A Rereading of Thomas Nigel's View of the Meaning of Life Based on the Function of Life

The contemporary analytic philosopher, Thomas Nagel, contends that the strong human disposition to harmonize with the universe raises a genuine question as to the relationship of human beings with the whole existence. This question, in his mind, ought to be answered, because answering this question is a path that might lead to an explanation of the meaningfulness of human lives and, subsequently, to the deliverance from the emptiness of life. In search for an answer to the question, Nagel explores the views of Hume, Kant, Sidgwick, Sartre, Nietzsche, Plato, and the shared teachings of religions, coming up with answers none of which he finds satisfactory. Accordingly, he decides that the question has no apposite response and, as a result, life is meaningless. Explicating Nagel's view as well as his critiques of the answers of the philosophers and religions, this article tries to show that: Firstly, one can, having Nagel's pressing question in mind, work out a theory of meaning of life based on the function of human life. Secondly, contrary to what he thinks, some of the philosophical and religious responses are acceptable. Thirdly, although one can explain the function of mankind's life drawing on the favorable philosophical and religious responses, these responses can be of no help in forming a judgement as to the function of each human individual's life; such a judgement is possible only when a full sight of the individual's life is accessible and this happens only after the termination of the individual's life. Finally, even if all philosophical and religious answers to Nagel's question are rejected, one can still defend the meaning of each human being's life. This is because the meaningfulness of each individual's life is not exclusively contingent on answering Nagel's question, rather, it is defensible based on the function of the person's life in relation to some collections that are smaller than the whole existence and possess some valuable objectives.