The PHILOSOPHER Who Solved The MEANING of LIFE? Leo Tolstoy

Summary

This video explores the profound existential crisis faced by the great writer Leo Tolstoy, who, despite achieving fame, wealth, and family, struggled with the meaning of life. His search for purpose led him through philosophy, science, and personal reflection, ultimately finding solace in faith. Tolstoy’s journey reflects a struggle with nihilism and a search for peace beyond intellectual understanding. He concluded that true meaning in life comes not from material success or reason, but through faith and humility, which gave him the peace he had long sought.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tolstoy, despite his fame, wealth, and family, faced an existential crisis at the age of 50, leading him to question the purpose of life and his own existence.
• 😀 In his early life, Tolstoy struggled with faith, having lost both parents and been disillusioned by Christianity, which shaped his later philosophical explorations.
• 😀 Tolstoy experienced intense nihilistic thoughts, which led him to contemplate suicide. However, he chose a different path—a search for meaning and ultimate peace.
• 😀 A key turning point in Tolstoy's journey was his reflection on a parable about a man caught between a wild beast and a dragon, which helped him understand life's absurdities.
• 😀 Despite studying various philosophies (e.g., Socrates, Buddha) and science, Tolstoy found no solace, feeling that they ultimately led to nihilism or disillusionment with life's purpose.
• 😀 Tolstoy identified four main ways people cope with life's absurdity: ignoring it (absurdism), indulgence in pleasures (epicurianism), suicide, or passive resignation (existential limbo).
• 😀 Tolstoy rejected both absurdism and indulgence, viewing them as inadequate responses to the deeper questions of life's meaning, offering only temporary relief.
• 😀 The state of existential limbo, where individuals recognize life's meaninglessness but lack the strength or energy to act on it, was considered by Tolstoy as the weakest form of existence.
• 😀 Tolstoy’s encounter with the unwavering faith of peasants led him to reconsider his own lack of faith, realizing that belief in something greater than the material world could provide a sense of purpose.
• 😀 Through embracing a simple, humble faith—rooted in the belief in the infinite and in God—Tolstoy overcame his despair and found true peace, abandoning the intellectual search for meaning.

Q & A

What was the central existential crisis that Tolstoy faced in his later years?

Tolstoy's central existential crisis was a profound questioning of life's meaning, purpose, and the inevitability of death. Despite his fame, wealth, and family, he struggled with nihilistic thoughts, contemplating suicide and searching for a reason to continue living.

How did Tolstoy's early life influence his later struggles with faith and meaning?

Tolstoy's early life was marked by tragedy, including the loss of both parents. This created a sense of abandonment and skepticism toward Christianity. These early experiences laid the groundwork for his later philosophical struggles with faith and the meaning of life.

What role did Tolstoy's work, 'A Confession,' play in his search for meaning?

'A Confession' served as a personal reflection where Tolstoy expressed his deep existential struggles. He candidly explored his crisis of faith and attempted to rationalize his desire to end his life, ultimately revealing his search for meaning and a greater understanding of life.

What was the significance of the parable of the man in the well for Tolstoy?

The parable represented Tolstoy's own existential dilemma, where he was caught between the 'wild beast' of his fears about existence and the 'dragon' of death. The honey on the leaves symbolized fleeting moments of solace and meaning amid life's overwhelming difficulties.

Why did Tolstoy reject both philosophy and science in his search for life's meaning?

Tolstoy rejected both philosophy and science because he found their answers to be ultimately unsatisfying. Philosophical teachings led to nihilistic conclusions, and science, particularly Darwinism, seemed to reduce humans to accidental creations without deeper purpose or meaning.

What were the four ways Tolstoy identified for people to cope with existential challenges?

Tolstoy identified four responses to existential struggles: 1) Ignoring the absurdity of life (absurdism), 2) Pursuing indulgence and pleasure (epicurianism), 3) Considering suicide as an escape, and 4) Living in existential limbo, where one acknowledges life's meaninglessness but remains passive and resigned.

How did Tolstoy view the peasant's faith in contrast to his own intellectual struggles?

Tolstoy was struck by the simple yet unwavering faith of the peasants, who found purpose and resilience through belief in God despite their suffering. This faith stood in contrast to his own intellectual struggles, where reason alone failed to provide peace or meaning.

What realization did Tolstoy have that changed his perspective on faith?

Tolstoy realized that faith, particularly in the infinite, was key to transcending the limitations of the finite world. His intellectual search for meaning had failed, but the faith of others, especially the poor, showed him that belief in something greater than oneself could offer true purpose and peace.

How did Tolstoy's life change after he embraced faith?

After embracing faith, Tolstoy found peace and purpose by living a simpler, more humble life dedicated to helping others. He focused on service and the well-being of the poor, embracing a life of humility and devotion to God, which brought him the fulfillment he had previously lacked.

What was the ultimate message of Tolstoy's journey toward finding meaning?

The ultimate message of Tolstoy's journey is that true peace and meaning in life can only be found through faith in something greater than oneself, such as God. Intellectual achievements, wealth, and reason were insufficient to provide lasting happiness; only faith could provide a sense of purpose beyond life's suffering.