The meaning of human life. What is the meaning of human life? The problem of the meaning of human life. Russian philosophers about the meaning of life You entered my morning like an angel from heaven

Sooner or later, every person begins to think about the question of why people live in this world. This problem accompanies humanity throughout its history. Over thousands of years, people have accumulated a sufficient amount of approaches to answering this question. Let's talk about the basic concepts of the meaning of life that have developed in religion, philosophy and psychology.

The problem of determining the meaning of life

The phrase “meaning of life” appears in philosophical usage only in the 19th century. But the question of why people live in the world arises several thousand years ago. This problem is central to any mature worldview; reflecting on the finitude of one’s existence, every person is confronted with this question and is looking for an appropriate answer. From the point of view of philosophers, the meaning of life is a personal characteristic that determines the attitude towards oneself, other people, and life in general. This is a person’s unique awareness of his place in the world, which affects life goals and priorities. However, this understanding of one’s place in life is not given to a person easily; it appears only through reflection, sometimes painful. The complexity of this problem lies in the fact that there is no single correct, generally accepted answer to the key question: why do people live in the world? The meaning of life is not equal to its purpose, and no uniquely verifiable argument in favor of one concept or another has yet been found. Therefore, over the centuries, different approaches to answering this question have existed and coexisted.

Religious approach

For the first time, a person thought about why people live in the world in ancient times. As a result of these searches, the very first answer to the question appears - religion, it provided universal justification for everything in the world, including man. All religious concepts are built on the idea of ​​an afterlife. But each religion imagines the path of immortality differently, and therefore the meaning of life is different for them. Thus, for Judaism, the meaning lies in diligently serving God and fulfilling his commandments as set out in the Torah. For Christians, the main thing is the salvation of the soul. It is possible only through a righteous earthly life and knowledge of God. For Muslims, too, the meaning is submission to the will of God. Only those who lived devotedly to Allah will go to heaven, the rest are destined for hell. A significantly different approach can be seen in Hinduism. Here the meaning is salvation, eternal pleasure, but for this you need to go through the path of asceticism and suffering. Buddhism reflects in the same direction, where the main goal of life is understood as getting rid of suffering through renunciation of desires. One way or another, every religion sees the meaning of human existence in improving the spirit and limiting bodily needs.

Philosophers of Ancient Greece about the meaning of life

The ancient Greeks thought a lot about the beginnings of existence, the origins of all things. The problem of the meaning of life is perhaps the only one on which representatives of different schools of ancient philosophy agreed. They believed that the search for meaning is a difficult, daily work, a path that has no end. They assumed that every person on earth has his own, unique mission, the acquisition of which is the main task and meaning. Socrates assumed that finding meaning allows a person to achieve harmony between the body and spirit. This is the path to peace and success not only in earthly life, but also in the other world. Aristotle believed that the search for the purpose of life is an integral element of human self-awareness and with the growth of the soul, the purpose of existence, the awareness of a person’s purpose changes, and there is no single, universal answer to the eternal question of why we live in the world.

Arthur Schopenhauer's concept

The 19th century saw a surge in thinking about the purpose of human existence. Arthur Schopenhauer's irrational concept offers a new approach to solving this problem. The philosopher believes that the meaning of human life is just an illusion, with the help of which people are saved from the terrible thought of the purposelessness of their existence. In his opinion, the world is governed by absolute will, which is indifferent to the fate of individual people. A person acts under the pressure of circumstances and the will of others, so his existence is a real hell, a chain of continuous suffering, replaced by each other. And in search of meaning in this endless series of suffering, people come up with religion, philosophy, the meaning of life in order to justify their existence and make it at least relatively bearable.

Denial of the meaning of life

Following Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche explained the features of the inner world of man in the aspect of the nihilistic theory itself. He said that religion is slave morality, that it does not give, but rather takes away from people the meaning of life. Christianity is the greatest deception and it must be overcome, and only then will it be possible to understand the purpose of human existence. He believes that most people live to prepare the world for the emergence of a superman. The philosopher called for abandoning humility and relying on an external force that would bring salvation. A person must create his own life, following his nature, and this is the main meaning of existence.

Existential theory of the meaning of life

In the 20th century, philosophical discussions about the purposes of human existence became central in many directions, including existentialism. Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Karl Jaspers, Martin Heidegger reflect on the meaning of life and come to the conclusion that the main thing for a person is freedom. Everyone brings meaning into their lives, since the world around them is absurd and chaotic. Actions and, most importantly, choices, moral, life, are why people live in the world. Meaning can only be perceived subjectively; it does not exist objectively.

