Tolstoy

The other day in class we discussed Tolstoy’s breakdown when he came to the realization that his life’s work was meaningless. He could see no greater meaning to his life and therefore no meaning at all. This realization caused him to become extremely depressed until he turned to philosophy and Christianity to help him find purpose and meaning.

 Tolstoy lost all sense of meaning in his life because he could not distinguish between personal meaning in his life and a meaningful value to his life. He wanted to make a difference, or at least a lasting imprint on the world. Personally, I believe that these two different kinds of meaning can be separated. Lots of people lead meaningful lives without being remembered post-mortem. It is possible to believe that life is random and that in the grand scheme of the universe a single life is meaningless and simultaneously hold the view that the same life is meaningful to that person and that person’s closest loved ones.

Religion provides many people with the help they need in searching for life’s meaning and it makes many people feel comforted and happy. However, I don’t think it is mandatory in finding meaning to life.