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Finding Meaning In The Natural World Essay

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Understanding absurdities in life is necessary in order to establish ways that we can find meaning when these absurdities are present. Through the works of Camus it is clear that the conflict of human desire and the silence of the world it is possible to lack meaning in life. However, Flanagan and Taylor establish a clear explanation of how our motivations and desires give us a purpose.
It is common for individuals, at times, to question whether or not meaning exists in their life. This question causes one to experience the feelings of absurdity that life presents itself with. In Camus’ “An Absurd Reasoning,” he establishes a bold stance on what an absurd world looks like by explaining the absurd as a feeling received when questioning the meaning …show more content…
He says that in order for there to be meaning in ones life they must make meaning (Flanagan 37). He suggests that we make meaning with “spaces of meaning” and that these spaces of meaning are what people find pleasure in, giving meaning to their lives. (Flanagan 37).” When people are dealing with the absurdities of life it is important to engage in an aspect of life that you are passionate about because it will give you a feeling of purpose. When we participate in something we care about we are contributing to an aspect of life and this contribution connects us with the world and creates a reason for our existence. Flanagan also recognizes not only how we are motivated by our self-interest, but also how we are social creatures and made to bond with other humans (Flanagan 43). We find meaning through our ability to keep ourselves alive and in helping others survive. Richard Taylor exhibits a view on both a meaningless human life that is seen when we look at human life externally but a meaningful life that is seen when viewed at internally. He suggests that life will appear to be meaningless if we view it from an external perspective (Taylor 82). When we step back and view human life externally we see it in a simplistic and generalized way that does not capture meaning. In order for us to see meaning in life we have to

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