A pragmatic approach to determining the meaning of life

Reflecting on the purpose for which we come into this world, William James and his fellow pragmatists come to the conclusion that meaning and purpose are equal. The world is irrational, and it is futile to look for objective truths in it. Therefore, pragmatists believe that the meaning of life is commensurate only with a person’s success in life. Everything that leads to success has value and meaning. The presence of meaning in life can be assessed and identified only by applying the criterion of usefulness and profitability. Therefore, this concept often appears in the subsequent assessment of the life of another person.

Viktor Frankl's concept and psychology

The meaning of human life became a central category in the theory of psychologist and philosopher Viktor Frankl. He developed his concept while experiencing terrible suffering in a German concentration camp, and this gives special weight to his thoughts. He says that there is no abstract meaning of life that is common to everyone. Each person has their own, unique one. Moreover, meaning cannot be found once and for all; it is always a requirement of the moment. The main guide of a person in search of global goals of existence is conscience. It is she who helps to evaluate every action in the aspect of overall life meaning. On the path to its acquisition, a person, according to V. Frankl, can follow three paths: the path of creative values, relational values ​​and experiential values. The loss of the meaning of life leads to inner emptiness, an existential vacuum.

Answering the question of why people are born, Frankl notes that it is to search for meaning and for oneself. More recent psychologists say that the search for meaning in life and its acquisition are the most important motivational mechanisms. A person who has found the answer to the main question lives a more productive and happy life.

Philosophy- one of the most insidious humanities. It is she who asks the most important and most difficult questions, such as: what is being? Why are we in this world? What is the meaning of life? Many books have been written about each of these questions, the authors of which set the goal of giving us an answer, and often they themselves got confused in the search for the truth. Among the many philosophers of all times, ten especially distinguished themselves - they were the ones who solved the most significant issues of humanity, laid the foundations of philosophical thought...

Parmenides (c. 510 BC)
Like many philosophers before Socrates, Parmenides was distinguished by incomprehensibility and a certain madness. He became the founder of the philosophical school at Elea. Of the philosopher’s works, only his poem “On Nature” has reached us.

He studied questions of existence and knowledge. He believed that being exists, but non-existence does not. Since thinking is being, and it is impossible to think about non-existence, then non-existence itself does not exist. A little crazy, but logical, right?
Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Both Socrates and Plato were powerful pillars of ancient philosophy, but after reading the works of Aristotle, you understand that this man was, among other things, a great educator. The concepts of Aristotle’s school were continued by his numerous students, so modern scientists often find it difficult to determine whether certain works belong to the hand of the great thinker.

He became the first scientist to compile a comprehensive system of philosophy - the basis of many modern sciences. Aristotle was the founder of formal logic; his views on the physical side of the world greatly influenced the further development of
Marcus Aurelius (121-180)
Marcus Aurelius distinguished himself by being not only a Roman emperor, but also one of the outstanding humanist philosophers of his time. His work “Meditations” was not written for prying eyes. It was a way to express the beliefs of the Stoic philosophers, and sometimes disagreement with their ideas.

Marcus Aurelius distributes bread to the people (1765)
Stoicism for most Romans and Greeks was not only a path to patience, but also a way to determine the path to a happy life. The book of Marcus Aurelius is easy to read and can help modern people resolve life’s troubles. It is interesting that the ideas of humanism that the emperor professed did not prevent him from persecuting the first Christians.
Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1003-1109)
Catholic theologian, medieval philosopher, considered the father of scholasticism, known for his work Proslogium. In it, he brought out unshakable evidence of the existence of God.

His famous statements - “Faith that requires understanding” and “I believe in order to understand” - subsequently became the slogans of the Augustinian philosophical school, and his followers (in particular, Thomas Aquinas) shared the point of view of Anselm of Canterbury on the relationship between faith and reason.
Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677)
Spinoza grew up in a Jewish family who lived in the Netherlands. At the age of 24, he was excommunicated from the Jewish community, mainly because of ideas that were contrary to established traditions in society.

Having moved to The Hague, Spinoza earned his living for the rest of his life by grinding lenses and giving private lessons. In between these trivial activities, he wrote philosophical treatises. Ethics was published after Spinoza's death.
The philosopher's works represent a synthesis of scientific ideas of the Middle Ages and Ancient Greece, the philosophy of the Stoics, Neoplatonists and scholastics. Tried to spread the “Copernican revolution” to the spheres of metaphysics, psychology, ethics and politics.
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
He is described as a little ugly pessimist who spent his whole life with his mother and cat. How did he end up among the greatest thinkers? “The will is a thing in itself” is one of Schopenhauer’s aphorisms, which is also his calling card.

