Deck 37: Meaning in Life in Spite of Death

Question 1

For most philosophers, when talking about "life's meaning" we essentially have in mind all but which one of the following?

A) Achieving certain purposes.
B) Doing things that merit admiration.
C) Living a life filled with bodily pleasure.
D) Connecting positively to something beyond oneself.

Answer 1

Living a life filled with bodily pleasure.

Question 2

The Biblical book of Ecclesiastes presents which of the following positions?

A) We have immortal souls but our lives are meaningless.
B) We have immortal souls that will get their just deserts.
C) Life is meaningful because we can give mortal people their just deserts.
D) Life is meaningless because mortal people do not receive their just deserts.

Answer 2

Life is meaningless because mortal people do not receive their just deserts.

Question 3

According to the 'Making a Difference' argument associated with Leo Tolstoy:

A) We cannot make a real difference if we are mortal.
B) We can make a real difference only if we are mortal.
C) We necessarily make a real difference if we are immortal.
D) We would make a real difference by preventing a mortal girl from being burned.

Answer 3

We cannot make a real difference if we are mortal.

Question 4

One argument for thinking that a life without an immortal soul must be meaningless is that:

A) With an immortal soul, our lives are free and proceed randomly.
B) With an immortal soul, our lives are unfree but always do the right thing.
C) Without an immortal soul, we lack the freedom to choose between right and wrong.
D) Without an immortal soul, we freely choose to do wrong more often than right.

Question 5

One reason for thinking that meaning in life is possible in spite of death is the intuition that:

A) One can eat, drink, and be merry, even if no one survives the death of one's body.
B) Helping others differs from long-distance spitting in that the former is meaningful, even if no one survives the death of one's body.
C) Even long-distance spitting is meaningful, regardless of whether one survives the death of one's body.
D) Helping others ends up producing more pleasure for oneself than long-distance spitting, regardless of whether one survives the death of one's body.

Question 6

Recall the view that only an immortal life could exhibit a great meaning in it. Which of the following is an objection to this view?:

A) There is no evidence that any of us is immortal.
B) If any one of us is immortal, then all of us are immortal.
C) If immortality were sufficient for a great meaning, then everyone's life would be equally meaningful, but it's not.
D) An immortal life of meaning would have so much more than a mortal life that the latter could not count as "meaningful" by comparison.

Question 7

Of the arguments for the view that immortality is required for a meaningful life discussed in the readings, pick the one that you find strongest or most interesting. What is the argument? How might one question it? Are there convincing answers to be made on its behalf? Defend your conclusion.

Question 8

What is the main argument for thinking that we can live meaningfully even if we do not have immortal souls and will instead perish along with our bodies? How might one question it? Are there convincing answers to be made on its behalf? Defend your conclusion, being sure to discuss what it means to live "meaningfully."