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"This is a brief, ambitious, and satisfying book. As a survivor of the theory wars, Terry Eagleton has emerged as a critic and thinker who will help us theologues ponder not only life's meaning but the next steps we should take as even postmodernism fades into cultural history. If there is a cultural life for us all in the aftermath of the conflict between essentialism and relativism, Eagleton's provocative essay will point the way both to making and discovering its meaning."--Gary R. Hall, Anglican Theological Review
"Eagleton's witty eclecticism is perfect for such a lofty subject, but would it be inappropriate to ask for more?--Leoppold Froelich, Playboy
"The Meaning of Life may be 'lie' relative to how much more a scholar like Mr. Eagleton might have said, but it is still a work that demands close attention from readers who are already well grounded in literature and philosophy."--Mark Grannis, The Washington Times
"The news that Terry Eagleton has tackled the
Morning Star, February 12, 2007
"[With his] style, sparkling, sometimes acerbic, wit, and
wide-ranging erudition...[Eagleton] is eminently readable...[a] commendably
pocket-sized book."
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
wide-ranging erudition...[Eagleton] is eminently readable...[a] commendably
pocket-sized book."
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The "Meaning of Life" is one of those age-old questions that people of all walks of life have been pondering for at least as long as we know that people have been pondering anything. There have been many approaches to this question, and the three most prominent ones have come from philosophy, theology/religion, and literature. In this very short introduction Terry Eagelton sets out to explore all those approaches to this perennial big question. Even thought his approach is not strictly speaking philosophical, the preponderance of ideas about the meaning of life have been taken from various philosophers. Eagelton is very good at problematizing the whole "What is the meaning of life?" question. At the surface it appears like any other question to which we can give an objective answer (like "How far is Bloomington from Indianapolis?"), but at closer inspection almost every single word in that question can be very ambiguous. Eagleton's approach is to explore those ambiguities, and show how they had been addressed by other thinkers and writers. The book has a feel and style of a very long polemical essay, and an overall a very enjoyable one at that. My only big objection to it is that no attempts have been made to incorporate any of the ideas about the meaning of life, human happiness and personal integrity that have come out of the modern Psychological research. It has been known for quite a while that creating a coherent narrative of one's life is an essential part of the psychological theories of self. Other than that, the book is extremely well written and despite some grim ideas and passages an overall enjoyable and worthwhile read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Contrary to some reviewers, I found this book interesting and enlightening. But is suffers from serious biases concerning human beings and disturbing visions of desired futures.
The author tends to optimistic versions of human nature which are fashionable but lack convincing supportive evidence. Thus, he thinks that the "only ultimate solution to terrorism is political justice" (p. 10). Admitting later that this may not work for fanatic-fundamentalist terrorism, he explains this away stating "this may be to say no more than that the problem has now escalated beyond all feasible resolution." The grounding of extreme violence in deeply held faiths and beliefs with culturally constructed meanings of "justice" is just pushed aside.
Similarly the author seems to assume that most people would reject living in a state of virtual complete happiness because of wishing to "live our lives truthfully" (p. 84). He does not provide any shred of evidence for this view of humanity, and indeed no reliable evidence for or against this image exists. But expressions of self-doubts on such problematic statements are scarce in the book.
Towards the end, the author proceeds to a desirable vision of the future which I cannot but regards as a dystopia. A hint at his vision is provided by his warning against "hubristic projects which bring ourselves and others to grief" (p. 90). He does not specify what projects he has in mind nor does he discriminate between heroic projects advancing humanity and evil ones. What about space travel, for instance?
The impression that the author wishes for a human existence of tranquil stability is validated by the vision which he presents of human existence as a species being based on Agape in the sense of non-erotic love with each one contributing to all while expressing his individuality, with a jazz group serving "as an image of the good life" (p. 98). Added to this is a remark to religious believers that "God, too, is his own end, ground, origin, reason, and self-delight, and that only by living this way can human beings be said to share in his life" (p. 101).
This is very strange theology. Ignored are negative theology which rejects all use of adjectives about God; all religious postulates that God is beyond human understanding; and radically other views on what it means to live according to the commandments of God and fulfill the portion allocated by him to humanity, such as the Kabala views of humans participating in continuous creation.
