Does it really matter if the source of meaning (religion) is "bogus"? If meaning is derived from being in a religion, that's what matters here. #2 seems like an irrelevant application of an argument against religion that only serves to demonstrate that this professor of philosophy isn't doing so hot at reasoning about this topic.
Here are some possible answers to the question of what makes life worth living:
- nothing
- religion
- happiness
- love, work, and play
Evidence from psychology and neuroscience supports the fourth answer. Here's why.
1. Nothing
A few despondent philosophers—such as Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and David Benatar—have cast doubts on whether life has any intrinsic meaning, and some people are driven to suicide by depression or negative events in their lives. But most people, fortunately, are able to find lots of reason to value their lives, and in surveys most people report themselves as pretty happy. So nihilism may not be a plausible position.
2. Religion
Surveys also indicate that many people report that religion and spirituality are major sources of meaning in their lives. Unfortunately, however, these sources may not be valid, particularly if there is no evidence to support claims for particular religious beliefs. Religious faith may be reassuring, but science cannot objectively tell someone whether they should adhere to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or some other religion. It cannot even tell an individual what version of Christianity (Catholic, Baptist, Morman, etc.) or Islam (Shia or Sunni) they ought to adopt. Hence, religion and vague spiritual ideas—such as "everything happens for a reason"—cannot provide an evidence-supported basis for living.
3. Happiness
Psychological research has identified many ways in which people can increase the happiness in their lives, as in Sonja Lyubomirsky's fine book, The How of Happiness. But happiness is usually the result of having a meaningful life, not what makes life worth living in itself. There are people whose lives are meaningful even though they may not be very happy—for example, someone who is struggling with a challenging job while raising a special needs child.
On the other hand, happiness can be cheaply achieved by slacker serenity, a mindless bliss resulting from having minimal goals, access to drugs, or unlimited time for leisure. You can have happiness without much meaning, and meaning without much happiness; thus, happiness is likely not the meaning of life.
4. Love, work, and play
In my new book, The Brain and the Meaning of Life, I argue that these three activities make life worth living. Love includes friendships and family relationships as well as romantic ones. Work includes diverse productive activities, such as community volunteering, in addition to working for wages. Play includes all forms of entertainment such as reading and watching movies, not just games.
Surveys and other psychological studies indicate that love, work, and play do indeed enable people to have lives they value. Neuroscience provides a deeper understanding of how brain processes generate needs for relatedness, autonomy, and competence that can be satisfied by the successful pursuit of love, work, and play. Such satisfaction often yields happiness, but even the pursuit is enough to give life meaning.
Be sure to read the following responses to this post by our bloggers:
LOL..
You're one of the butthurts with contradicting, archiogically-challenged, and scientifically-challenged books that support the reign of hate, call rape petty, to wage war, etc. -_- Anyways... You didn't get the message here, apparently. Zen.
I second that.
Professor Thagard, you say that "Neuroscience provides a deeper understanding of how brain processes generate needs for relatedness, autonomy, and competence that can be satisfied by the successful pursuit of love, work, and play."
But what reason you do have to deny that these needs could also be filled by religious belief and faith, especially one that supports "relatedness, autonomy, and competence"?
However you cut it, finding the meaning in one's life is ultimately an exercise in bootstrapping, and whether one finds that meaning in love, work, play, or faith, the most important thing is that one finds it, not where.
Love is all you need...
The article starts with a very important question, but is answered by nothing more than glib. It reads like a Dear Abby response to a "crisis in faith" writer. The author's attitude is revealed by his choice of words from the very beginning. "Despondent"? Really? I don't understand the line of logic that assumes Nietsche was despondent? This is truely a philosophical question where definitions must be clearly stated up front. What is value? How does value relate to life worth living? Are all lives equally worth living? Apparently not, because we put people to death. Do death row inmates have values of lesser equality than you or me?
Dr. White's last comment is a slippery slope because value hasn't been determined/established, therefore just finding it anywhere isn't enough. Can you say hedonism? Couldn't finding your "happy place" land you on death row?