It is interesting that Schopenhauer was an atheist, but at the same time he sympathized with Christianity. He studied the philosophy of the East and was interested in the works of Emmanuel Kant. Schopenhauer entered the cohort of the most prominent representatives of irrationalism.
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
One of the youngest philosophers of all time has earned his place among the most eminent thinkers. He is mistakenly classified as a fascist supporter, although in fact his sister was a nationalist; Nietzsche himself was not too interested in the life around him. He owns the famous expression “God is dead.”

Nietzsche, in a sense, reproduced interest in philosophy and revived it. His first work is “The Birth of Tragedy.” Because of this work, the thinker is still called the “terrible child” (enfant terrible) of modern philosophy.
Roman Ingarden (1893-1970)
Pole Roman Ingarden is a student of Hans-Georges Gadamer, one of the most significant figures in twentieth-century philosophy.

Ingerden's realistic Phenomenology has not lost its significance to this day, and the Literary Work of Art and Ontology of the Work of Art are the best examples of aesthetic phenomenology.
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)
He is adored in France. He is the most prominent representative of existentialism. “Being and Nothingness” is one of the most controversial works of the philosopher, the Bible of young intellectuals.

A talented writer finally wins the Nobel Prize (1964). According to his contemporaries, not a single Frenchman can compare his contribution with what Sartre gave to the world.
Maurice Merleau-Ponte (1908-1961)
Merleau-Ponte, at one time a like-minded person and comrade of Sartre, moves away from existentialist-communist views and expresses his vision of the problem in the work “Humanism and Terror.” Researchers rightly consider it close to fascist ideology. In the collection of essays, the author criticizes supporters of Marxist philosophy.

It should be noted that the philosopher’s worldview was greatly influenced by the works of Freud and representatives of Gestalt psychology. Based on their postulates, he creates his own “phenomenology of the body.” According to it, the body is neither a pure being nor a natural thing. The body acts as a turning point between nature and culture, between someone else's and one's own.
The Frenchman Merleau-Ponte is considered one of the greatest thinkers of the second half of the twentieth century.

What is the meaning of human life? Many people have always thought about this question. For some, the problem of the meaning of human life does not exist at all as such, some see the essence of existence in money, some in children, some in work, etc. Naturally, the greats of this world also puzzled over this question: writers, philosophers, psychologists. They devoted years to this, wrote treatises, studied the works of their predecessors, etc. What did they say about this? What did you see as the meaning of life and the purpose of man? Let's get acquainted with some points of view, perhaps this will contribute to the formation of our own vision of the problem.

About the issue in general

So, what is the point? Both eastern sages and philosophers from completely different times tried to find the only correct answer to this question, but in vain. Every thinking person can also encounter this problem, and if we are not able to find the right solution, then we will at least try to reason and understand the topic a little. How to get as close as possible to the answer to the question of what is the meaning in human life? To do this, you need to determine for yourself the purpose, the purpose of your existence. Depending on what you want to achieve in a certain period, the meaning of a person’s life will change. This is easy to understand with an example. If at the age of 20 you firmly decided to earn a lot of money, that is, you set such a task for yourself, then with each successful deal the feeling that life is filled with meaning will only grow. However, after 15-20 years you will realize that you worked hard at the expense of your personal life, health, etc. Then all these years may seem, if not senselessly lived, then only partially meaningful. What conclusion can be drawn in this case? That a person’s life should have a purpose (in this case, meaning), albeit a transitory one.

Is it possible to live without meaning?

If a person is devoid of meaning, it means that he has no internal motivation, and this makes him weak. The absence of a goal does not allow you to take your own destiny into your own hands, resist adversity and difficulties, strive for something, etc. A person without the meaning of life is easily controlled, since he does not have his own opinion, ambitions, or life criteria. In such cases, one’s own desires are replaced by those of others, as a result of which individuality suffers and hidden talents and abilities do not appear. Psychologists say that if a person does not want or cannot find his way, purpose, goal, then this leads to neuroses, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide. Therefore, every person must look for the meaning of his life, even unconsciously, strive for something, wait for something, etc.

What is meant by the meaning of life in philosophy?

