The Meaning of Life

Outline

The Meaning of Life (2007) takes a witty and thoughtful look at one of humanity’s oldest questions. Terry Eagleton asks whether the question itself makes sense, examines how philosophers, writers, and religions have tried to answer it, and considers why modern culture struggles with meaning. He suggests that a meaningful life may be found in love and in the shared flourishing of people living together.

• Eagleton starts by asking whether the question 'what is the meaning of life?' actually makes sense before trying to answer it.
• Philosophers, writers, and religions have each tried to answer the question, and the book looks at how they went about it.
• Modern culture struggles with the search for meaning, and the book considers why that is.
• A meaningful life may be found in love rather than in some grand hidden purpose.
• Meaning can also come from the shared flourishing of people living together, not only from individual fulfilment.

Terry Eagleton is a British literary critic and one of the most influential cultural theorists of his generation. He has taught at the universities of Oxford, Manchester, and Lancaster. His many books include Literary Theory: An Introduction, Why Marx Was Right, and Culture and the Death of God.