Meaning of life

Since Frankl (1985) has introduced the role of meaning in life in mental health, some psychologists tried to operationalize this concept and study in this field (Crumbaugh and Maholic, 1964; Batista & Almond, 1973; Steger et al., 2006). By development of new instrument in the domain of life's meaning by Schnell (2009), the wider investigation of mental health and meaning in life has been provided. The present study aims at determining the relationship between four sources of life including life meaningfulness, the crisis of life's significance, spirituality, and religiosity and indices of mental health. Therefore, a sample comprising 126 participants (53= female; 73= male) among the students of University of Tehran carried out the questionnaire for investigating the sources of life's meaning (SoMe) and a brief form for the scale of depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21). The results were analyzed by Pearson Correlation. Among the variables of life's meaning, the crisis of life's meaning showed the highest positive correlation with depression (r = 0.62, p ˂ 0.01) and stress (r = 0.39, p ˂ 0.01). Also, the life meaningfulness showed the highest negative relationship with depression (r = -0.52, p ˂ 0.01) and stress (r = - 0.34, p ˂ 0.01). In conclusion, considering the meaning of life as an important associate of mental health seems essential in order to decrease the depression and stress, and improving the general health of society.

The mind prepares for questioning during fundamental transformation in the course of human life. The Coronavirus Crisis brought about a fundamental change in human life that had not happened in the world for decades. In order to deal philosophically with this crisis, new questions must be hunted down. In this paper, I enumerate some of these challenges. Some of emerging questions from those challenges is explained. It is shown that their analysis causes philosophical creativity and in the face of them we will find the success of philosophizing. Some of these challenges is discussed in the following field of philosophy: phenomenological questions about Corona, the new challenges in philosophy of science, political challenges, moral philosophy and norms in ethics, philosophy of religion, the growth of existentialistic attitudes to human beings, highlighting the issue of the meaning of life and the need for a philosophical answer, Corona Crisis and globalization.

SUBJECT AND OBJECTIVES : Contemporary human, despite reaching the peak of development and enjoying significant scientific, advancements, do not seem particularly satisfied and content. The destructiveness of time, the fear of death, and the brevity of life are among the factors that contribute to the emergence of disillusionment and the proliferation of nihilistic thoughts in the modern world.  The constant pursuit of material gains has failed to address deeper existential concerns. Therefore, there is a growing need to explore the profound aspects of life, such as the search for meaning and the quest for personal fulfillment, in order to alleviate existential pains and enhance the overall quality of human existence. In this regard, the main subject and objective of the present research are focused on the issue of life's meaningfulness and human longevity by finding tangible solutions to existential pains, improving the meaning and values of their lives. METHOD AND FINDING : This research, with an Analytical-Descriptive approach to examine the philosophical and existential theories of Ludwig Wittgenstein, particularly focusing on his early philosophy and exploring the constitutive components of meaning from his perspective in human life. CONCLUSION : The results of this research emphasize the importance of two fundamental elements, Aesthetics and Ethics, with a special emphasis on the metaphysical subject's eternal perspective, in creating a meaningful and purposeful life. These two components are considered as the highest means of expressing the real values of life and a solution for overcoming its challenges and difficulties, guiding humans towards a meaningful life.

Introduction: No one could give meaning to the other's life, for the meaning of life is a personal not a general affair. Therefore, anyone should look for the meaning of his own life. The main goal of the present research is analyzing the role of ethical values and their contribution in education from the view of Frankl's approach. Material and Methods: The present research with the help of descriptive-analytic, comparative and deductive methods has been written and its information have been collected through the documentary – library searching. Conclusion: The measures and values could help men to find meaning in life to guide him to make better decision. In other words, a meaningful life is equal to valuable life, namely in the case the life could be meaningful that man recognizes the three creative, perceptive and experimental values. One can say that there is an interrelated condition between the values and the meaning. To Frankl the most indicators of spiritual life are magnanimity, accountability to the call of conscience and searching for meaning.

Adopting a hermeneutic approach and horizontal and vertical interpretation methods, this study primarily explores the metaphysical concept of love-induced mystic intoxication in the Iranian polymath Mullā Muḥsin Fayḍ Kāshānī’s mystic poetry. Secondarily, it discusses the implications of mystic intoxication in the meaning of life. Furthermore, the paper briefly positions Fayḍ Kāshānī’s account in the contemporary categories of the meaning of life: supernaturalism, naturalism, and nihilism. Additionally, elucidating the perspectives of the contemporary philosopher John Cottingham, the paper examines Kāshānī’s view through Cottingham’s philosophy. Central to Kāshānī’s poetry, ignited by divine love, the spiritual seeker transcendends their self, getting absorbed into the Divine to the point where they become unaware of their self. This epistemic unawareness is mastī (intoxication) or bīkhudī (selflessness)—which, for Kāshānī, has profound implications on life’s meaning. Unlike the “extreme God-centric” view—which situates the purpose of life solely in fulfilling God’s purpose—Kāshānī’s “moderate God-soul-centric supernaturalist” view recognizes that while divine love, intoxication, and knowledge infuse more profound depth to the meaning of life, other aspects also add to the meaning in life—like the simpler forms of piety and everyday existence. A framework in which morality is instrumental. Similarly, for Cottingham, life has value and meaning beyond solely fulfilling God’s purpose. Nevertheless, while basic pleasures and desires might independently exist and have meaning, higher elements like moral virtue, crucial to life’s meaning, are contingent on God’s purpose.