Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

The Meaning of
Life and Death
Sir Tophey
The Meaning of
 What Is Life’s Meaning?
• “What is the meaning of life?” may be one of the most
profound questions about human existence. But what does this
question really mean? What is the meaning of “meaning”?
• Robert Nozick discussed the different modes of “meaning” in
his Philosophical Explanations. Nozick claimed that knowing
these modes will help people know which sense of meaning is
relevant in the search for the meaning of life.
 In the first mode, meaning is
depended on the causal relationship that
helps form life. You, for instance, exist
because of the process of reproduction. In
this mode, each human life is meaningful
through external causal relation. It implies
that a life’s meaning is anchored on the
life that is causally connected with others
either as antecedents or as consequent
situations.
 In the second mode, life’s meaning can be
established through semantic relations. Life becomes
meaningful when one draws out a referential relation
between life and some symbols that would represent
life. Through what is called stipulative definition, one
can form and stipulate what his or her life means,
provided there is a clear notion of what these
references are. It is like when new words are
assigned new meanings. The stipulative definition
guarantees the possibility that what is stipulated is
the meaning of a word, provided that it is clear how
the word will be used over time and that it is
necessary to use it as stipulated.
 The third mode, which is intention and
purpose, helps clarify semantics. In this mode, life
is said to have meaning through the purpose and
intent of why one person is alive. Hence, when it is
about intention, life will have meaning based on
the goals or sets of intentions a person intends to
do. In this mode, it reveals that meaningfulness
will actually be helped by establishing a life plan,
which one intends to do. Moreover, it can also be
the stipulated meaning, hence the semantic
meaning of life. The life plan is that which guides
the person to actually achieve the intentions and
goals he or she has set.
 The fourth mode is meaning as a lesson to be
learned. Drawing from the life plan, people want
that their life plans will have a positive lesson that
others can learn from and will directly exemplify
the life that they live. For example, a town mayor’s
goal is to serve his or her constituents well; hence,
his or her actions must reflect this goal. If that is
the case, then he or she will achieve his or her
goal. If this is so transparent and it shows that his
or her life plan and actions are consistent, then a
lesson can be drawn from his or her life. Other
people may look at their life means a life of service
– that is, the lesson which is learned.
 The fifth mode of meaning is personal
significance or value. Is a person’s life
significant because of the lesson his or her life
has exemplified? It seems the reason why
human beings would want to live a meaningful
life is to leave a mark or legacy after they die
that will serve as a sign that they lived once
upon a time. As Nozick explained, “A significant
life leaves a mark in the world. A significant life
seems permanent: it makes a difference in the
world – leaves traces. It seems it should not
ever be that you had never existed at all.”
Death
Death is one condition which all living entities share.
It is a reality that cannot be altered nor waived. All living
things must come to this point--- their end, their death.
Across the globe, there are various views that pertain to
death. These world views are brought about by cultures,
traditions, and belief systems.
 The end of life is signaled by death. This phenomenon clearly shows
the mortality of the human person. People do not know much about what
happens after a person dies, that is why there are many different
perspectives and reactions about it. One thing is certain, though – when a
person dies, the body stops functioning. What becomes of the soul (for
those who believe that human person is body and soul), however, is a big
mystery. For those who believe that there is no such thing as an afterlife, it
is important to understand if life is indeed absurd or if it is meaningful
because of the eventuality of death.
 The aspect of dying has many facets. Though it
is not really known and proven what happens to a
person when he or she dies, we know that people who
are left behind suffer the grief of bereavement. Some
causes of death can even be downright traumatic for
others.
 Generally, people shy away from topics concerning death
for it is a phenomenon that is out of their grasp. No one can
really tell when or how somebody will die.
Philosophy, as a discipline, is not tasked to give a person
ways and means in coping with death. Rather, it is tasked to
give him varied perspectives in looking at this natural human
condition.
DEATH: A World View
 The Christian View

• Christians believe in the afterlife and in the idea of

heaven and hell. This is the reason why Christians
call death as judgment day.
• They believe that after death, the soul will either
go to heaven or to hell, depending on the
judgment anchored on how the person lived
his/her life on earth. For Christians, one must live
his/her earthly life meaningfully in preparation for
an eternal life which is considered a gift from God.
 The Buddhist View