To conclude, I hope I am doing no injustice by reaching the conclusion that the author seems to tend towards a rather boring and static view of a meaningful good life. Thus, "creativity" is not emphasized, though it may well be central to meaningful human individual and collective life. And "heroic deeds" are excluded, though they may well be an essential part of an elevated live as long as they are not evil, despite their human costs.
Professor Yehezkel Dror
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The author tends to optimistic versions of human nature which are fashionable but lack convincing supportive evidence. Thus, he thinks that the "only ultimate solution to terrorism is political justice" (p. 10). Admitting later that this may not work for fanatic-fundamentalist terrorism, he explains this away stating "this may be to say no more than that the problem has now escalated beyond all feasible resolution." The grounding of extreme violence in deeply held faiths and beliefs with culturally constructed meanings of "justice" is just pushed aside.
Similarly the author seems to assume that most people would reject living in a state of virtual complete happiness because of wishing to "live our lives truthfully" (p. 84). He does not provide any shred of evidence for this view of humanity, and indeed no reliable evidence for or against this image exists. But expressions of self-doubts on such problematic statements are scarce in the book.
Towards the end, the author proceeds to a desirable vision of the future which I cannot but regards as a dystopia. A hint at his vision is provided by his warning against "hubristic projects which bring ourselves and others to grief" (p. 90). He does not specify what projects he has in mind nor does he discriminate between heroic projects advancing humanity and evil ones. What about space travel, for instance?
The impression that the author wishes for a human existence of tranquil stability is validated by the vision which he presents of human existence as a species being based on Agape in the sense of non-erotic love with each one contributing to all while expressing his individuality, with a jazz group serving "as an image of the good life" (p. 98). Added to this is a remark to religious believers that "God, too, is his own end, ground, origin, reason, and self-delight, and that only by living this way can human beings be said to share in his life" (p. 101).
This is very strange theology. Ignored are negative theology which rejects all use of adjectives about God; all religious postulates that God is beyond human understanding; and radically other views on what it means to live according to the commandments of God and fulfill the portion allocated by him to humanity, such as the Kabala views of humans participating in continuous creation.
To conclude, I hope I am doing no injustice by reaching the conclusion that the author seems to tend towards a rather boring and static view of a meaningful good life. Thus, "creativity" is not emphasized, though it may well be central to meaningful human individual and collective life. And "heroic deeds" are excluded, though they may well be an essential part of an elevated live as long as they are not evil, despite their human costs.
Professor Yehezkel Dror
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Terry Eagleton writes in a very readable style conveying complex, deep issues in a way that is very accessible. Highly intelligent, clever and witty, this Very Short Introduction to arguably the biggest of all questions does an amazing job of answering it, if "answering" is the right word. Eagleton remains credible throughout, never resting on easy standpoints and never afraid to either praise or criticise different philosophies and movements for their pros and cons, and he never slips into simplistic reductionist explanations. Highly recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
File under 'Pseud'
I've read several very good VSI books on philosophical topics. You'd think something like "The Meaning of Life" would be a philosophical topic, but this book is essentially a... Read more
Published 8 months ago by oeokosko
While standing on one foot...
I recall in one of the Star Trek films that Kirk and Bones were singing the song, `Row, Row, Row Your Boat.' Spock was puzzled at the idea presented in the simple song. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Kurt Messick
A good read but rather biased and narrow for such a topic
For such a large topic in so few pages it is well-written and entertaining. It poses many of the questions regarding this topic very well and gives some good insights into the... Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2009 by Savita
Smoke and Mirrors
Those familiar with Eagleton's work will find nothing here that has not been covered in his other books, and will encounter the same articulate but often glib survey of modern... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2009 by tuckshop7
A struggle
I tried my utmost to read this book till the end, but found my eyes would glaze over. I barely made it to the end and the experience was not pleasant. Read more
Published on 16 April 2009 by John
A decent read
While written as an introduction to 'the meaning of life', this book also attempts to entertain with the odd candid remark and a whistle stop tour of great thinkers' views on the... Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2008 by Tufty
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