The Meaning of Life: A Modern Secular Answer to the Age-Old Fundamental Question

The author states in an interview (included in this book): "Some people … find meaning in altruism, others in selfishness, others in the discovery of truth or intellectual reflection, others in the performance of noble and moral acts, others in the creation of great works, others in the realization of individual potential, others in the union with a perfect being such as God, others in leaving a permanent mark on the world that time and death cannot erase, others in marriage and the rearing of children, others in the amassing of wealth and material possessions, others in the seeking and attainment of sensual pleasure, others in meditation … My response was to unify all these diverse meanings under one, simple, inclusive theory that is not simply a testament and defense of my own values, and which explains how it is that different forms of life can find meaning in these activities, and can also under certain conditions experience a lack of meaning." Alexander Alexis studied philosophy at the University of Sheffield, England. He has been writing in his journals since age 16, about subjects of a scientific and philosophical nature, including religion, parapsychology, Darwinian evolution, determinism and free will, psychological egoism, feminism, and the philosophy of love. This book is a collection of more than 600 of these journal entries centering around the topic of the meaning of life. They deal with questions such as: What causes people to feel that their lives are meaningless? * Can survival be the goal of human life? * Is there a so-called "instinct of self-preservation"? * Is the meaning of life the same for everyone? * Can animals lead meaningful lives? * Is the meaning of life to be found in love, happiness, and the helping of others? * What does happiness depend on, and how do we achieve it? * Are the nihilists right: is life devoid of meaning? * Why is there so much hate in the world? Why can’t everyone simply love one another? * Why do we suffer? What are the sources of suffering? * How do our cherished values relate to depression and the feeling that life is meaningless? * Can we abandon our values? * What is the meaning of life?