And how come no one ask's whether a goldfish's life is worth living or a dandelion's life is worth living? Where do the billions of organisms that share our planet find value? The paradox here is that we give value to trees and animals and then take their lives.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not a tree hugging vegetarian or a pro-life pundit.
Perhaps #5 should be:
All living creatures' life is worthing living because of propogation. It's the most fundemental motivation that affects every living form from flu's to humans. This value gives rise to our survival instinct. It's why parents will risk life and limb for their offsprings. The idea is so fundemental that our society was built on it.
"promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..." - U.S. Constitution.
"And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth..." Genesis 1:28
So, to Mr. Thagard's point, love really is the answer. All the other points are just superfluous. But maybe will we get extra credit for them?
Not at all
Scott, you said, "Dr. White's last comment is a slippery slope because value hasn't been determined/established, therefore just finding it anywhere isn't enough. Can you say hedonism? Couldn't finding your 'happy place' land you on death row?"
I think you read too much into what I wrote - I did not mean to conflate meaning with value, nor did I imply that one's meaning should direct one's life to the exclusion of anything else (especially morality). I was merely making an existential point in response to Professor Thagard, that each person is responsible for finding his or her own meaning (and also what he or she does as a result, to be sure), and I saw no reason to exclude faith as a possible source of that self-discovered meaning.
life is not worth it
i going to die tomorrow because of you
Confused
You say you're going to die tomorrow because of you. Who is you? And just to clarify, nobody can predict the future. Therefore your statement implies you will tsjf action tomorrow. Keep in mind, nobody anywhere can make you do anything. You are the harbinger of whatever may happen to you as long as it's something completely out of your control. An accident, bombing, mother nature catastrophic events, and such alijf are out of your control. As long as you weild the instrument, you are in control. Why blame anyone for your actions? I'm not trying to kick you when you're down. If this is truly how you feel, you need therapy.
Playing the devil's advocate
Mark,
Don't get me wrong, I'm an atheist. Even I was offended my by Mr. Thagard's argument against religion.
His last statement overly generalizes religion to satisfy his opening "bogus" sentence. There are two aspects of all religions. The present life and the afterlife. Our present course of actions determines our course during the afterlife. All the major religions promote the golden rule. That basic tenet has such breadth and meaning that it cannot be dismissed as "bogus". To Mr. Thagard's point, the many varied religions has taken it's toll on the populace. It's not surprising that the Pew Research Center reports 18-29yrs olds' dissatisfaction with the institution of religion. But interestingly enough, they still believe in a moral authority. People by and large are not throwing out the baby with the bath water. Only Mr. Thagard has done that.
nihilism is intellectually honest
I think nihilism is the most intellectually honest position. It may not be a pleasant world-view and that's probably why most people don't adopt it. Saying it's not plausible just because most people don't buy into it is besides the point.
Subjective
What makes life worth living is different for everyone. The only person that can answer that question is yourself! And what ever reason you find is ok as long as you can believe that life is worth living.
RE:Subjective
So if you don't find the answer, should one stop living? Or just keeping living a miserable existence in hopes of finding the answer?
equation
Hi there,
this is a very strange question... I am an author, and have very little understanding of maths. I need a mathematical equation for my upcoming novel. (it doesn't have to have a clear-cut answer at all) and it has to include reasons to live, why we live life and basically, it's all about. if there's anyone out there who can help me, thank you!!!
Equation
After having read your post and having a complete understanding of mathematics I can tell you there is no way to propagate any mathematical formula that would equate reasons worth living into a mathematical formula. Reasons worth living are generally emotional in some way shape or form. In math there is no emotion. There's no way to incorporate emotion into a mathematical formula. The only possibility I can think of might be to say something like life = x+y+z. Where X Y and Z are anything you choose for substitution. Before you do this let me warn you that the mathematical community will ask you for making such a comparison. The scientific Community would do the same. And many readers of your book would chastise you in one way or another. I am curious as to why you need a mathematical formula in the first place for your book.
