The Meaning of Life Cover Image

Smisao života
The Meaning of Life

Author(s): Boran Berčić
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Hrvatsko Filozofsko Društvo

Summary/Abstract: The author argues that the question about the meaning of life should primarily be understood as the question about the logical structure of the reasons for acting. That is, the question about the meaning of life is primarily a quest for rational reconstruction of our practical reason. The fact that many of our actions may be justified within the framework of instrumental rationality naturally suggests that at the end of the chain of justification there must be ultimate reason/s for acting. Usual candidates are happiness, objective purpose, care for others, etc. Author rejects all of these answers and argues that the framework of instrumental rationality is ill understood in this context, because many things that we do in our lives do not have only instrumental value but intrinsic value as well. That is, the author rejects the idea that there must be a single reason for acting and finally argues in favour of value pluralism.

  • Issue Year: 26/2006
  • Issue No: 01/101
  • Page Range: 91-113
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Croatian