In the 2010 book Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, Susan Wolf asks “what kind of lives are meaningful” and proposes that meaningful lives involve “loving objects worthy of love.”
In response, psychologist Jonathan Haidt presents the case of one of his students, a woman who was passionate about horses. She loved riding them, studying their history, and making “horse friends” with others who shared her passion. He argues that this woman found meaning in life, but he recognizes that “all of her horsing around does nothing for anyone else, and it does not make the world a better place.”
In Wolf’s reply, she agrees with Haidt that the woman’s love of horses gave her life meaning, and adds that among the activities that might bestow meaning are basketball, crossword puzzles, and lawn mower racing.
In an effort to assess such examples, let us consider Sandy, a person who cares about others, treats them with respect, and seeks to alleviate their distress. Sandy does not suffer from anxiety, alienation, frustration, disappointment, or depression, and has found contentment—although whether in basketball, crossword puzzles, lawn mower racing, caregiving, fundraising, stock broking, cooking, sailing, gardening, hiking, golf, mahjong, or meditation we shall not specify.
Would you agree with us that Sandy’s life has meaning, i.e. that Sandy is living well? Or to reach this conclusion, do you first need to know whether Sandy is an avid reader, a sharp thinker, a lover of the fine arts, a good friend to many, a participant in political activity, a religious adherent, a parent, or something else?
Furthermore, if Sandy does not satisfy your vision of a meaningful life, would you be willing to say to Sandy that while your life has meaning, Sandy’s life does not?
Steven M. Cahn
Steven M Cahn is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the City University of New York Graduate Center. Among the recent books he has authored are Teaching Philosophy: A Guide (Routledge, 2018); Inside Academia: Professors, Politics, and Policies (Rutgers, 2019); Navigating Academic Life: How the System Works (Routledge, 2021); Professors as Teachers (Wipf and Stock, 2022), and, most recently, From Student to Scholar: A Candid Guide to Becoming a Professor, Second Edition (Wipf and Stock, 2024).
Christine Vitrano
Christine Vitrano, associate professor of philosophy at Brooklyn College of The City University of New York, are the authors of Happiness and Goodness: Philosophical Reflections on Living Well (New York: Columbia University Press, 2015).
I’m a bit confused about the example of Sally. It seems to contain two crucial aspects (plus a third on which I won’t comment) that seem to vie for our attention: her caring for others and aiming to alleviate their distress, and her finding contentment in one or more activities that seem focused on her though they might involve others. Is the example meant to be unclear in this way? Why? But, in either way, it seems to me that the the answer is “Yes,” on a fairly usual way of understanding “meaningful life.” Most people would agree that lives such as Sally’s are meaningful, and that constantly (or most of the time) helping others is one standard by which to assess a meaningful life. (I think that David Schmidtz has written an essay on this.)
Moreover, we seem to think that various activities count as worthwhile (hiking, bird-watching, crossword-puzzle solving) while others are not (e.g., typical philosophical examples like counting blades of grass or collecting bottle caps [as not part of some performance art]), though it’s not clear how to draw the distinction. Lives devoted to the former count as meaningful (just going by common opinion). In some cultures, having children and raising a family counts as a necessary (and often sufficient) condition for having a meaningful life.
As to your last question, I’m not sure why it is there. Is it meant to indicate that not willing to tell Sally that her life is not meaningful tells us something about our judgment that it is not? If so, I’m not sure that that is right. It might be rational for someone to dump their spouse (or, more radically, to commit suicide) but as sure as hell I won’t be the one to tell them that!
Everyone will have their own unique opinions and perspectives on the subject. In my view, having a sense of purpose and fulfillment, developing meaningful relationships, and making a positive impact on the world can all help to make life meaningful. Having purpose and direction in life can provide a sense of meaning, as it gives us something to strive for and work towards. Building strong relationships with people we love and care about can bring us joy and satisfaction, and provide a sense of connection with the world around us. Lastly, making a positive impact on the world can give us a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing that we have contributed to a better tomorrow. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide what makes life meaningful.