The Meaning of Life
Harrison argues for choosing a personally meaningful life while questioning inherited claims about purpose. He presents reasoning, curiosity, and relationships as resources for that search, rather than prescribing one universal answer.
THE IDEA
THE MEANING OF LIFE
I’m reluctant to tackle the topic of life’s meaning because it is so difficult to address in a sensible manner that is of use to anyone. So many words and hours already have been sacrificed in vain on this one. It’s so personal and subjective that what people say about it usually ends up having about as much weight and substance as the gas inside a Portuguese man o’ war’s flotation bladder. However, I think that good skeptics who wish to engage believers in productive conversation can’t duck this issue because so many beliefs have been tied to the endless quest for purpose and meaning. There is just no way around it.
I suppose I could prattle on about what I think other people should strive for in their lives. But I’m pretty sure I’m not qualified because my own life is still a work in progress. Perhaps when I achieve personal perfection and figure out all the secrets of the universe I’ll feel confident enough to write a script for someone else’s life. At the present time, however, I don’t see a guy in the mirror who has the meaning of life all sorted out. What I do see is someone who found a way that is working pretty well for him so far. So I’m only comfortable saying that this may be what everyone needs to do. Find what works best for you and ride off into the sunset. That’s the best cliché I can offer. Wherever your search leads, however, I am certain of one thing: Make sure to bring your brain along with you.
Please don’t think that you are too weak to stand on your own without a bunch of unproven claims and beliefs propping you up and showing you the way. If that is the state you are in currently, then please rethink your course in life. Chances are you arrived at this conclusion only because of exposure to someone else’s ideas about human strength and weakness. From birth, the not-so-subtle influences of your culture probably blasted you relentlessly with messages that numerous irrational beliefs were perfectly rational. Be careful about trusting the direction of your life on the words of fallible human beings. They may mean well when they invent and promote all these claims and beliefs, but don’t forget that every one of them is playing the game with an imperfect and deceptive human brain. For this reason alone, they can’t be trusted to be right about everything. Look at our history, the herd has been wrong many, many times before. The herd is wrong about many things right now, no doubt. Look around. Are you surrounded by infallible geniuses? Didn’t think so. Honestly, what do you think the chances are that you just happened to have been born into the first family, first society, and first time period in all of history that got it right on everything important?
It’s your life, and you have to decide how to live it as you see fit, of course, but I hope you will at least take into consideration the abilities and potential of that magnificent thinking machine of yours. It can achieve wonders and protect and guide you well. But only if you decide to help it help you. With a well-cared-for brain that is set free, you can investigate, explore, imagine, and create your way through life without ever having to be a weak skeptic who passively embraces unproven beliefs. Good skeptics can still live on the edge if they so choose. Good skeptics can hope for the unlikely and reach for the impossible. Only they do it without pretending to know things they do not know. Their ignorance is a motivation to learn rather than a reason to lie.
Why would you want or need a belief to give your life meaning when it was likely only made up by someone anyway? Why not make your own meaning with your own brain? Why not choose your own path toward what you define as a meaningful life? Why not find confidence and comfort by looking within yourself and by reaching outside yourself to other human beings who know and share similar hopes and fears?
I will close this uncomfortable but necessary brief excursion into the meaning of life by encouraging you to take responsibility for yourself. The meaning of life, for you, is whatever you say it is. Don’t trade years of your life for delusions or lies manufactured by other people who failed to think well or just want your money. Trust me, your brain will fool you more than enough all by itself. You don’t need anyone else helping you to make mistakes.
When to use it
When facing a major life decision (career, relationship, relocation), use personal reasoning instead of defaulting to societal expectations.
When feeling existential anxiety or confusion, engage in self-reflection and critical thinking rather than adopting a pre-packaged belief system.
When debating with someone who claims to have the 'one true' meaning of life, apply skeptical inquiry to explore the origins and validity of that claim.
When teaching others about cognitive biases, use the pursuit of meaning as an example of how the brain can be misled by authority and conformity.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Feeling Lost in Career
A young professional feels unfulfilled in a high-paying job chosen based on family expectations. Instead of continuing to rely on external validation, they pause to define what truly matters to them—autonomy, creativity, and impact—and then pivot to a career aligned with those values.
Questioning Religious Upbringing
A person raised in a strict religious community begins to doubt its teachings. Rather than suppressing these doubts or blindly accepting dogma, they use critical thinking to explore their own beliefs, eventually constructing a personal philosophy that combines elements of skepticism and humanism.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How much of your sense of purpose comes from your own reasoning versus from external sources like family, culture, or religion?
What beliefs about life's meaning have you inherited, and how would you evaluate them if you had to justify them solely with evidence?
If you had to define your own meaning of life right now, without borrowing from any external system, what would you choose and why?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Think (Guy P. Harrison)