Questioning the Meaning of Life Essay - 1972 Words

`Where did we come from?, `Why are we here?, `Where are we going?. These are questions which surface, centre stage, at some point in most peoples lives. For philosophers, and others, they constitute the core problem known traditionally as the Meaning of Life. It might be thought that the first task in considering the question of the `Meaning of Life is to define the key terms: `Life and `Meaning. However, the meanings of `Meaning are many; and `Life itself could be seen as not so much a separate entity, but rather, the totality of those meanings to which I have alluded. Anyway, I shall take `Life in this context to mean HUMAN life, and the meaning of this life as, specifically, the condition of our existence so far as we bring†¦show more content†¦Sometimes it is taken as equivalent to `the value of life, or that in virtue of which life is worth living. It may also be taken to refer to the nature of the human condition - how it is with us, how we FEEL about life. Nevertheless, to the extent that questions about the `Why of life may be seen as concerned with the value of life (`What makes life worth living?), they are therefore related to the ethical. Pessimism is a possible answer to the question of lifes meaning: life is devoid of meaning in the sense of worth. Pessimism or optimism may be thought merely an attitude people have towards life, something having no objective validity; the optimist sees the bottle as half full, the pessimist sees it half empty - and thats all there is about it. But, while some of our attitudes towards things are unreasoned others are not. A pessimist may have arguments for pessimism: one philosopher actually claimed to have proven that the moments of pleasure in anyones life are always greatly out-numbered by the moments of pain. Conversely, there can be reasoned arguments against pessimism. Accounts of the human condition may combine both pessimism and optimism. The Christian doctrine of the Fall of Man, for example, is essentially a pessimistic assessment of life here in thisShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of A Dream Within a Dream by Edgar Allen Poe Essay850 Words   |  4 PagesDream’ was written by Edgar Allan Poe on 1849, the year that he was found dead because of substance abuse. Considering that the author had gone through many hard times throughout his life with the loss of his beloved ones, this poem might refer to the emotional pain he suffered that let him to question the reality of life. The poem is written in despair as the tone is a mixture of mystery, loneliness and despair. The poem deals with the speaker’s troubling idea that reality is just a dream as the narratorRead MoreThe Importance Of Lifeful Life1102 Words   |  5 PagesIn modern society very few people are living a meaningful life, where they are happy to live their lives on a daily ba sis doing something that enriches their happiness. The majority in the other hand live their lives in different ways: They live in the future for which most of their dreams and goals are set, they live in a mechanical life, or they try to understand this world to find it meaning. The way the most people live their life is not meaningful, they waste most of their time waiting for somethingRead MoreComparision Of Hamlet With Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead1306 Words   |  6 PagesGuildenstern are Dead (R and G†¦) by Tom Stoppard is a transformation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that has been greatly influenced due to an external contextual shift. The sixteenth century Elizabethan historical and social context, accentuating a time of questioning had specific values which are transformed and altered in Stoppard’s Existential, post two-world wars twentieth century historical and social context. 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In Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Act Without Words II, the play serves as an authentic reflection of life and actively questions and inquires on what it means to â€Å"be.† The lack of scenery and drama, long pauses, and irresolute questioning emphasizes the act of thinking that provides the question to the answer we are all yearning for: what does it mean to existRead More Samuel Becketts Waiting For Godot And Act Without Words II?1692 Words   |  7 Pagesthe world and who we have learned it from so that we can craft our most authentic selves, a â€Å"self† that is transparent and questioning. 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A Slothful, Gluttonous, and Patronizing Character in A...

