The question of whether life has any sense has always been one of the most disputable issues in philosophy and ethics. Using various perspectives and frameworks, individuals have tried to determine whether their lives have any meaning. However, it is impossible to find a universal answer as it remains relative and subjective.
Secular humanism is one of the philosophies that can help to answer the question. It rejects religious dogma and introduces the idea that human life and the right to be happy are the major values. From this perspective, the meaning of life is life itself and the ability to enjoy numerous benefits available to a person.
The religious perspective introduces another view on the meaning of life. Following this framework, life is a miracle created by God, meaning that it has sense only if a person serves him and follows religious dogmas. The major weakness of the given model is that it limits a person within the frames of religion and deprives atheists of the right to happiness.
Finally, from the pessimistic perspective, life can be viewed as suffering because every human being will die in the end. For this reason, life does not have any meaning as all actions of an individual will not alter its end and, as a result, will not make a person happier. It can be viewed as a weak philosophy as it promotes helplessness.
Altogether, secular humanism gives the most plausible answer to the meaning of life question. It considers some relativist ideas, such as people’s ability to judge what is right or wrong (Lawhead 425). At the same time, it shows that life is priceless, and to make it meaningful, a person must be happy. This answer will motivate people to move forward and enjoy every moment.
Work Cited
Lawhead, William. The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach. 7th ed., McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2018.