A philosophical analysis of what makes life meaningful.

The question of what, if anything , makes life meaningful, is a one that has haunted humanity from time immemorial and in the last few centuries there have been attempts by Great Scholars of Anthropological philosophy like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Descartes to throw more light into the topic. This study might in particular be thought of as being concerned with questions of the status of man in the universe, of the purpose or meaning of human life, and, indeed, with the issues of whether there is any such meaning.

One might approach this topic of what makes life meaningful by providing particular ways to do so. Many people may say that by making certain achievements or, developing moral character will help attain a meaningful life.

The answer to this ultimate question about man however is dependent on our stand on a number of issues that have to be sorted out a priori.

1. The God Factor
2. Constitution of Man
3. Ethical Outlook
4. Existence of Free will in Man

The most widely held and influential view is the God-based account of meaning in life. It holds that one's existence is more significant, the better one fulfills a purpose God has assigned. The idea is that God has a plan for the universe and that one's life is meaningful to the degree that one helps God realize this plan, perhaps in the particular way God wants one to do so. Fulfilling God's purpose (and doing so freely and intentionally) is the sole source of meaning, with the existence of an after life not necessary for it (Brown 1971; Levine 1987; Cottingham 2003). If a person failed to do what God intends him to do with his life, then, on the current view, his life would be meaningless. This view is held by most religions today.

On the second issue, many scholars, beginning with Aristotle, argued that the constitution of man is a hylomorphic (matter and form) composite of body and soul , two incomplete substances that, together, form the one complete substance that is the individual man. The hylomorphic union of body and soul in one complete substance that is the individual man rules out that  souls pre-existed the body implying the rejection of re-incarnation . He held that plants have a vegetative soul, animals a sensitive soul, and man a rational soul and that living beings (i.e. plants, animals, and humans) are distinguished from non-living beings by their power of self-movement. The human soul , they contended has three functions,, namely, the vegetative function , the sensitive function (external and internal sense knowledge), and the rational or intellective function. There are many other hypotheses including that of David Hume which holds that Human nature is just a bundle of perceptions.  People who subscribe to this soul-centered theory deem putting life in a certain relational state to an immortal, spiritual substance called soul that supervenes on one's body when it is alive and that will forever outlive its death be what makes life meaningful, even if one does not believe in God. Another great Philosopher, Leo Tolstoy, argues that for life to be meaningful something must be worth doing, and that nothing is worth doing if nothing one does will make a permanent difference to the world.

Acceptance or rejection of Existence of Free Will in man will greatly influence the ethical outlook and orientation of our lives. A denial of free will would have an enormous impact, for the worse, on law, the penal system, government, social and educational institutions.

Finally, moralists have tried to associate how we ought to behave with happy and contented lives.

Aristotle, aka The Philosopher, contended that a man who used his own intellect and reason to live an ethically virtuous life was an asset to mankind and that happiness was the supreme good and desire of the human being. 

Let me conclude by saying that in my personal opinion, moral excellence, integrity of character, purity of soul and performance of duty are the characteristics of a meaningful life and happiness the goal. For me ,the point of departure for any given religion is the laying down of a code of conduct to achieve a virtuous life.