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Meaning in Life and Why It Matters

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( 453 ratings, 71 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Meaning in Life and Why It Matters by Susan Wolf explores the nature of meaningfulness in life, focusing on why some activities are considered fulfilling while others feel empty. The book delves into the unique combination of personal satisfaction and objective value that contributes to a life well-lived. It challenges readers to reflect on their understanding of meaningfulness beyond mere happiness or moral virtue.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$8200

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're intrigued by philosophical explorations of what makes life meaningful. Susan Wolf delves into the intersection of ethics, psychology, and personal fulfilment, offering insights that challenge conventional notions and encourage profound self-reflection. It's an engaging read for those interested in understanding how and why meaning plays a crucial role in our lives.

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Often we act neither for our own sake nor out of duty or an impersonal concern for the world. Rather, we act out of love for objects that we rightly perceive as worthy of love - and it is these actions that give meaning to our lives. This title states that this kind of meaningfulness constitutes a distinctive dimension of a good life.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Most people, including philosophers, tend to classify human motives as falling into one of two categories: the egoistic or the altruistic, the self-interested or the moral. According to Susan Wolf, however, much of what motivates us does not comfortably fit into this scheme.

Often we act neither for our own sake nor out of duty or an impersonal concern for the world. Rather, we act out of love for objects that we rightly perceive as worthy of loveβ€”and it is these actions that give meaning to our lives.

Wolf makes a compelling case that, along with happiness and morality, this kind of meaningfulness constitutes a distinctive dimension of a good life. Written in a lively and engaging style, and full of provocative examples, Meaning in Life and Why It Matters is a profound and original reflection on a subject of permanent human concern.

Series: The University Center for Human Values Series

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  • Meaning in Life and Why It Matters
    Most people, including philosophers, tend to classify human motives as falling into one of two categories: the egoistic or the altruistic, the self-interested or the moral. According to Susan Wolf, however, much of what motivates us does not comfortably fit into this scheme. Often we act neither for our own sake nor out of duty or an impersonal concern for...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Meaning in Life and Why It Matters by Susan Wolf offers a compelling exploration of how philosophy and psychology can intersect to enhance our understanding of life's meaning. The book has been praised for its sophisticated philosophical argumentation, particularly for its focus on everyday intuitions and feelings, making it a significant contribution to both fields.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691154503

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 March 2012

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Contributors:

  • Commentaries by John Koethe
  • Commentaries by Robert M. Adams
  • Commentaries by Nomy Arpaly
  • Commentaries by Jonathan Haidt
  • Introduction by Stephen Macedo
  • Commentaries by Robert McC. Adams

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 198g

Pages: 162

About the Author

Susan Wolf is the Edna J. Koury Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is the author of "Freedom within Reason."

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