Understanding The Meaning Of Life In Philosophical Viewpoint

What might Schopenhauer think about Schlick's understanding of meaning of life? How would Schlick respond? Explain.

Philosophers' perspectives on the meaning of life

One of the major questions that have been demanding the attention of the philosophers since time immemorial refers to the question that attempts to address the proper meaning of life of the human beings. The following essay attempts a discussion on the understanding of the meaning of life as put forth by the various philosophers. The essay opens with a discussion on the viewpoints that are presented by the twentieth century philosopher Moritz Schlick and further proceeds to discuss the view that were proposed by the German pessimist Arthur Schopenhauer. The essay nears a conclusion with the hypothetical discussion on the Schlick’s response to the views that are put forth by the German pessimist, Arthur Schopenhauer.

Moritz Schlick is considered to be one of the central figures who had been actively participating in the logical positivist movement. The major people who were known to have been following the logical positivist movement are generally observed to be dismissive towards the various metaphysical thoughts that have been presented on the discussion of the meaning of life. The philosopher in discussion, Moritz Schlick, however cannot be categorized with the philosophers that hold the dismissive attitude to the metaphysical ways of seeking the answer to the meaning of life. Moritz Schlick is known to be one of those philosophers of the nineteenth century who described themselves as the seeker of the meaning of life. The philosopher seemed to find an acceptable answer in an interpretation of the famous work by Nietzsche entitled “Thus Spake Zarathustra”. According to this interpretation, life can only be considered to be meaningful in case the concerned person is freed from the subjugation that exists towards the purposes and ends that should be met. In other words, according to Schlick, the meaning of life exists only if the person does not have to meet any given end or any such purpose that demands the subordination of the other factors of life. The philosopher further stated that the actual meaning of life lies in the play activities and not in those of work. The philosopher defined work to be the activity that is undertaken by the concerned person in order to serve some purpose. The activity of work according to the philosophical aspects refer to the various activities that are accomplished with the purpose of achieving something else and not for the purpose of completing only the task at hand. The philosopher further states that the meaning of life should not lie in the mere leading of the life and thereafter progressing to the development of the various other factors that would eventually lead to the end of life. According to the philosopher, a person should take part in the activities that would help him to explore the major content that is present in the existence of life and not in the bare existence of the same. The philosopher further argued that the actual meaning of life is reflected in the play activities that are merely undertaken for the sake of the activity itself and not for any other factor.

Moritz Schlick's view of life

The yester year philosopher, Schopenhauer is known to have been one of the first philosophers to question on the actual meaning of life. Schopenhauer is one of those German philosophers who believed in pessimism. The question had been prompted on the issue had helped in the prompting of the issues that have led to the other philosophers of the West to inquire and spend thoughts on the actual meaning of the life that is led by the individuals. The philosopher had tended to put forth the question on a personal basis rather than seeking the answer to the question from the academic perspective. The opinion of Schopenhauer is majorly based on the philosophical thoughts that have been put forth by Kant. The major facts that are presented by the philosopher in the attempts to discuss the meaning of life include the metaphysical aspect of life as well as the phenomenal world. The philosopher in discussion, Arthur Schopenhauer, tends to define the meaning of life as a major outcome of the will of the concerned person to live. The philosopher argues that life finds an ultimate meaning in the interpretation of the will of the concerned person to live. The philosopher in explanation of his interpretation states that the life of a human being is majorly presented in the will to live. The philosopher portrays a depressive fact as an explanation to the meaning of life of the person. The philosopher states that the key purpose of the human life is to bear the sufferings. The philosopher states that the major purpose of the life of the humans is to bear the punishment of being born in this world. The German pessimist Arthur Schopenhauer would reject the positive philosophy that is put forth by the twentieth century philosopher, Moritz Schlick. The German philosopher would disagree to the various opinions that were suggested by the positive philosophy. The concerned philosopher might have rejected the philosophy of Schlick since the proposed interpretation on the meaning of life by Schlick tends to celebrate the existence of life through the development of the issues that are presented within the life through the various play activities that are undertaken by the concerned human beings during their lifetime. The philosophy by Schopenhauer tends to consider the activities undertaken in life to be a greater type of punishment that is majorly faced by the concerned person since his birth into this world till his death.

Arthur Schopenhauer's pessimistic view of life

In a hypothetical situation that can be stated after discussing the viewpoints of both the renowned philosophers, it might be stated that both of them share the thoughts that are majorly different from each other. The follower of the logical positivist movement would, according to the beliefs and the viewpoints that have been shared would have opposed to the high pessimism that is present within the viewpoints that are presented by the German pessimist, Arthur Schopenhauer. Schlick would, according to the hypothetical condition emphasized on the free will of the concerned person to live his life in a playful manner. The philosopher would have discussed the factors that stated the positivity presented within the life activities of the person. The philosopher an ardent follower of the follower of the logical positivist movement would have majorly emphasized on the fact that the life can only be considered to be meaningful in case the concerned person is freed from the subjugation that exists towards the purposes and ends that should be met. This would have led to the conditions of a debate wherein the views expressed by Moeritz Schlick would have argued and emphasized on the importance of the playful activities that are undertaken by the humans and the positive effect of continuing with these activities in order to develop a proper meaning of the life that is presented to the concerned human being. The pessimism that is presented by the German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer tends to discuss the factors that have been representing the factors that portray life to be a very depressive activity. The German philosopher further argues on the fact that the life might be made worthy and meaningful through the complete denial of the will of the person. The pessimist further argues the fact that the concerned person who has been seeking to lead a meaningful life should attempt a discussion on the development of the denial of the will within the given person. This might help the person to remain oblivious to the knowledge of the presence of the will as well as the several horrific phenomena that results from the knowledge of the will within the person. The German philosopher further states that the actual meaning of life lies in the denial, the quietening and eventually the abolishment of the thought on the will of the concerned person towards his or her own life. This will be helpful in the attainment of the proper perspective towards the meaning of the life of the person.

Comparison of views of Schlick and Schopenhauer

Conclusion

Moritz Schlick states that the meaning of life exists only if the person does not have to meet any given end or any such purpose that demands the subordination of the other factors of life. The philosopher further stated that the actual meaning of life lies in the play activities and not in those of work. The philosopher defined work to be the activity that is undertaken by the concerned person in order to serve some purpose. Arthur Schopenhauer, on the other hand, portrays a depressive fact as an explanation to the meaning of life of the person. The philosopher states that the key purpose of the human life is to bear the sufferings. The philosopher states that the major purpose of the life of the humans is to bear the punishment of being born in this world. Thus, the above discussion helps in the development of two different attitudes towards the life of the human beings from the philosophical viewpoint.

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