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Meaning of Life and Death: Ten Classic Thinkers on the Ultimate Question

Meaning of Life and Death: Ten Classic Thinkers on the Ultimate Question

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  • More about Meaning of Life and Death: Ten Classic Thinkers on the Ultimate Question

The point of living is a complex and multifaceted question that has been explored by many great writers throughout history. This book explores their ideas, weaving a rich tapestry of concepts, voices, and images to help the reader understand the concerns at the heart of their work and uncover common themes and stark contrasts in their understanding of what kind of world we live in and what really matters in life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 19 September 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC


The question of the point of living has been a perennial one, with philosophers and writers throughout history grappling with its implications. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Soren Kierkegaard, Arthur Schopenhauer, Herman Melville, Friedrich Nietzsche, William James, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Marcel Proust, and Albert Camus are among the many thinkers who have explored this question in their work. Their ideas, woven together in this book, offer a rich tapestry of concepts, voices, and images that help the reader understand the concerns at the heart of their work and uncover common themes and stark contrasts in their understanding of what kind of world we live in and what really matters in life.

One of the central themes in the book is the connection between death and meaning. Philosophers have long debated the question of whether death is the end of everything or whether it can be a meaningful experience. Dostoyevsky, for example, believed that death was a necessary part of life and that it could be a source of great meaning and beauty. He wrote, "Death is the only thing that gives life meaning." Tolstoy, on the other hand, believed that death was a tragedy and that it could be avoided through a life of self-sacrifice and love. He wrote, "Life is a journey, and the end of the journey is death."

Another theme in the book is the idea of mortality and the impact it has on our lives. Many people believe that being mortal means that we are limited in what we can achieve and that we will eventually die. This can lead to a sense of hopelessness and despair. However, some thinkers argue that being mortal can also be a source of strength and resilience. They believe that death can be a catalyst for change and that it can help us to live more fully in the present moment.

One of the most famous examples of this idea is the story of Soren Kierkegaard's "The Fear of Death." Kierkegaard believed that death was a necessary part of life and that it could be a source of great meaning and beauty. He wrote, "Death is the only thing that gives life meaning." However, he also believed that death could be a source of fear and anxiety. He wrote, "The fear of death is the root of all evil."

To address this fear, Kierkegaard proposed a solution that he called "the leap of faith." He believed that we could overcome our fear of death by believing in something greater than ourselves. He wrote, "Faith is the only way to overcome the fear of death."

Another example of the idea of mortality and the impact it has on our lives is the story of Albert Camus's "The Stranger." Camus believed that death was a natural part of life and that it could be a source of great meaning and beauty. He wrote, "Death is the only thing that gives life meaning." However, he also believed that death could be a source of despair and hopelessness. He wrote, "The Stranger is a man who has lost his way."

To address this despair, Camus proposed a solution that he called "the absurd." He believed that life was meaningless and that we should embrace the absurdity of it. He wrote, "The absurd is the only way to live."

Despite the many different perspectives on the point of living, there are some common themes that emerge from the work of these thinkers. One of these themes is the importance of love and relationships. Many thinkers believe that love is the most important thing in life and that it can help us to overcome our fears and anxieties. Dostoyevsky, for example, wrote, "Love is the only thing that gives life meaning." Tolstoy, on the other hand, wrote, "Love is the only thing that makes life worth living."

Another theme is the importance of self-discovery and personal growth. Many thinkers believe that we can only truly live if we are willing to explore our own minds and hearts and to learn from our experiences. Dostoyevsky, for example, wrote, "The only thing that gives life meaning is the struggle to overcome oneself." Tolstoy, on the other hand, wrote, "The only thing that makes life worth living is the struggle to become better."

In addition to these themes, there are also some stark contrasts in the understanding of what kind of world we live in and what really matters in life. For example, Dostoyevsky believed that the world was a place of suffering and that we should strive to overcome it. Tolstoy, on the other hand, believed that the world was a place of beauty and that we should embrace it.

One of the challenges that we face in understanding the point of living is the fact that we are all mortal. This means that we will eventually die and that our lives will be finite. This can lead to a sense of urgency and a desire to make the most of our time. However, it can also lead to a sense of despair and hopelessness.

One of the ways that we can address this challenge is by developing a sense of gratitude. Gratitude is the ability to appreciate the things that we have in our lives and to be thankful for them. It can help us to overcome our fears and anxieties and to live more fully in the present moment.

Another way that we can address this challenge is by developing a sense of purpose. Purpose is the reason that we exist and the reason that we do the things that we do. It can help us to overcome our fears and anxieties and to live more fully in the present moment.

In conclusion, the question of the point of living has been a perennial one, with philosophers and writers throughout history grappling with its implications. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Soren Kierkegaard, Arthur Schopenhauer, Herman Melville, Friedrich Nietzsche, William James, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Marcel Proust, and Albert Camus are among the many thinkers who have explored this question in their work. Their ideas, woven together in this book, offer a rich tapestry of concepts, voices, and images that help the reader understand the concerns at the heart of their work and uncover common themes and stark contrasts in their understanding of what kind of world we live in and what really matters in life. Whether you believe that death is the end of everything or whether it can be a meaningful experience, there is much to learn from the work of these thinkers.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350073647

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