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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
reflective
medium-paced
The writing style is witty and engaging. I am also surprised by the breadth of philosophical positions discussed in this small book!
reflective
medium-paced
Mr. Eagleton summarizes many of the ideas and approaches relating to the title question. He does this as a guide surveying the many philosophers who have thought deeply about our place in this cosmos. While many of us may find the question a cause for angst, Terry finds room for humor during the search for answers.
I appreciate his efforts and find this work thought-provoking as I seek to create my own meanings.
I appreciate his efforts and find this work thought-provoking as I seek to create my own meanings.
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Eagleton has a penchant for aimless rambling and this book is a good example of it. At first, I thought it would be like a Christmas pudding with the occasional sixpence or silver thimble buried amidst the flour and suet but I'm afraid it's raisins all the way down. Why he was chosen to write it is beyond me.
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
I liked the idea that you could have a "very short introduction" to the meaning of life. Plus, I'd read several other books in this series and enjoyed them. For such a short book, this was surprisingly (or maybe not, given the subject) dense. He gives a good, brief overview of the question and traces some key thoughts about it though the worlds of philosophy, literature and music. In some ways, he argues that it's a meaningless question, but it also isn't, and he proposes some ideas for a solution to the question. I highlighted a lot of thoughtful passages--here are three:
"We come to glimpse something of the meaning of life when we realize that it is not the kind of thing that could be an answer to a philosophically meaningful question. It is not a ‘solution’ at all. Once we have recognized that it is beyond all such questions, we understand that this is our answer."
---
"The meaning of life is not a solution to a problem, but a matter of living in a certain way. It is not metaphysical, but ethical. It is not something separate from life, but what makes it worth living – which is to say, a certain quality, depth, abundance, and intensity of life. In this sense, the meaning of life is life itself, seen in a certain way."
---
"What we need is a form of life which is completely pointless, just as the jazz performance is pointless. Rather than serve some utilitarian purpose or earnest metaphysical end, it is a delight in itself. It needs no justification beyond its own existence. In this sense, the meaning of life is interestingly close to meaninglessness."
"We come to glimpse something of the meaning of life when we realize that it is not the kind of thing that could be an answer to a philosophically meaningful question. It is not a ‘solution’ at all. Once we have recognized that it is beyond all such questions, we understand that this is our answer."
---
"The meaning of life is not a solution to a problem, but a matter of living in a certain way. It is not metaphysical, but ethical. It is not something separate from life, but what makes it worth living – which is to say, a certain quality, depth, abundance, and intensity of life. In this sense, the meaning of life is life itself, seen in a certain way."
---
"What we need is a form of life which is completely pointless, just as the jazz performance is pointless. Rather than serve some utilitarian purpose or earnest metaphysical end, it is a delight in itself. It needs no justification beyond its own existence. In this sense, the meaning of life is interestingly close to meaninglessness."