A Confederacy of Dunces – written by John Kennedy Toole – took place during the early 1960s in New Orleans. In A Confederacy of Dunces, Ignatius J. Reilly, the main character of the book, acquired two jobs after his mother had gotten into an accident. He worked at Levy Pants and as a hot dog vendor to make money to help his mother pay for the damages caused by her accident. Ignatius is the following: slothful, gluttonous, and patronizing. Ignatius is a slothful human being. After his mother found out that she owed a lot of money for the damages caused by her accident, she told Ignatius that he would need to get a job to help her pay. He thought it was inconceivable that his mother wanted him to get a job. Ignatius is too slothful to get a†¦show more content†¦Nut and bakery cakes (263). Ignatius is a patronizing human being. When Ignatius was standing underneath the clock of the D. H. Holmes department store, he was looking down upon other people standing near him. He observed the new and expensive outfits of the people, which he thought could be considered offenses against taste and decency. He believed that anything new or expensive reflected a person’s lack of theology and geometry (1). When Ignatius was gathering all of the factory workers to prepare them for the riot, he patronized them. The factory workers started to complain about all of his requests. Ignatius responded to their complaining saying that they are not deserving of the cause and that they are not prepared to make any sacrifices (137). Ignatius’s mother wanted to read the letter that Mr. Levy had brought to their house when he wanted to ask Ignatius if he had written it. Ignatius told Mr. Levy to not let her read the letter because it would confuse her for days (367). Ignatius is indeed a slothful, gluttonous, and patronizing man. These qualities are seen constantly throughout the entire book. His own mother began to consider putting him in the psychiatric ward at Charity because she could not deal with him. Santa Battaglia, a friend of Mrs. Reilly, even pushed for Mrs. Reilly to put Ignatius in the psychiatric ward. Miss Annie, the

The impact of a Christian Worldview in the family Essay Example For Students

The impact of a Christian Worldview in the family Essay life Outline Introduction I. The Christian Worldview. II. Living the Christian Worldview in the Family Life. Conclusion Introduction: Do we have a narrow view of the Christian faith? Many see it as simply a personal relationship with God, a commitment to Sunday services, Wednesday evening Bible study, and a little witnessing. Those are all good activitiesas far as they go. But Christians need to realize that every decision they make reflects their core values. So choices about voting, budgeting, marriage, movies, and heroes are all philosophical issues. Christians who dont have a distinctively Christian philosophya view of the world informed by biblical truthwill easily be suckered into living by the worlds philosophies. This is why church pews may be full on Sundays, but secular values dominate our culture. It is time for Christians to put away childish thinking and boldly confront the world with the message of Christ. I. The Christian Worldview. Each of us lives in a physical, economic, and social environment largely not of our making. Even so, we form part of our environment, and in visible and important ways we are formed by it. Furthermore, beyond our immediate surroundings lie urban, national, continental, and international cultures that also shape us. We can no more avoid participating in our surrounding cultures than we can avoid life itself. It is neither practical nor Christian to attempt to escape the major social structures in which human life occurs. God created the world; He is not its enemy. Christians believe God also ordained the primary orders of life, including family, government, community, human productivity, gainful employment, and commercial exchange. All of us come to know ourselves as participants in such structures even though they differ in particulars from one culture to another. If the creation is good, as the Bible declares, then so are the primary social structures that help make human life possible. A worldview is simply the lens through which we see and assess the whole of human culture and our place in it. It is one of the major devices by which we navigate life. Culture means the complex network of institutions, values, habits, tools, arts, and livelihoods that we create in community and that in turn shape us. Cultures are noticeably affected by their places in history and by their physical, spatial, technological, intellectual, and religious locations. Our worldview is strongly influenced by our place in a particular culture. Everyone has a world view. It is not only a human prerogative, but a human necessity. Usually we arent even conscious of our worldview(s). Like corrective lenses, they are transparent unless called to our attention or until we venture into a culture marked by another worldview. Even then, the ;strangeness; of the other worldview likely will impress us most. Developing a Christian worldview means coming to see the whole world through the eyes of the resurrected Lord, who has judged the powers of darkness and who is even now making all things new. Seeing this world as the scene of a new creation, Paul said, is possible only after one has experienced the new creation in ones self (2 Corinthians 5:14-21) . Only after the gospels complete degree has seized us, only after we understand that in Christ the Name of God is being declared in all the earth, can we understand and develop a Christian worldview. A Christian worldview leads to a new way of seeing and doing and it derives from a new way of being. Developing a Christian worldview requires that we submit all of lifes dimensions-individual and group, natural and technological, secular and sacred-to examination and reformation by the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20-28) . Anyone not committed to comprehensive transformation should pay another visit to the meaning of discipleship. The Christian worldview is the truth from Christs point of view, informed by His prerogatives, not our feelings or experience. This is the truth that, when known, will set us free. Whether a person is Christian or not, he must acknowledge that the Bible describes a comprehensive perspective of life and the world. .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 , .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .postImageUrl , .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 , .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4:hover , .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4:visited , .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4:active { border:0!important; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4:active , .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4 .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u65b20c5395ecce846888ed0ba46607f4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Hawthorne Essay We must have a firm conviction that ;the earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1) . Is this world .

