What Does Life Mean - 1127 Words

What does life mean to us? Each day we wake up, do our daily routine, sleep, and then repeat. What if one day we are shown that our world, and the life that we have been living, is not real. What meaning would our lives have then? Would we say that we lived a good life? Or would we say that we have not yet lived at all? On the other hand, what if we are presented with option of living a simulated life? We could have the option of being and doing whoever and whatever we want. And once we are in the simulation we will not even remember that our lives are not real until we come out of it. Would you accept that offer? Two authors have vastly different opinions and ideas about how the world would respond to these questions. Jeremy Bentham, a philosopher from the 1740 s, believes that we would want in on this proposal. He presumes that we, as humans only care about our experiences and how they make us feel. On the other hand, Robert Nozick, a different philosopher from the 1930 s, believes that we want to actually do things, not just have the experiences and feelings of doing them. The experience machine theory above is something he thought up in order to prove his point. According to Bentham s views he would plug into this machine and expect that others would as well. Nozick is completely against the Bentham s idea. In fact, Nozick s experience machine essay is legitimate critique of Bentham s views. Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereignShow MoreRelatedWhat Is Life? What Does It Mean?769 Words   |  4 PagesCharlie: What is life? What does it mean to live? Olivia: What does it mean to die? Is death when you stop breathing? Charlie: So if I hold my breath, am I dead? And if I start breathing again am I reborn into another life? Olivia: The saying- live life to the fullest, does that mean life s a metaphorical jar which you constantly fill up over the duration of your life? And when its full... Is that when you die? Charlie: Is death really a bad thing? What if no one died? More peopleRead MoreWhat Does It Mean You Live A Life Of Meaning And Purpose? Essay1366 Words   |  6 PagesWhat does it mean to live a life of meaning and purpose? We have examined this question through at least five different authors, in different time periods, and through different ideas. However, the common idea has remained the same, have faith in God. For a human to live a life of meaning and purpose he must understand the truths of the natural world and the differences between what is good and evil. Jesus set an example for humans in his stories written by Matthew by displaying the ultimate faithRead MoreThe Meaning of Respect Essay747 Words   |  3 PagesMost people go through life and always hear about the word respect, but they don’t know what it means. Respect is the esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person. There are things in life you need to hold in respect. Respect for yourself, r espect for others, and respect for property. Respect is taught to people everywhere and it is even taught to them in their religions. Respect is the very aspect that keeps everything in your life. Respect for yourself is very important to a personRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Me Underpin Aristotle s Account Of Citizen Virtue?899 Words   |  4 PagesTo what extent, and how, does ‘the doctrine of the mean’ underpin Aristotle’s account of citizen virtue? In order to answer the question ‘To what extent, and how, does ‘the doctrine of the mean’ underpin Aristotle’s account of citizen virtue?’ it is first important for me to define ‘the doctrine of the mean’ which was developed in Book II of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (II.2.1104a12-26) in the form of a medical analogy. ‘the doctrine of the mean’ is very often dismissed as being unhelpful andRead MoreJack London Naturalism Analysis952 Words   |  4 Pagesimitates life in the most real and natural way. Its influence of on writers is significant, as writers attempt to portray the natural world through literature. Some authors found it easy to write in a naturalist sense, because naturalism often focuses on the plights of the lower class. Many writers rose from the bottom and were inspired by their previous experiences. Jack London is an example of someone who rose from the bottom. His early life struggles are displayed in â€Å"What Life Means to Me†. ItRead MoreAristotle Think Made A Good Life849 Words   |  4 Pages Aristotle wondered what made a good life. When Aristotle asked others what made their life good, the answer always included happiness. Aristotle wanted to create a way for people to look at their lives and use knowledge to judge what happiness is. Aristotle found that this task was nearly impossible because people have vastly different personalities and view circumstances differently. With the Doctrine of the Mean, Aristotle explains that to achieve happiness, one must create ethical valuesRead MoreThe Issue Of Animal Cruelty1023 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"things†, and properties of life have a sole function and reason to be in existence. Everything must have an ends to itself rather than a means to another ends (Aristotle, 617-636). Aristotle examines the idea of function and purposefulness within the ten books of Nicomachean Ethics. Finding this ends to itself is how one can achieve the ultimate happiness. Aristotle discovers that if everything has an ends to itself, man too, must have an end. What does being a â€Å"person† really mean, and who is eligibleRead MoreUnited States and the Five Basic Principles Essay672 Words   |  3 Pagesare five basic principles and they are the value of life principle, th e principle of goodness or rightness, the principle of justice or fairness, the principle of truth telling or honesty, and the principle of individual freedom. These principles can apply to many things, but when it comes to the United States following them this is how they are applied. The first principle is the value of life, and this means that human beings should respect life and death. People in the United States do follow thisRead MoreLife in the Universe Exercises and Questions779 Words   |  4 Pages1. Why are scientists interested in the possibility of life beyond Earth? The discovery of life of any kind beyond Earth would forever change our perspective on how we fit into the universe as a whole, and would teach us much more about life here on Earth. 2. People have long been interested in life beyond Earth. What is different today that makes this possibility seem scientifically reasonable? Today, technology has flourished and is more advanced than it was in the past. We are able toRead MoreJohn Aquinas s The Body And Soul1480 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween body and soul, and what it means to be human. Part 1: Aquinas moves to claim the soul as the first principle of life. The soul is what distinguishes life from the non-living. A vital operation may be material such as the principle of hearing is the ear but it is not the principle of all life as it does not define the operation of the body completely. Here he draws a distinction. Also the first principle of life cannot be a body much as lungs are a principle to life through breathing. â€Å"To be