Philosophy about the meaning of human life can tell us a lot, so this question has always been in the first place for this science and its admirers and followers. For thousands of years, philosophers have been creating some ideals to which we had to strive, some laws of existence, in which lay the answer to the eternal question.

1. If, for example, we talk about ancient philosophy, then Epicurus saw the goal of existence in obtaining pleasure, Aristotle - in achieving happiness through knowledge of the world and thinking, Diogenes - in the pursuit of inner peace, in the denial of family and art.

2. To the question of what is the meaning of human life, the philosophy of the Middle Ages gave the following answer: one should honor ancestors, accept the religious views of the time, and pass all this on to posterity.

3. Representatives of philosophy of the 19th and 20th centuries also had their own view of the problem. Irrationalists saw the essence of existence in a constant struggle with death and suffering; existentialists believed that the meaning of a person’s life depends on himself; positivists considered this problem completely meaningless, since it is expressed linguistically.

Interpretation from a religious point of view

Each historical era poses tasks and problems for society, the solution of which most directly affects how an individual understands his purpose. Since living conditions, cultural and social demands change, it is natural that a person’s views on all issues change. However, people have never left the desire to find that one, so to speak, universal meaning of life that would be suitable for any segment of society, for each period of time. This same desire is reflected in all religions, among which Christianity is especially noteworthy. The problem of the meaning of human life is considered by Christianity inseparable from the teachings about the creation of the world, about God, about the Fall, about the sacrifice of Jesus, about the salvation of the soul. That is, all these questions are seen on the same plane; accordingly, the essence of being appears outside of life itself.

The idea of ​​a "spiritual elite"

Philosophy, or more precisely, some of its followers, considered the meaning of human life from another interesting point of view. At a certain time, such ideas about this problem became widespread, which cultivated the ideas of a “spiritual elite” designed to protect all of humanity from degeneration by introducing it to cultural and spiritual values. So, for example, Nietzsche believed that the essence of life is to constantly produce geniuses, talented individuals who would elevate the common people to their level and deprive them of the feeling of orphanhood. The same point of view was shared by K. Jaspers. He was sure that representatives of the spiritual aristocracy should be a standard, a model for all other people.

What does hedonism say about this?

The founders of this doctrine are the ancient Greek philosophers Epicurus and Aristippus. The latter argued that both bodily and spiritual pleasure are good for the individual, which should be positively assessed, respectively, displeasure is bad. And the more desirable the pleasure, the stronger it is. The teaching of Epicurus on this issue has become a household name. He said that all living things strive for pleasure, and every person strives for the same. However, he receives not only sensual, bodily pleasure, but also spiritual.

Utilitarian theory

This type of hedonism was developed mainly by the philosophers Bentham and Mill. The first, like Epicurus, was sure that the meaning of life and human happiness lies only in obtaining pleasure and striving for it and in avoiding torment and suffering. He also believed that the criterion of utility could mathematically calculate a specific type of pleasure or pain. And by drawing up their balance, we can find out which action will be bad and which will be good. Mill, who gave the movement its name, wrote that if any action contributes to happiness, then it automatically becomes positive. And so that he would not be accused of selfishness, the philosopher said that it is important not only the happiness of the person himself, but also of those around him.

Objections to hedonism

Yes, there were some, and quite a few. The essence of the objection comes down to the fact that hedonists and utilitarians see the meaning of human life in the pursuit of pleasure. However, as life experience shows, when a person commits an action, he does not always think about what it will lead to: happiness or grief. Moreover, people deliberately do things that are obviously associated with hard work, suffering, death, in order to achieve goals that are far from personal benefit. Each personality is unique. What is happiness for one is torment for another.

Kant deeply criticized hedonism. He said that the happiness that hedonists speak about is a very relative concept. It looks different to everyone. The meaning and value of human life, according to Kant, lies in the desire of everyone to develop good will. This is the only way to achieve perfection, to fulfill. Having a will, a person will strive for those actions that are responsible for his purpose.

The meaning of human life in the literature of Tolstoy L.N.

The great writer not only reflected, but even suffered over this question. In the end, Tolstoy came to the conclusion that the purpose of life lies only in the self-improvement of the individual. He was also sure that the meaning of the existence of one individual cannot be sought separately from others, from society as a whole. Tolstoy said that in order to live honestly, one must constantly struggle, struggle, get confused, because calmness is meanness. That is why the negative part of the soul seeks peace, but it does not understand that achieving what it wants is associated with the loss of everything that is good and kind in a person.

