The power of meaning: the quest for an existential roadmap.
Steve Paulson, Jay Lombard, Massimo Pigliucci, Michael Ruse, Emily Esfahani Smith
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences November 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13699 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Conversation or interview Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Belonging Eudaimonia Happiness Hedonia Meaning Panpsychism Purpose Soul Story telling Transcendence |
| Key points | The conversation presents varied viewpoints on meaning: Lombard, Pigliucci, Ruse, and Smith each offer different frameworks for understanding meaning, from neurological and philosophical to practical perspectives. They suggest that meaning can be found individually and universally, and that it relates to well-being, though no consensus is reached. |
Abstract
Where can we turn to find the story of our lives-an existential roadmap that explains where we have come from, why we are here, and where we are headed? Must each of us discover meaning within the context of our individual lives, or are there universal sources of meaning that we can all access? Is there any relationship between living a meaningful life and the quality of our health and well-being? And how can we find meaning in the face of adversity and suffering? Neurologist Jay Lombard, philosophers Massimo Pigliucci and Michael Ruse, and author Emily Esfahani Smith shed light on these perennial questions in conversation with Steve Paulson, executive producer and host of To the Best of Our Knowledge.