<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>I examine two recent books by analytic philosophers that address the underexplored topic of whether the meaning of life depends on the existence of a supernatural realm including God and a soul. John Cottingham’s <italic>On the Meaning of Life</italic> defends a supernaturalist conception of life’s meaning, whereas Kurt Baier’s <italic>Problems of Life and Death</italic> defends the opposite, naturalist perspective. I show that their respective arguments are worth serious consideration, indicate some potential weaknesses in them, and suggest some other argumentative strategies that those interested in this fascinating topic might pursue elsewhere in more depth.</p></abstract>

I examine two recent books by analytic philosophers that address the underexplored topic of whether the meaning of life depends on the existence of a supernatural realm including God and a soul. John Cottingham’s On the Meaning of Life defends a supernaturalist conception of life’s meaning, whereas Kurt Baier’s Problems of Life and Death defends the opposite, naturalist perspective. I show that their respective arguments are worth serious consideration, indicate some potential weaknesses in them, and suggest some other argumentative strategies that those interested in this fascinating topic might pursue elsewhere in more depth.

Baier and Cottingham on the meaning of life

Disputatio

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{"article-title":"Baier and Cottingham on the meaning of life"}

I examine two recent books by analytic philosophers that address the underexplored topic of whether the meaning of life depends on the existence of a...

Baier and Cottingham on the meaning of life

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 251 - 264

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2005-0011

© 2005 Thaddeus Metz, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.