The meaning of human life in philosophy was interpreted in different ways, this happened depending on many reasons, the currents of a particular time. If we consider the teachings of such a great writer and philosopher as Tolstoy, then it says the following. Before deciding the question of the purpose of existence, it is necessary to understand what life is. He went through all the then known definitions of life, but they did not satisfy him, since they reduced everything only to biological existence. However, human life, according to Tolstoy, is impossible without moral, moral aspects. Thus, the moralist transfers the essence of life into the moral sphere. Afterwards, Tolstoy turned to both sociology and religion in the hope of finding that single meaning that is intended for everyone, but it was all in vain.

What is said about this in domestic and foreign literature?

In this area, the number of approaches to this problem and opinions is no less than in philosophy. Although many writers also acted as philosophers and talked about the eternal.

So, one of the oldest is the concept of Ecclesiastes. It talks about the vanity and insignificance of human existence. According to Ecclesiastes, life is nonsense, nonsense, nonsense. And such components of existence as labor, power, love, wealth, do not have any meaning. It's the same as chasing the wind. In general, he believed that human life has no meaning.

The Russian philosopher Kudryavtsev in his monograph put forward the idea that each person independently fills existence with meaning. He only insists that everyone see the goal only in the “high” and not in the “low” (money, pleasure, etc.)

The Russian thinker Dostoevsky, who constantly “unraveled” the secrets of the human soul, believed that the meaning of a person’s life lies in his morality.

The meaning of being in psychology

Freud, for example, believed that the main thing in life is to be happy, to get maximum pleasure and enjoyment. Only these things are self-evident, but a person who thinks about the meaning of life is mentally ill. But his student, E. Fromm, believed that one cannot live without meaning. You need to consciously reach out to everything positive and fill your existence with it. In the teachings of V. Frankl, this concept is given the main place. According to his theory, under no circumstances in life can a person fail to see the goals of existence. And you can find meaning in three ways: in action, through experience, if you have a certain attitude towards life circumstances.

Is there really meaning in human life?

In this article we consider such an ever-existing question as the problem of the meaning of human life. Philosophy gives more than one answer to this, some options are presented above. But each of us, at least once, thought about the meaning of our own existence. For example, according to sociologists, approximately 70% of the planet's inhabitants live in constant fear and anxiety. As it turned out, they were not looking for the meaning of their existence, but simply wanted to survive. And for what? And that fussy and anxious rhythm of life is a consequence of the reluctance to understand this issue, at least for oneself. No matter how much we hide, the problem still exists. Writers, philosophers, thinkers were looking for answers. If we analyze all the results, we can come to three conclusions. Let's try to find the meaning too?

Judgment one: there is no meaning and there cannot be

This means that any attempt to find a goal is a delusion, a dead end, self-deception. This theory was supported by many philosophers, including Jean-Paul Sartre, who said that if death awaits us all, then there is no point in life, because all problems will remain unresolved. A. Pushkin and Omar Khayyam also remained disappointed and dissatisfied in their search for truth. It should be said that this position of accepting the meaninglessness of life is very cruel, not every person is even able to survive it. Much in human nature resists this opinion. On this subject, the next point.

Judgment two: there is a meaning, but everyone has their own

Admirers of this opinion believe that there is a meaning, or rather, there should be one, so we must invent it. This stage implies an important step - a person stops running from himself, he must admit that existence cannot be meaningless. In this position, the person is more frank with himself. If a question appears again and again, then it will not be possible to brush it aside or hide. Please note that if we recognize such a concept as meaninglessness, we thereby prove the legitimacy and right to exist of that very meaning. It's all good. However, representatives of this opinion, even recognizing and accepting the question, could not find a universal answer. Then everything went according to the principle “once you admit it, figure it out yourself.” There are many paths in life, you can choose any of them. Schelling said that happy is the one who has a goal and sees in this the meaning of his whole life. A person with such a position will try to find meaning in all phenomena and events that happen to him. Some will turn to material enrichment, some to success in sports, some to family. Now it turns out that there is no universal meaning, so what are all those “meanings”? Just tricks to cover up the meaninglessness? But if there is still a common meaning for everyone, then where to look for it? Let's move on to the third point.

