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The Meaning of Life from Sacred and Secular Perspectives

The Meaning of Life from Sacred and Secular Perspectives cover

The Meaning of Life from Sacred and Secular Perspectives

Description

This book argues that the search for life's meaning is vital in terms of one's personal identity, developing a sense of what really matters to you and others.

The book seeks to enlarge one's understanding of the possible meanings of life on a large scale, as well as explore the many meanings in life for individuals. Drawing on ancient and contemporary sources, the book provides a guide for exploring the most promising perspectives on life's meaning, philosophically and religiously. Its purpose is to aid readers in making up their own minds in discovering meaning in life.

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter One: What is meaning?
Chapter Two: Why should anyone care about the meaning of life? And by the way, isn't there something preposterous about seeking the meaning of life?
Chapter Three: No need to search very far: We should conclude that the meaning of life for humans is perfect happiness. Or should we?
Chapter Four: Can we discover the meaning of life through science, especially evolutionary biology? Maybe the key to life is to hatch (be born), match (reproduce), and then dispatch (be done).
Chapter Five: How might the major theistic traditions obscure or contribute to discovering the meaning of life?
Chapter Six: Why bother with religion when there are great, satisfying secular visions of the meaning of life?
Chapter Seven: What do Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism say about the meaning of life?
Chapter Eight: Is there a compelling Christian meaning of life?
Chapter Nine: Radical psychological challenge: Could the religious perspectives on the meaning of life be make-believe?
Chapter Ten: Does belief in the meaning of life require certainty? Is belief compatible with doubt?
Acknowledgments
References

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Dec 11 2025
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Pages 152
ISBN 9781978762855
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Charles Taliaferro

Charles Taliaferro is Professor Emeritus and Emeri…

Author

Paul Reasoner

Paul Reasoner is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy…

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