Richard Taylor: The Meaning of Life
To understand the question of whether life has any meaning, Taylor begins by considering a clear case of a meaningless life: the mythical character of Sisyphus. Sisyphus is condemned by the gods to roll a stone to the top of a hill every day, only to have it roll back down each night. Taylor claims that Sisyphus's life is meaningless not because it involves monotonous work, but because it does not achieve any significant culmination; all his labors simply come to nothing. Nonetheless, Sisyphus's life could be given a certain kind of meaning if he happened to be instilled with a strong desire to do nothing but roll stones, so that each day he was doing exactly what he most wanted to be doing.
Taylor argues that human lives are analogous to the plight of Sisyphus in that they, too, lack any significant culmination. Like nonhuman animals, humans pass through certain phases, reproduce, and ultimately die, only for the cycle to begin all over again. Civilizations rise and fall, and ultimately nothing enduring comes of it. Nonetheless, Taylor argues that human lives can be given the exact same kind of meaning that Sisyphus's could have. Most human beings have an inner compulsion to go about their lives and pursue their projects, despite the objective meaninglessness of doing so. This type of meaning, is actual superior to the type of meaning that involves a significant culmination, for any such objective meaning would lead only to boredom. Taylor concludes that the point of life is simply living, driven to pursue our ends by desires that lack any ultimate justification.
-Despite his claim that human lives are objectively meaningless, Taylor claims that our lives can achieve a certain kind of meaning. What does he mean by this, and how does he argue for it? Do you agree that the kind of meaning he describes is the kind that matters? Defend your answer.

Question

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The Answer is Richard Taylor argues that human lives, like that of Sisyphus, lack any significant culmination and are therefore objectively meaningless. However, he also argues that human lives can be given a certain kind of meaning through our inner desires and pursuits. He suggests that the pursuit of our desires, despite their lack of ultimate justification, gives our lives a kind of meaning that is superior to any objective meaning that involves a significant culmination. This meaning comes from the fulfillment of our desires and the pursuit of our projects, rather than from achieving some ultimate goal or purpose.

Taylor's argument is based on the idea that the pursuit of our desires and projects gives our lives a sense of purpose and fulfillment, even if there is no ultimate justification for these pursuits. He suggests that this kind of meaning is what truly matters, as it gives our lives a sense of purpose and fulfillment, rather than leading to boredom or a sense of emptiness that would come from achieving some objective meaning.

I agree with Taylor's argument to some extent. I believe that the pursuit of our desires and projects can give our lives a sense of purpose and fulfillment, and that this kind of meaning is important for our overall well-being. However, I also believe that there can be other sources of meaning in life, such as relationships, personal growth, and contributing to the well-being of others. While Taylor's argument is compelling, I think that there are multiple sources of meaning in life, and that the pursuit of our desires is just one aspect of a meaningful life.

Richard Taylor: the Meaning of Life