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Essay by review • December 18, 2010 • Essay • 588 Words (3 Pages) • 1,163 Views
Nozick believes that the meaning of life is the most important thing to us, with that knowledge all doors open and the reason for existence is revealed. It's the unanswerable question we all strive to know the answer to. People have pre-conceived notions about the 'meaning of life' and won't be satisfied by the answer received as they wouldn't find it 'appropriate'. People are sick of the clichйd sayings about life and its actual meaning; they are looking for an answer beyond those that have already been heard. Meaning has several distinctions and implies different things for various concepts. We limit ourselves to the knowledge we already have give things 'specific' meaning which doesn't allow room for possibility. Having a life plan and knowing what you're doing with yourself is a step closer to knowing the meaning of your life. By creating structures, setting up goals and living a transparent life so others know your plan and learn from it. By being a teacher to others is important. Nozick says that even though if all of the above is achieved the limitation is that people can look back on their life and question it. However worthy and eventful it was it still appears to be meaningless and ultimately ends in death and amounts to nothing. Another view posed by Victor Frankl is that our lives are meaningful only because of death, which means that our life is finite and has value. If we were immortal we would procrastinate endlessly. There would be no deadlines as time, along with life, would lose its meaning. Before we were born, infinite time was lapsed so why should it be so terrible that there be infinite time after death? He says that it amounts to the same thing, and by mourning a death, we should also mourn the time before birth when we didn't exist either. He says that by leaving our mark on the world our life will be considered more significant and meaningful. People are fearful of the day when the world will come to an end and everything will be destroyed and there would be no record of their existence.
Nozick feels that the existence of God would not solve the problem of the meaninglessness of life because if there were a God, it wouldn't be enough that God has a purpose for us. The purpose must be meaningful. Nozick thought that by creating meaning and purpose for other beings, and by helping them find their meaning, he would find his. He says that just because God
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