YPHI0002 - Culture, Value YPHI0002 - Culture, Value and the Meaning of Lifeand the Meaning of Life

Lecture #1Lecture #1

Joe Lau 14Joe Lau 14thth Sept 2005 Sept 2005

Course web siteCourse web site

Course coordinator – Joe Lau Course coordinator – Joe Lau (philosophy)(philosophy)

Information and course materialInformation and course material http://philosophy.hku.hk/courses/200506/yphi0002/http://philosophy.hku.hk/courses/200506/yphi0002/

Please visit the web site forPlease visit the web site for This PowerPoint fileThis PowerPoint file AnnouncementsAnnouncements Course scheduleCourse schedule

Information about film show and yoga session.Information about film show and yoga session. Link to bulletin boardLink to bulletin board

AssessmentAssessment

PortfolioPortfolio (50%) (50%)

In-class test on 7 DecIn-class test on 7 Dec (50%) (50%) Short essay questions about the lectures.Short essay questions about the lectures. NO makeup test. DO NOT take this course if NO makeup test. DO NOT take this course if

you cannot attend the test.you cannot attend the test.

No tutorialsNo tutorials Use the course bulletin board for questions. Use the course bulletin board for questions. You can email me for appointments.You can email me for appointments.

A popular answerA popular answer

““The meaning of life is to search for the The meaning of life is to search for the meaning of life.”meaning of life.”

CircularCircular No real explanation of “meaning of life”.No real explanation of “meaning of life”. X = the search for XX = the search for X

A more charitable interpretation.A more charitable interpretation. The process is important. OK if you do not The process is important. OK if you do not

know the answer.know the answer.

Two interpretationsTwo interpretations

Meaning = Meaning = purposepurpose What is the meaning of life =What is the meaning of life =

What is the purpose of life?What is the purpose of life?

Meaning = Meaning = valuevalue A meaningful life =A meaningful life =

A valuable lifeA valuable life ““Nelson Mandela’s life is very meaningful.”Nelson Mandela’s life is very meaningful.”

Purpose Purpose == Value Value

A valuable life can serve many different A valuable life can serve many different purposes.purposes.

A purposeful life might not be very A purposeful life might not be very valuable.valuable.

What is “the” meaning of life?What is “the” meaning of life?

Whose purpose?Whose purpose? Question #1 - Purpose of the creator?Question #1 - Purpose of the creator? Question #2 - Purpose of the subject?Question #2 - Purpose of the subject?

Question #1 : Is life created for a purpose? Question #1 : Is life created for a purpose? If no creator, no pre-defined purpose.If no creator, no pre-defined purpose. Doesn’t really matter whether life has a Doesn’t really matter whether life has a

pre-defined purpose, because …pre-defined purpose, because …

We should We should not fulfill “the” not fulfill “the” purpose of purpose of life if it is not life if it is not a a valuablevaluable purpose.purpose.

The most important questionThe most important question

IS NOTIS NOT What is THE meaning of life?What is THE meaning of life?IT ISIT IS How to live a valuable How to live a valuable (meaningful)(meaningful)

life?life?

Some typical answersSome typical answers

What makes a life What makes a life meaningful?meaningful? ““Following God.”Following God.”

What makes a life What makes a life meaningful?meaningful? ““Being happy.”Being happy.”

HappinessHappiness

Should we be concerned with OUR OWN Should we be concerned with OUR OWN happiness or should we also care about Ohappiness or should we also care about OTHER PEOPLE's happiness?THER PEOPLE's happiness? Justice and fairness should be a constraint Justice and fairness should be a constraint

on our pursuit of happiness.on our pursuit of happiness. We should also actively make We should also actively make

other people happy.other people happy.

Sense of justiceSense of justice

We should not pursue our own happiness We should not pursue our own happiness without regard to other people.without regard to other people.

Making other people happyMaking other people happyWhat people say on their What people say on their deathbeds:deathbeds:

““I should have spent more I should have spent more time with my friends and time with my friends and family.”family.”

But notBut not

““I should have spent more I should have spent more time in my office.” time in my office.”

Not this either …Not this either …

“ “ I should have spent more time I should have spent more time making rich people richer. ”making rich people richer. ”

$$

A typical story -A typical story -Professor Sydney ChungProfessor Sydney Chung

鍾尚志說，去年鍾尚志說，去年 1010 月疫潮過月疫潮過後，懷後，懷着着大難不死、有點想大難不死、有點想避世的心情，到過裴濟、東避世的心情，到過裴濟、東帝汶和巴布亞新畿內亞等仍帝汶和巴布亞新畿內亞等仍有獵頭族居住的落後地區當有獵頭族居住的落後地區當義工，令他重新頓悟生命的義工，令他重新頓悟生命的意義，「人活意義，「人活着着除了金錢之除了金錢之外，還有其他令人滿足的事外，還有其他令人滿足的事和夢想等和夢想等着着我們去幹」。我們去幹」。

ReminderReminder

Think very carefully about what a Think very carefully about what a valuable life is for you.valuable life is for you.

Don’t wait until it is too late!Don’t wait until it is too late!