Answer
I can see having a complete understanding of mathematics does not always mean someone really does. having a complete understanding of mathematics also includes having a complete understanding of the history of mathematics.
Pascal once said mathematically it doesn't hurt to believe in a god. Essentially Pascal was saying that it doesn't hurt to believe in a god whether one exists or not. His belief states that it is better to believe in one, than spend eternity in damnation. If you search for the words Pascal's wager, and then select the one that is in Wikipedia it defines what I'm about to tell you. Anybody with the most basic of math skills really can't refute what Pascal stated. I say this because, to the best of my knowledge, nobody to whom we can speak has met or seen God. Sure, there are people that state they have spoken with or seen God. However, there is no tangible evidence. While theologists may jump right on that, any scientist will reject it for lack of tangible evidence.
If you don't believe in a God and you die then you find out there is no God nothing is lost. However, if you die and find out there is a God, and you didn't believe in God, you lose. If you believe in God, and you die, finding no God then nothing is lost. However, if you find a God then you win. The math is broken up into four simple equations:
Don't believe / Die / Exists
0 * 1 * 1 = 0 you lose
Don't believe / Die / Doesn't Exist
0 * 1 * 0 = 0 nothing lost
Believe / Die / Exists
1 * 1 * 1 = 1 you win
Believe / Die / Doesn't Exist
1 * 1 * 0 = 0 nothing lost
Mathematically there is only one way to win. Although I suppose it depends upon your perception of what it means to win. Now I know this doesn't answer your question directly, so I will tie it in. Assuming there is a God, then I'm sure this deity would not want you to commit suicide or any other kind of murder. But that's where the notion of Free Will comes into play. We all have choices we can make. however, every choice we make has a consequence be it positive or negative. Or to coin a phrase, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
By the way, to the person who says they have a complete understanding of mathematics, let me tell you right now. I was not making fun of you, or attempting to belittle you in any way, shape, or form. I'm sure your math skills are quite proficient. Even with the knowledge I possess I do not have a complete understanding of mathematics. If I did, I would be able to solve equations such as M2 or, every other math equation containing an infinity sign. If I offended you, I express my most sincere apologies and hope you would accept them.
Much of the math we possess today is based on many of the statements that were made by philosophers centuries ago. As it turns out many of these philosophers also were mathematicians in their day. People like Pascal would fit that category.
To the original author who had the question concerning a math equation; if what I stated doesn't help you, please respond and let me know. I will attempt to provide you with something else. Not being a writer I see my answer as your best solution. But, as I stated I am not a writer.
suicide is the only option....
I disagree with all of this shit... Life is nothing but a series of disappointments, failures, and government oppression.....fuck the world, fuck society, and fuck governments worldwide.....suicide is the best option for everyone now a days, because of what the corrupt mankind has made this bullshit world into......and fuck you too while we're at it! suck a dick bitch...
Reply to Suicide...
If, as you say, suicide is the only option, then suicide is not an,"option." it is the only path. An "Option" must be chosen from several potential paths.
Your profane rant reminds me of "Comedy Nite" at the bar.
What makes life worth living?
I know people who are sustained by the challenge of servicing their additions--alcohol, tobacco, and whatnot. Minus their additions, they would have no motive to do anything.
Could it be that we are, one and all, are just servicing our addictions. Is that what makes life worth living?
Re: What makes live worth living by slackdammit
Servicing addiction is usually a symptom of something missing in one's life. Addiction can be cured by replacing the habit with an healthier alternative. When the individual hits rock bottom and reasons to themselves that they want to change and their lives will truly be better once they do, they will often take drastic actions to meet the new goals. The first steps, usually the hardest, admit you don't know, and go out to gather information. Often achieved by interacting with different kinds of people, adventuring into activities never tried, traveling, and opening new horizons and start seeing things from a different perspective... Someplace in between, you may fall in love, find your passion, commit to a worthy cause, or just end up deciding nothing is worth it and continue to seek for something worth living for. At least your motivated to keep trying...
