The Purpose of Life - by Stewart Goetz (Paperback)

About the Book

An accessible exploration of what philosophers have had to say about the meaning of life.

Book Synopsis

What does philosophy have to say on the question of the meaning of life? This is one of the founding questions of philosophy and has remained a central problem for philosophers from antiquity through to the Middle Ages and modern period.

It may surprise some readers that there has, in fact, been a good deal of agreement on the answer to this question: the meaning of life is happiness.

The Purpose of Life is a serious but engaging exploration and defense of this answer. The central idea that shapes The Purpose of Life is Augustine's assertion that "It is the decided opinion of all who use their brains that all men desire to be happy." In working through the ramifications of this answer, Stewart Goetz provides a survey of the debates surrounding life's meaning, from both theists and atheists alike.

Review Quotes

"A very stimulating and readable defence of a theistic hedonistic understanding of happiness as the purpose of life; it should be of interest to philosophers of religion and value theorists at every level, from the undergraduate upwards." --T. J. Mawson, Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy, University of Oxford, UK

"The Purpose of Life: A Theistic Perspective makes an important contribution to the growing discussion within analytic philosophy over life's meaning. Goetz covers a lot of interesting philosophical territory to make his case--value theory, naturalism, reductionism, the problem of evil, even heaven and hell. His choice of interlocutors is equally interesting: St. Augustine, Bertrand Russell, C.S. Lewis, Daniel Dennett, Thomas Nagel and Alvin Plantinga to name a few. Those interested in a discussion of life's meaning from a theistic perspective will want to read this book. I hope that Goetz's contribution motivates others to work further (or for the first time) in this area." --Joshua Seachris, University of Notre Dame, Faith and Philosophy

"Stewart Goetz's remarkable book, The Purpose of Life: A Theistic Perspective, provides a rigorous analytic treatment of a theistic theory of the meaning of life that addresses the best arguments of its nontheistic detractors. Beyond that self-described goal ðx-xiþ, Goetz also mounts a direct assault on naturalism, defends his specific understanding of life's meaning against the objections of his theistic friends, and presents a kind of free will theodicy." - Jordan Wessling, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA, The Journal of Religion

About the Author