The meaning of life: What makes life worth living? | Frank Martela | TEDxHelsinkiUniversity

Summary

The video explores the philosophical question of life's meaning, drawing on historical and contemporary insights. It discusses how famous figures like Leo Tolstoy and existentialists struggled with the paradox of finding meaning, especially in an increasingly materialistic world. The speaker presents research showing that wealth doesn’t correlate with life meaning, highlighting the significance of human connection and self-realization. Ultimately, the speaker argues that life's meaning is rooted in contributing to others and pursuing personal fulfillment, combining self-realization with meaningful connections to others.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tolstoy's existential crisis in 1874, despite having wealth, family, and success, led him to question the meaning of life and existence.
• 😀 Tolstoy's reflections on life were influenced by the death of his brother, which made him question the purpose of struggling and why he should live.
• 😀 Research shows that while wealth correlates with life satisfaction, it negatively correlates with people's sense of meaning in life.
• 😀 There are two main types of questions regarding the meaning of life: the universal question (why does life exist?) and the personal sense of meaning (what makes my life feel meaningful?).
• 😀 The universal question remains unsolvable and leads to the paradox of why something exists instead of nothing, a question we may never answer.
• 😀 The three main ways to understand personal meaning in life are: 1) coherence (understanding life), 2) purpose (future-oriented goals), and 3) significance (feeling life is worth living).
• 😀 The question of life's significance is the most important and fundamental, as it addresses whether life is worth living, a theme often explored by existential philosophers.
• 😀 The phrase 'meaning of life' was coined relatively recently, in the 19th century, as a result of a rising scientific worldview replacing religious worldviews.
• 😀 Countries with higher wealth tend to experience lower meaningfulness, with religiosity being a key factor in this trend.
• 😀 To find meaning in life today, looking to human psychology and the factors that universally motivate people is crucial. A key insight is that meaning comes from making oneself meaningful to others.
• 😀 Meaning in life can be achieved through connection with others, either through relatedness (deep relationships) or contribution (positively impacting others).

Q & A

Why did Leo Tolstoy experience an existential crisis despite having everything in life?

Tolstoy struggled with a sense of meaning in his life despite his success. He had a wife, family, wealth, and career, but after his brother's death, he questioned the purpose of life, asking himself what the real, indestructible essence of life was, especially in light of the inevitability of death.

What is the paradox related to the meaning of life discussed in the script?

The paradox is that, while wealth is often associated with greater life satisfaction, research shows that in wealthier countries, people experience less meaning in life. This contradiction challenges the assumption that material wealth leads to a more meaningful life.

What are the two main questions surrounding the concept of the meaning of life?

The two main questions are: 1) The universal question about the existence of life (Why does life exist? Why do human beings exist?), and 2) The personal question about an individual’s sense of meaning (What makes my life feel meaningful to me?).

Why is the universal question of the meaning of life difficult to answer?

The universal question of meaning is difficult because any attempt to explain the origins of life, such as through the Big Bang or a divine creator, only leads to more questions about the origins of those explanations, creating an infinite regress without a definitive answer.

What are the three ways to understand the question of meaning in life according to the speaker?

The three ways to understand meaning in life are: 1) Coherence — making sense of life and feeling it is not chaotic; 2) Purpose — having future-oriented goals that give meaning to current activities; 3) Significance — having a sense that life has inherent value and is worth living.

Which of the three ways to understand meaning in life is considered the most important, and why?

Significance is considered the most important because it addresses the fundamental question of whether life is worth living. While coherence and purpose are valuable, they are not enough on their own to create a deep sense of meaning. Significance is about finding positive value in life.

How did the rise of the scientific worldview in the 19th century affect people's perception of life's meaning?

The rise of the scientific worldview in the 19th century replaced religious explanations for existence, leading thinkers like Tolstoy, Kierkegaard, and others to struggle with faith. As religion became less central in explaining life’s meaning, the question of life's meaning became more pressing and existential.

What did the research by Oshi and Dinnake find regarding wealth and meaning in life?

Oshi and Dinnake found that, in contrast to expectations, wealthier countries often had lower levels of meaningfulness. This suggests that greater wealth does not necessarily lead to a more meaningful life, and instead, religiosity and social factors seem to play a more significant role in how meaningful life feels.

How does the speaker define the meaning of life in one sentence?

The meaning of life is about doing things meaningful to you in a way that makes yourself meaningful to other people.

What role do relationships and contribution play in finding meaning in life?

Deep relationships and the sense of contributing to others' lives are key to finding meaning. The speaker emphasizes the importance of connecting with others through love and support, as well as making a positive impact through actions that contribute to society, as exemplified by figures like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King.