Judgment three

And it sounds like this: there is meaning in our existence, it can even be known, but only after you know the one who created this existence. Here the question will be relevant not about what is the meaning of a person’s life, but about why he is looking for it. So, I lost it. The logic is simple. Having committed a sin, a person has lost God. And you don’t need to come up with the meaning here yourself, you just need to know the Creator again. Even a philosopher and convinced atheist said that if you initially exclude the existence of God, then there is no point in looking for meaning at all, there will be none. A bold decision for an atheist.

Most common answers

If you ask a person about the meaning of his existence, he will most likely give one of the following answers. Let's take a closer look at them.

In continuation of the family. If you answer the question about the meaning of life in this way, then you thereby show the nakedness of your soul. Do you live for your children? To train them, to put them on their feet? And what's next? Then, when the children grow up and leave their cozy nest? You will say that you will teach your grandchildren. Why? So that they, in turn, also do not have goals in life, but go in a vicious circle? Procreation is one of the tasks, but it is not universal.

At work. For many people, their future plans revolve around their career. You will work, but for what? Feed your family, clothe yourself? Yes, but that's not enough. How to realize yourself? Not enough either. Even ancient philosophers argued that work will not bring joy for long if there is no overall meaning in life.

In wealth. Many people are sure that saving money is the main happiness in life. It becomes excitement. But to live fully, you don’t need countless treasures. It turns out that making money constantly for the sake of money is pointless. Especially if a person does not understand why he needs wealth. Money can only be a tool to fulfill its meaning and purpose.

In existing for someone. This makes more sense, although it is similar to the point about children. Of course, caring for someone is grace, it is the right choice, but not enough for self-realization.

What to do, how to find the answer?

If the question posed still haunts you, then you should look for the answer in yourself. In this review, we briefly examined some philosophical, psychological, and religious aspects of the problem. Even if you read such literature for days and study all the theories, it is far from a fact that you will 100% agree with something and take it as a guide to action.

If you decide to find the meaning of your life, it means that something does not suit you in the current state of affairs. However, be careful: as time goes by, it won't wait for you to find something. Most people try to realize themselves in the above directions. Yes, please, if you like it, it brings you pleasure, then who will forbid it? On the other hand, who said that this is impossible, that it is wrong, that we do not have the right to live like this (for children, for loved ones, etc.)? Everyone chooses their own path, their own destiny. Or maybe you shouldn't look for him? If something is prepared, will it come anyway, without any extra effort on the part of man? Who knows, maybe this is true. And don’t be surprised if you see the meaning of life differently at each stage of your existence. This is fine. Human nature in general is such that he constantly doubts something. The main thing is to be filled, like a vessel, to do something, to devote your life to something.

The eternal question - what is the meaning of life? It has long been of interest to humanity. No matter what the highest level of a person’s self-awareness is, no matter how deeply he cognizes the truths of the universe, an unambiguous answer to this question has not yet been possible.

Now, in our time, few people think about the purpose of their existence, but in ancient times, everyone wanted to know and understand why he was on this earth, and what mission was prepared for him.
Philosophy, as a science that developed in ancient and ancient Greece, reflected in its teachings the originality and unity of the social system where it originated, arose and began to develop. The main feature of this ancient philosophy is the unbridled desire to understand the essence of nature, space, human life and the whole world as a whole.
But along with similar views on resolving the issue of existence and the meaning of life, disagreements also arose in ancient Greece, because each learned philosopher had his own worldview. It expressed a set of certain conclusions, views and assessments, principles, which subsequently determined the general vision and understanding of the world, and what place a person should occupy in it, what position in life to adhere to and how to behave.
The great philosophers and progressive minds of that time agreed only on the principle of resolving the question of the meaning of life and the purpose of human existence. But everyone had their own method of achieving enlightenment and awareness.
The question of the meaning of life is the main thesis that determines the essence of the worldview.

Democritus and Socrates, as materialist philosophers, believed that the sooner one finds and understands what the meaning of life is, the sooner the human spirit and body will become united, which will undoubtedly lead to peace and success, both in this and the afterlife.

But most other philosophers, such as Plato, who believed in the abstractness and flexibility of the universe, believed that the search for the meaning of life is a daily and endless work, it is something intangible. That a person’s behavior, his actions, habits determine his meaning in life. Everything has its own meaning, it is inherent in absolutely any self-awareness, it is an integral part of it. Self-awareness in search of meaning changes depending on what a person does and what he sees as his purpose, his meaning.
The philosophers of ancient Greece believed that every person who set foot on this earth has a special mission, every life has its own meaning. The task of man's earthly life was to comprehend his true existence. If a person can do this, his physical shell will enter into harmony and unity with the entire world around him.