Meaningfulness

This book is based on an in-depth filmed conversation between Howard Burton and Susan Wolf, the Edna J. Koury Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This fascinating conversation explores what it is to live an ethical, meaningful life, the role that love, fulfillment, self-interest and happiness play in giving meaning to one’s life, and how meaningful activities occur when "subjective attraction meets objective attractiveness". 


This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, Takin’ It To The Streets, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:


Philosophical Engagement - The appeal of thinking deeply

Investigating Motivation - Beyond pleasure and duty

Exploring Fulfillment - A key subjective metric 

Subjective Meets Objective - Interpreting a “waste of time”  

Objectivity Emerges - The meaning of mistakes

Why Meaning Matters, Part I - A personal perspective

Enter Sisyphus - The meaning of rolling stones

Frames of Reference - Cosmic questions and endoxic icons

Why Meaning Matters, Part II - Improving theoretical understanding

Towards a Meaningful World - Making it real

Beyond Happiness - Pursuing what you love



About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series: 


This book is part of an expanding series of 100+ Ideas Roadshow conversations, each one presenting a wealth of candid insights from a leading expert through a focused yet informal setting to give non-specialists a uniquely accessible window into frontline research and scholarship that wouldn't otherwise be encountered through standard lectures and textbooks. For other books in this series visit our website: https://ideas-on-film.com/ideasroadshow/.