- Mr. Kevezai Tureng made a detailed presentation on the topic “The Meaning of Life”.
- Ms. Tiarenla Aier, HOD, Department of Philosophy, moderated the seminar.
- Basing on the question of whether life has a meaning, the presenter highlighted to answer from four perspectives:
- The Ancient Theistic Way:
- Albert Camus spoke on suicide. According to him when death enters their lives, people often ask questions about the worth of living.
- Leo Tolstoy did his reflection of life and severe depression affected him. Ultimately he got the meaning in life.
- Michealangelo says God created Adam and He has a meaning in creating Adam.
- Thomas Aquinas argues that everything has a purpose so the ultimate purpose of man is to know God.
The Theistic has the notion that human being should never be treated as a means but as an end.
- The Human Progress in History:
Hegel and Marx proposed that we have to work towards the freedom of people. If we contribute towards freedom of people then we are leaving a meaningful life and serve its purpose. - The Nihilist concept:
The Nihilist says life has no meaning and intrinsic value.- Schopenhauer clams life is full of suffering and proves the emptiness of existence.
- Richart Taylor said life is a meaningless repetition of pointless activity.
- Subjective aspect (Self chosen commitment):
- R.M. Hare says that life chose that matters to her.
- Soren Kierkeegard says that we need to choose aesthetic, ethical or religious life.
- The Ancient Theistic Way:
CRITICISMS
How can we distinguish between Artificial Intelligence and a human?
There might be misinterpretation of goals. Human instructions given to super intelligent AI might be misinterpreted.
4. The presenter concluded that we all are Nihilist in a way that life has no meaning because it is just a repetition of daily routine.