Journal of East China Normal University (Philosoph ›› 2012, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (4): 59-64.

• 伦理学研究 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

On Two Philosophical Approaches to the Meaning of Life

CAI Zhen   

  • Online:2012-07-15 Published:2012-09-12
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Abstract: Starting from the reflection on myth of Sisyphus, we can find two major approaches to the meaning of life. The first approach attempts to explain the meaning of life by appealing to the concept of the final end of human life. On this line of thought there are religious account and the nihilist account, however, these two accounts fail in some important ways. The second approach is to find the meaning of life within human life, that is, the activities that we are engaging in and the attitudes that one holds towards them. Richard Taylor’s subjective concept of the meaning of life is a major representative for this approach. His position can be rectified against Susan Wolf’s challenges by appealing to Frankfurt’s account of human desires.