Accept your destiny and love it
I think your destiny aim your ambition show you your way, fulfill that aim is your duty. At least travel on that road that is worth living.I give my example.I want to reduce pain agony of mother,when she was suffering from T.B.I was at that time 18 months old unable to do that I suffered terrible guilt feeling.reprisal to this guilt feeling I choose publishing as a my carrier and published most readable books.Publication is my vocation book is symbol of mother,serve her I get pure joy and self-satisfaction This my worth living
What makes life worth living?
These thing are thing that someone may not have - happiness or a meaningful life. You may have a job but may not be happy in it. It doesn't stat why life's worth living with these things in mind.
I stopped reading when I saw
I stopped reading when I saw religion. Sure life is worth living for other imaginary things such as fairies and finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow too.
Huh???
How in the world did you come to the conclusion "nihilism is not a plausible position".
Only truth matters
The question is what makes Life worth living. Not what creates us in a more efficient way the illusion of meaning in our Lives in order to be productive, functional and perhaps happy. The way this question is approched is not a quest for the truth, for the accurate evaluation of life and the world. You are simply showing what is the best phychological path for most people , which is probably true. But it does not mean that if a story helps me go on, then that story is true.In the same logic you should be accepting religion for those that it helps. They simply use a story for balancing their existence. As the family man or the good employee or whatever else. It is simply make belief. And the fact remains that since no human being in the history of mankind has discovered any real inherent meaning in our existence (or the existence of the universe for that matter) then no life is truly worth living. For life to be worth living, all lives should be worth living. For happiness or joy to have inherent meaning then suffering should have inherent meaning as well. All suffering. And all the rest is simply denial. Which is of course as i said more functional than facing the truth with no stories or illusions, but the case remains that you are posing a different question from the answer that you give.
With respect
What Makes Life Worth Living?
I put a lot of stock into Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Not all Human Beings are able to progress to the point of self-actualization and it is at this point, that folks will have true inner peace and worthiness.
Unfortunately, the needs required to attain this state are not abundant and there are too many social aspects to list that prevent obtaining these things.
I feel that self-awareness, acceptance, and education are critical components to achieve worthiness, despite reaching the point of self-actualization.
Non sequitur
From research indicating people generally consider themselves happy the author deduces that they find plenty of reasons to be so and thus nihilism is an implausible option.
Strange reasoning for a philosopher. The author himself admits nihilism only denies objective meaning, therefore it doesn't follow that nihilists have no reason to be happy.
Nihilism is perfectly compatible with 3 and 4, obviously not with 2 in so far a source of objective morality and meaning is proposed.
Article and Postings
I must say I read Dr Thagart's article and all of the comments. I'm going to toss religion completely out the window because on this planet there are more than 4,500 practiced religions. Assuming only one can be right can anybody answer which one it is? That's why I am tossing it out the window. That was number 2. I am also tossing out number one. Nothing is nothing. It's not even worth discussing. That leaves us with numbers 3 and 4. Personally I believe happiness is a by-product Left Behind or propagated by something else which might occur from recent number 4. Now we are talking about love, work, and play. I can tell you that I have relegated myself never again to enter another relationship. I have been burned one too many times. Due to my age it seems that most people do not wish to hire me anymore. That is two of the three listed that I have negated. So what happens when number 3 is squashed as well? I'm about to do that. Because of the choices that I made three decades ago I am riddled with bony calcifications on all of my bones throughout my body and have been diagnosed with advanced arthritis. This might not sound so bad too many people. But I was diagnosed at the age of 50. That changes everything. I am on painkillers that don't really help. I can't get the appropriate amount of painkillers because everybody is afraid of the CDC guidelines. So I live my life in constant pain. I am not able to go out and play as I used to. I am not able to enjoy the things that life has to offer. About the only thing I can do is try to find a position in which the pain is somewhat bearable. Basically I do nothing. I believe that squashes number 4. If I were to use this article alone to decide whether life was worth living or not I believe I would have to choose not. There is more to life than what exists in this article. As you go through life you will discover these things for yourself. There were many things omitted from this article and the comments that need to be considered when one is making a choice. Such as if you cannot participate you can always observe. Or if it's not observant then there is always communication. There are literally thousands of reasons and conditions that were not addressed. For that reason I declare this article is incomplete and should be either ignored or completed.
