The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World's Great Intellectual Traditions
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The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World's Great Intellectual Traditions
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Narrated by:
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Jay L. Garfield
About this listen
What is the meaning of life?
It's a question every thoughtful person has pondered at one time or another. Indeed, it may be the biggest question of all - at once profound and universal, but also deeply personal.
We want to understand the world in which we live, but we also want to understand how to make our own lives as meaningful as possible; to know not only why we're living, but that we're doing it with intention, purpose, and ethical commitment. But how, exactly, do we find that meaning, and develop that commitment? How can we grasp why we are here? Or how we should proceed? And to whom, exactly, we should listen as we shape the path we will walk? This comprehensive 36-lecture series from a much-honored scholar is an invigorating way to begin or continue your pursuit of these questions, and it requires no previous background in philosophical or religious thought.
It offers a rigorous and wide-ranging exploration of what various spiritual, religious, and philosophical traditions from both the East and West have contributed to this profound line of questioning, sharing insights from sources that include ancient Indian texts, such as:
- The Bhagavad-Gita
- Foundational Chinese texts like the Daodejing and the Chuang Tzu
- Classical Western texts, such as Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics and Marcus Aurelius's Meditations
- Modern philosophers and writers like David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Leo Tolstoy
- The unique perspectives offered by Native Americans, in this case, the Lakota Sioux medicine man and writer, John Lame Deer
- Plus more recent and contemporary philosophers, such as Mohandas Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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- Bangorboy
- 02-07-21
Fantastic
I was a bit sceptical about these audible courses and didn’t really believe some of the reviews. However this was absolutely brilliant. Really in depth, interesting and engaging lecturer/speaker, great topics. Genuinely one of the best things I’ve listened to and learned quite a bit. I expect to return to it again many times.
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- Amazon Customer
- 31-10-17
I loved it from start to finish! 10/10
Such a well thought out presentation the presenter clearly loved the topic. Excellent! Definitely recommend.
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- niall
- 03-04-21
The best thing I have ever read/listens to.
so many new perspectives on living a good life. beautifully presented in a very approachable way
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- Demetri
- 23-07-22
Inspiring overview beautifully constructed
Found this a very easy to follow overview of some of the greatest thinking around the meaning of life. Well worth a listen
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-06-17
Enriched and inspired
I enjoyed this course so much. Jay Garfield communicates his excitement for the subject with carefully drawn portraits of thought around life's meaning from different thinkers. I was reintroduced to familiar texts with a fresh approach, and I learned some fascinating aspects of other world figures that leaves me both wanting to know more and inspired to personal change. So pleased I listened to this course. 😀
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2 people found this helpful
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- Daniel
- 04-10-20
Excellent content well presented
Enlightening, inspiring and educational! Really enjoying getting my first taste of philosophy. I will continue my education of the great minds as a result of what I've learnt here
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- michael mortimer
- 02-11-23
Magnificent
do yourself a favour - listen to these lectures.
thank you Jay Garfield
so much to reflect on.
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- Rhayna
- 21-06-24
Brilliant
I absolutely loved the lectures. Garfield has a remarkable ability to present complex philosophical ideas in a way that is both clear and engaging. Even though I don't have a background in philosophy, I found his writing to be incredibly accessible and easy to understand.
I also appreciated how relevant the discussions were to modern life. Garfield’s insights felt incredibly pertinent to contemporary issues and personal experiences, making the philosophical inquiries feel practical and applicable to my own life.
Overall, the book was not just informative but also profoundly reflective. It prompted me to introspect and offered new perspectives on questions I thought I had already considered. I highly recommend "The Meaning of Life" to anyone interested in exploring these deep and important questions.
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- Col La Baleine
- 09-11-20
Outstanding
In " The Hitchhiker's Guide..." the answer to the meaning of life is 42. The answer in this course is less definite. Jay Garfield has skillfully compiled a number of religious and philosophical responses to this ultimate question, from ancient times through to the present day.
The responses range from the placement of the individual within universal, global, natural and societal contexts. The answers from the traditions and philosophical systems of thought are diverse and often contrasting, so will appeal to individuals approaching the course with differing view points.
There is convergence also; not least in regards to the finite and brief nature of individual lives and their relative insignificance within the larger scheme of things
I believe the mark of a good course is that one doesn't feel the wish to move straight on. Rather, you return to those areas that stimulated interest and explore them more deeply. For me, this is such a course; all the more gratifying, given the subject matter.
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- Vladislavas
- 11-01-19
Wide approach
For those who are interested in philosophy - this is a great guide. It looks into question of meaning of life with wide approach via analysis of wide amount of traditions and philosophies. And conclusion of all this reviewed information quite wise.
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