Three Georges Dam Essays - Yangtze River, Three Gorges Dam, Yichang

Three Georges Dam The United States, China and the Three Gorges Dam: Toward A Sounder Foreign Environmental Policy Yumiko Kojima, Kyoko Murai, Howard Pang, and Elena Vitale The Three Gorges Dam project on Chinas Yangzi River is the worlds largest hydroelectric undertaking. While Chinese leaders say the dam will improve river navigation, prevent periodic flooding, and provide the needed electricity for Chinas growing economy, many doubt that the dam will be able to meet the proponents claims and instead point to evidence of environmental catastrophe if it is built. Under pressure from NGOs, the Clinton Administration has opposed the provision of competitive export financing for the dam. This decision sparked criticism from U.S. executives who argue that by not participating the United States is losing jobs and the opportunity to mitigate the negative aspects of the dam. This paper argues that the U.S. position was justified. As part of a consistent and credible environmental policy to promote sustainable development, the United States should integrate environmental guidelines into its commercial diplomacy. U.S. policy towards China should provide support for prudent environmental policies as well as environmental technology transfers, both to foster environmentalism and advance U.S. commercial interests. Introduction Construction of the Three Gorges Dam on Chinas Yangzi River began in earnest in late November 1997, perhaps marking the end of almost 15 years of debate on the project among American policymakers. However, the case highlights a key dilemma in U.S. foreign policy-making that is likely to remain for years to come: how to balance U.S. commercial interests with environmental concerns. Though lauded by environmentalists, the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Banks decision not to provide financing for U.S. equipment suppliers vying for dam-related contracts has been criticized roundly by American corporations. They claim the policy hampers their efforts to break into the lucrative Chinese market. The prospect of similar potentially destructive megadams being proposed in other emerging economies means that U.S. policy on the Three Gorges Dam sets a precedent that will either aid or hamper American efforts to promote sounder environmental policies abroad. This paper will examine the Ex-Im Banks decision and its implications for U.S. foreign environmental policy. To this end, it will first outline the rationales behind support for and opposition to the project, including an evaluation of the net environmental impact of the dam. The following section will consider several issues raised by the case in order to assess the merits of the U.S. governments stance. The paper concludes with some recommendations for a more credible and consistent U.S. foreign environmental policy. Background The concept of the Three Gorges Dam is over 75 years old, dating back to when it was first proposed by the nationalist leader Sun Yat-Sen, in 1919. The dam was a dream of communist leader Mao Zedong, who felt it would be a potent symbol of Chinas self-sufficiency and ability to develop without western aid. In 1992, Chinese leaders officially announced plans to harness the rivers power by constructing the worlds largest hydroelectric dam only after communist leaders managed to silence opposition and pushed the plan through the National Peoples Congress. The Three Gorges refers to a 120-mile stretch of limestone cliffs along the upper reaches of the Yangzi River where the water drops precipitously through the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges. The region is linked to folklore and important historical events, and its beauty has inspired Chinese painters and classical poets such as Li Bai for centuries. Since the dams approval, however, the project has met with significant opposition, both domestic and international, as human rights groups, environmentalists, and historians decry the extraordinary costs the dam will incur. The dam, which will be 1.3 miles long and 610 feet high, is expected to be completed by 2009. It will create a 385 mile-long reservoir stretching back up the river that will totally engulf the Three Gorges, as well as 115,000 acres of rich farmland, thirteen cities, hundreds of villages, and countless historic temples and archeological sites. Between 1.4 and 1.9 million people will need to be resettled. The project poses significant ecological dangers, technical challenges, and human rights issues and has raised questions about the rights of other industrialized nations to intervene in Chinese internal affairs. It is the largest, most expensive, and