• In Buddhist teachings, death is a natural

process, and it is important a person to be
aware of it. Buddhism claims that death is
not the end of life, but simply the corruption
of the body that one inhabits in this world.
• In Buddhism, it is believed that the spirit
lives on after the body dies and will seek
another body to have a new life.
• Hence, Buddhism adheres to the concept of
reincarnation and transmigration of the spirit (a concept
where a living being is reborn to a different physical
body after death).
• Where one will be born is a result of the past and the
accumulation of positive and negative actions, and the
resultant karma (cause and effect) is a result of one's
past actions.
• Buddhists believe that rebirth is a result of karma or the
accumulation of all actions of the person—whether
good or bad— during his/her lifetime on earth. Meaning
to say, who and what the person was in his/her former
life will determine the kind of life one will have in
his/her rebirth.
According to the Buddhist belief, a
person can be reborn in one of the six
realms or worlds, namely:

• 1. heaven — a world of peace and long

fasting happiness;
• 2. humans — a world where human
beings thrive;
• 3. asura — a spiritual realm characterized
by strife and never-ending fight because
of jealousy and competition;
• 4. hungry ghosts or spirits — also a spiritual realm
characterized by dissatisfaction and discontent, and
where those who craved and desired excessively in their
past lives are reborn;
• 5. animals — a realm similar to humans, except that
those who were reborn in this state are inferior to
human beings and are always hunted by the latter. Those
who are reincarnated in this world were those who have
committed so many evil acts and have slaughtered and
abused animals in their past life; and
• 6. hell — which is considered as the world of eternal
suffering and pain. Those who are reincarnated in the
realm of hell were those people who have committed
the gravest crimes and have a huge deal of negative
karma in their past lives.
 Impermanence of life is also one of
the teachings of Buddhism; hence,
none of the mentioned realms is
permanent and no one stays in those
realms perpetually.

For Buddhists, they were taught

not to fear death as it will lead to
rebirth. However, their actions are
always restricted by their firm belief in
the law of karma that whatever they do
in their lifetimes will be dealt with
justly in the next.
 The Hindu View
• Like Buddhism, Hinduism also adheres to the concept
of rebirth or reincarnation with a firm claim that the
soul is both immortal and imperishable.
• Death in Hinduism is a journey that begins when life
has already taught the soul the lessons it needs to
learn, and karma has reached a certain level of
intensity. In this period, the soul leaves the body. It is
here when the physical body is corrupted.
• Death therefore is not an end in itself, but part of the
natural process in the existence of the soul as one
separate entity. It serves as a transition period for the
soul to gather its strength, and come back to life again
and continue its journey.
• For Hinduism, there is a reason why the soul journeys
from one lifetime to another. Hindus believe that
reincarnation happens to liberate the soul from all
mistakes, desires, inconsistencies, and sins. Until such
time, the cycle of rebirth continues which results to
eternal oneness with the Creator, which is the very
purpose of the soul's journey. Since Hinduism also has
a strong adherence to the law of karma, it is imperative
for people to live a virtuous life in order for their Souls
not to be reborn as beings considered of lower levels-
than humans,
• The act of suicide is considered a chief and highest
immoral act that could be committed by a person. If
this happens, his/her soul is doomed to hell for a
longer period of time.
 The Hindu scriptures say that the body is
composed of five elements—air, fire, water, and
earth, which are considered earthly elements;
and the other element known as ether, which is
believed to be belonging to a higher realm.
Because of this, bodies are cremated and not
buried. It is believed that by cremating the
bodies, the elements are returned to their
rightful places; while the other one which does
not come from this world returns to its own
sphere, together with the soul to continue its
journey in the afterlife.
 According to Hindu Scriptures, heaven is never the
solution to the problem of death, but the liberation
of the soul from all the hindrances provided by the
material world. The best way to reach God or attain
oneness with God is through discipline and devotion.
For Hindu, what a person thinks or remembers before
he/she dies is very important for it is believed that
he/she will be able to achieve it. It is therefore
recommended for a person to discipline and train
his/her mind in such a way that he/she would leave
this world remembering God.
• Though closely linked to different religions and
cultures, there is still one common denominator
among these world views when it comes to the
concept of death—death is not something to fear
about, but is something to prepare for.
• It is a common knowledge that birth eventually
leads to death. Since death is a natural
phenomenon and a natural human condition, it is
important for someone to prepare himself for
his/her impending death. And if the afterlife is
real and the law of karma is indeed binding and
executory, at least one who has committed
his/her life to goodwill is safe to harbor on the
thought that he/she will not be reborn to
become a being of lower level.
Salamat,
Grade 12!