Analysis Of Meaning In Life And Why It Matters By Susan Wolf

In her essay “Meaning in Life and Why It Matters,” Susan Wolf discusses the reasons that contribute to meaning in our lives and argues that we should “understand meaningfulness as an attribute lives can have that is not reducible to or subsumable under either happiness, as it is ordinarily understood, or morality” (3). In laying out her beliefs of how we can find meaning, she discusses different viewpoints and offers suggestions of how they should be altered and combined to make a more accurate theory she calls the ‘Fitting Fulfillment View.’ In this paper I will explain the details of the Fitting Fulfillment View as described by Wolf as well as why it is important to talk about meaning and how we can judge whether something is meaningful or not. Through looking at the example of education, I will prove that Wolf’s account is reasonable, versatile, and …show more content…
An activity must fulfill two requirements to be deemed meaningful in this view. One of two parts, the subjective view, is based on whether or not the person finds enjoyment and fulfillment in their activity. However, Wolf does specify that there is a difference between pleasures and fulfillment and that an individual should be aware of that during their assessment (14). The objective view is where assessment becomes tricky. Many people question why they have any right to judge someone else’s life, particularly when the individual enjoys that activity. The question is also raised of how many people must find the object worthy of love before it is justified. However, Wolf insists that in order for an activity or object to have meaning, others must also find it “worthy of love” in addition with the subjective affinity for the activity or object. Although it is at times difficult to draw the line and it is likely impossible to determine a clear cut answer, Wolf acknowledges that all the answers have not been found