would not want that meaning but would prefer a different one. The person would prefer a more comfortable life with a job which is more valuable in the society. In this case, God's plan should be respected. When one is born, the person is given a meaning of life which they are to live. The people should be happy with the meaning they are given and work on it to perfection. The massage man should believe in God and keep to the plan of God. However, will he be happy doing massage until when he dies? No, he would struggle every day to find something better to do. Therefore, God cannot give us the meaning. The meaning of our lives has to come from ourselves. If the meaning of life comes from God, meaning outside ourselves, it implies that it can happen to anyone else.
That is to say; religion cannot answer the meaning of life. It is because even if we follow God's plan, it does not mean that we can achieve the meaning of life. We also have not found the most satisfying answer for majority people because whatever the answer is, we still think it is not enough. Therefore, there is no meaning of life, and the question is still hanging in many people's mind.
Susan Wolf, a professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, believes that meaningful lives are lives of active engagement in the projects which are worth doing (205). Wolf has a very optimistic view compared to other philosophers. She thinks life has a meaning if we actively practice the valuable things for others. To make it clear, a person is "active engagement" when he is "gripped, excited, involved" in doing something (Wolf 205). Also, if a person is passionate about doing something even if the job contains stress, anger or sorrow, he is in the stage of "active engagement" because he feels alive. Wolf also mentions that if a person is not actively engaged, the individual feels bored. If the person feels bored when he is not actively engaged, his life has no meaning. With Wolf doctrine on active engagement in doing valuable things, it is the core practice of achieving the meaning of life. Another part of the claim is the projects of worth which means doing things useful to the society. She says that a meaningful life must entail a project of quality. She also expects it to be more controversial, for the phrase hints of a commitment to some objective value (206). Life is more meaningful when one actively does the things that are of most importance.
However, I do not agree with the claim that people have the meaning of their life if they actively engage in something. For instance, when an individual is sick and is wealthy n Furthermore, the person has the compassion to help other people. 70% of the person's assets are given to charity. However, the person does not actively participate in many things. The hired people are the ones mandated to do the charity on behalf of the individual. In this case, the sick person meets the stage of "projects of worth" because the person put the money out to support many people. The sick person is also compassionate about the activities being done. However, the individual is not really "actively" doing the job. So, based on Wolf doctrine, such an individual's life has no meaning and has no reason to live. I am not in agreement with that. I think and believe that as long as the person is happy and enjoys helping others, the person has a meaning of life. Many people's lives have been made better because of the individual's money, which the person worked in the entire life.
Besides, I am hesitating with the claims that doing things in the "projects of worth" brings the meaning of life. I agree that many people believe that their lives are more valuable and are fulfilled when they do useful things which can support and have an influence on other people's lives. For instance, a professor in the university could feel his breath has more meaning than a housewife based on this doctrine. It is because the professor supports many students to achieve their goals in life whereas a housewife's job is merely doing the house chores and taking care of the children. However, I think this claim is just an iceberg in the sea. I believe that the meaning of life depends on the attitude towards an individual’s life. If we only look from the outside perspective of the case basing the argument on the measure of the society, the professor could have more value compared to the housewife. However, if the housewife does not do her job well of taking care and raising a good kid, the kid could never have a chance to get to the university to meet the same professor. If the child is not raised up well, the probability of being a bad person in the future in the society is high. So, if that kid could not meet the professor, how can that professor do his job of teaching a person to be successful in the society? What I meant is that everyone has their roles in the community, and they are also important. Furthermore, their positions influence others directly or indirectly; they are all essential. Therefore, we cannot base on what people are doing and assume that their lives are meaningful or not. The meaning of life should be based on the individual's thought and feeling. It should not be standard for everyone in life.
For instance, President Donald Trump is a billionaire. I cannot say he has enough money for himself, but I can see that gaining more money is not his main purpose for running to be the U.S president. I think his purpose of being a U.S president is putting his name as the president of the greatest nation in the world in history. In other words, when he already has money, all he wants is his self-fulfillment which is the most powerful person in the world. I do not criticize whether it is right or wrong. Rather, I want to talk about doing things in the “projects worth” can bring the meaning of life to oneself. I assume that is what president Trump wants for his life.
Before, the meaning of my life was making my mom happy because I love her so much. I studied and worked hard which I thought it could bring my mom a happy and better life. All the things I did were just for her. One day, she passed away. I felt empty. Sometimes I thought of killing myself. I had no regret for this life. However, after the problematic situation, I was in, I realized I had a little daughter who was waiting for me to take care of her. She was wearing my shoes and walking around the house. She was looking upon me. One more time I realized I had the responsibility for my daughter's life. I do not want her to be like me. I want to give her freedom to manage herself so that during my old age, she would not have to worry about me much. To achieve this, I have to be strong and determined to practice the things that fulfill my career in the second country. I believe that through accomplishing myself is the only way that I can give the self- fulfillment to my daughter. It is individuals share out what they are capable of giving and are in possession of them. Therefore, the meaning of life to me at the moment is to fulfill my life by helping others. Additionally, it is to raise my daughter for her to have a fulfilled happy life.
Words Cited
Nozick, Robert “Philosophy and the Meaning of Life” The Meaning of Life - A Reader, edited by E.D. Klemke, Steven M. Cahn, New York Oxford/ Oxford University, 2018, pp. 197-203.
Wolf, Susan “Meaning in Life” The Meaning of Life - A Reader, edited by E.D. Klemke, Steven M. Cahn, New York Oxford/ Oxford University, 2018, pp. 205-207.
