What's it all about?

philosophy and the meaning of life

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Last edited by MARC Bot
August 9, 2025 | History

What's it all about?

philosophy and the meaning of life

  • 7 Want to read
  • 1 Currently reading

"What is the meaning of life? It is a question that has intrigued the great philosophers - and has been hilariously lampooned by Monty Python. Indeed, the whole idea strikes many of us as vaguely pompous, a little absurd. Is there one profound and mysterious meaning to life, a single ultimate purpose behind human existence?" "In What's It All About?, Julian Baggini says no, there is no single meaning. Instead, Baggini argues meaning can be found in a variety of ways, in this life. He succinctly breaks down six answers people commonly suggest when considering what life is all about - helping others, serving humanity, being happy, becoming successful, enjoying each day as if it were your last, and "freeing your mind." By reducing the vague, mysterious question of meaning to a series of more specific (if thoroughly unmysterious) questions about what gives life purpose and value, he shows that the quest for meaning can be personal, empowering, and uplifting. If the meaning of life is not a mystery, if leading meaningful lives is within the power of us all, then we can look around us and see the many ways in which life can have purpose. We can see the value of happiness while accepting it is not everything. We can see the value of success, without interpreting that too narrowly. We can see the value of seizing the day as well as helping others lead meaningful lives. We can recognize the value of love, as perhaps the most powerful motivator of all." "Illustrating his argument with the thoughts of many of the great philosophers and examples drawn from everyday life, Baggini shows that the search for meaning is personal and within the power of each of us to find."--BOOK JACKET.

Publish Date
Publisher
Granta
Language
English
Pages
204

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Previews available in: English

Edition Availability
Cover of: What's It All About?
What's It All About?: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life
November 28, 2006, Oxford University Press, USA
in English
Cover of: What's It All About?
What's It All About?: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life
August 11, 2005, Oxford University Press, USA
in English
Cover of: What's It All About?
What's It All About?
July 7, 2005, Granta Books
Paperback - New Ed edition
Cover of: What's It All About?
What's It All About?
September 16, 2004, Granta Books
Hardcover
Cover of: What's it all about?
What's it all about?: philosophy and the meaning of life
2004, Granta
in English

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Book Details


Edition Notes

Includes bibliographical references (p. [189]-198) and index.

Published in
London

Classifications

Dewey Decimal Class
100

The Physical Object

Pagination
204 p. ;
Number of pages
204

Edition Identifiers

Open Library
OL21188671M
Internet Archive
whatsitallaboutp0000bagg
ISBN 10
1862076618
OCLC/WorldCat
56652884
LibraryThing
46632
Goodreads
1423270

Work Identifiers

Work ID
OL5745558W

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Download catalog record: RDF / JSON / OPDS | Wikipedia citation
August 9, 2025 Edited by MARC Bot import existing book
December 12, 2024 Edited by MARC Bot import existing book
December 30, 2022 Edited by MARC Bot import existing book
May 17, 2020 Edited by CoverBot Added new cover
November 1, 2008 Created by ImportBot Imported from Oregon Libraries MARC record