Depression
I have depression and I tried to find my will to live through exotic dancing but it just wasn't there, reading through the comments left me with one conclusion. Suicide. I am going to find the hardest drug and shove it up my asshole before jumping off my local water tower.
kms plz
on peux pas jouer a infamous second son sur pc
Frustrated by this
The lack of examination of the declined options of either Nietzsche or Schopenhauer posited by this article are unfortunate. If you actually read either author, both argue for life, and Nietzsche aggressively dismisses "Nihilism," which Nietzsche actually conflates as being the nature of Christianity and not in fact the way we should live our lives. The Nihilist substitutes his life for something else... ultimately for nothing, rather than our human, limited experience. He/she is ultimately anhedonic, and chooses to believe that even if the rose smells wonderful, such feelings are antithetical deceptions - they are not to be appreciated. Sacrifice in this life is equated with an almost fiscal gain in the next life, and turning the other cheek becomes a ritual as useful (and anachronous) as the Egyptian mummification procedures. That's what Nietzsche was trying to say about Nihilism. He was advocating really living. He might have actually applauded the author's conclusions about how to live affirmatively. The dismissive author (who seemingly never read the works he reports upon as an expert) disappoints. Unlike Wagner, the author's ear was not oversized- he with an ear... let him hear... the author heard not...
Go fuck yourself
You are corrupt as fuck. You don't give a shit about anything except making money.
Idiocracy
I can't believe someone has trouble using their big boy words. I saw nothing about corruption or anyone seeking to line their pockets. Perhaps it's time to put down the crack pipe.
Ignorance
You are what's wrong with society.
Examples
I'm afraid you're going to need a little more context. Simply siteing the word ignorance and then blaming me for everything that's wrong in society simply doesn't paint a picture. If you could try to be specific and provide a list of everything that people on here have made you feel that they're ignorant and responsible for the way Society is as it is now, that might be helpful. FYI - I don't believe Society is in a good position myself.
no way
Life is worthless, meaningless, aimless. Its just there and that in great abundance. Whats the meaning of life? NOTHING! Your shitted into a world, a system and society, no one asked you if you wanted or not. Your just there and then your gone, makes no difference. Thats reality, its not bitter or depressed, its reality! How many millions of people die each day? Do you care? See!? Stop selling people the story of life being something special, meaningfull or what ever, it just is not!!
Yes Way
I understand what you're saying about life being meaningless for you. I wonder if you ever stopped to see if there was something that was meaningful to you?
I'm not sure if there's a God or a plan in the universe. But I am sure of one thing. Everybody on this planet has a different skill-set that exceeds everybody else's. I also believe that everybody is destined for something.
That doesn't mean that everybody is destined for greatness. Some people are destined to be the victims. I say that because for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Maybe your reason for existing is the state of the things that you do say so that others will be inclined to say otherwise.
The long and short of this is that nobody really knows anything. And by anyting I'm talking about the basics. Some people believe that God created the universe. Science has proven that the Big Bang did happen. Or if you say the Big Bang happened, from where did that happen? Something had to create it. You can even turn around and say God created the Big Bang. But then you're left with the question who or what created God? They are both questions that cannot be answered.
Which brings this conversation back to your thoughts. I have no intentions of negating anything you say. Who am I to decide what you say is right or wrong? But let's just say you're right. Once we do that the choice becomes very simple for you. You can choose to live a miserable life, or you can choose to live a happy one. Whichever one you choose some things are going to happen that are both good and bad. And there's nothing you can do to stop that. In this world but the only thing you can control is yourself.
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There's the catch
He was just selling a book the whole time. That explains why he tries to act like happiness isn't what makes life worth it even though it's the only reward for being alive. This isn't an article, it's an advertisement. Thanks for nothing!