Margaret Edson’s W;t proposes that the meaning of life is to maintain a balance between intellect and emotion. Others, such as Martin Luther King Jr. assert that “If man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live,” hinting that we need to serve a purpose in life. Both statements assure us that life has some sort of meaning to it. That, in order to be content, you should be devoted to a cause, you should maintain some sort of balance, some sort of meaning.
Sorry, but I like the nihilistic way of thinking. There is no objective meaning to life.
We as humans find it necessary to attach meaning to our lives. Some sort of purpose. Otherwise, life appears to be empty. Void. Meaningless. Living life like this is the key for destruction. So, to solve, we create this novel idea that life has a meaning to it. That there’s some sort of purpose to be served.
One example, in light of the holiday season, is Christmas. What do parents ask their children every year? What does Santa ask? “Have you been a good boy or girl?” If you’ve behaved accordingly, you shall be rewarded. Look at that. From day one, if you have done what you are supposed to, if you have behaved well, if you have portrayed some sort of positive meaning, we will reward you.
Now apply this method to a larger scale. If you, for example, discover something that you are willing to die for and uphold this passion in life, then you have lived with meaning. You will be rewarded, like the child receiving a Christmas gift for behaving well throughout the year. You will be rewarded for meaning. But what if you haven’t found something you’re willing to die for – something you think holds meaning to life? It doesn’t mean you’re not “fit to live.” It’s just a way of life. Life is a day-to-day basis. There is no grand, elaborate meaning behind it because, most of the time, our actions are spontaneous. We applied such a meaning so life seems orderly rather than chaotic. As Franz Kafka said, “The meaning of life is that it ends.”
