Essay about some possible approaches to life

A translation of https://dialoogid2.blogspot.com/2025/08/essee-monedest-voimalikest.html from Estonian. 

 

Essay about some possible approaches to life 

Karmo Talts 

 

I would like to reflect on some possible approaches to life. In the process, I will try to use the expressions meaning of life and purpose of life sparingly, because their use itself is already based on specific approaches to life. 

Life can be considered a mystery. Religious people may think that life is part of some greater mystery and that if we do not understand the greater forces on which life depends, we should also be more cautious and reverent towards life. However, life itself does not have to mediate any mystery different from life - life itself can arouse wonder and awe. 

Life can also be seen as part of something larger, which is not directly supernatural. If we mean the life of an individual by life, then seeing the individual as part of a nation, history, etc., already represents this view. Of course, biological life is something greater than the life of the human species, life as such is part of the universe, etc. Alas, to achieve this attitude that we are part of the universe, simply feeling wonder and awe is not enough. A sufficiently great thirst for knowledge is needed to learn about the nature of which we are a part. 

Life can also be seen as an obligation – one must live. In this case, it is possible to attribute an inner purpose to life – whoever fulfills their duty to live has achieved the purpose of life. However, saying that the purpose of life is to live does not convey the basic feeling that accompanies life based on such an attitude to life. If living is an obligation for someone, then they feel moral satisfaction from living not just satisfaction  from doing something purposeful. This moral satisfaction is very pure, because it is the satisfaction of fulfilling their duty itself, not from having earned some kind of reward or someone's approval. 

Life can also be approached emotionally. Feelings are actually difficult to avoid when approaching life – feeling that life is meaningful and feeling that life is meaningless, are both feelings. For someone who sees life as an object of feelings, possible feelings about life are not limited to feelings of meaningfulness and absurdity. Life can be loved, hated, life can bring joy, etc. It seems especially important to me that a person can relate to life in the same way that a philosopher relates to wisdom – my life may not be perfect, but I still love it and making life better is meaningful even if I never achieve a perfect life. 

As conclusion, I would like to say that these attitudes are to some extent integrable. The other attitudes discussed are certainly related to an emotional attitude towards life – wonder and awe, the feeling of satisfaction that arises from satisfying the thirst for knowledge, and a feeling that one has duty to fulfill are all feelings. Life may turn out to be a completely incomprehensible mystery even if the remaining listed attitudes or some of them are justified, we may not feel that we a full-fledged part of life and the world if we do not approach life conscientiously, or our feelings towards life may not be quite as passionate or positive as if we were more conscientious, etc. And those who pay attention to few aspects of life are more likely to reach a point where life seems empty and meaningless.