Q&A: The Meaning of Life
Originally published:
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The Meaning of Life
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I once asked a similar question on the site, but I want to expand on it. What is the Rabbi’s definition of the meaning of life?
I’ll divide the question into four parts:
A. What is the philosophical definition of the word “meaning”?
B. Does meaning vary from person to person?
C. Does meaning itself change over time?
D. Over the course of a person’s life, does the person himself switch meanings?
Answer
See column 159.
A. Definitions of words are a matter for a dictionary, not philosophy. The question is what you mean when you say “meaning.” Ask yourself.
B. Presumably yes.
C. As a matter of fact, yes.
D. What’s the difference from C?